Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 197

Grace is part of the Jones family

Apollo

Ryan’s mother nodded without hesitation, her expression firm even though her eyes were still red and swollen from crying.

“Yes,” she said loudly, her voice echoing slightly down the hallway. “Yes, I did. Grace is my daughter. She is the daughter the Jones family has been searching for all these years.”

My father’s eyes widened at her words, shocked. He slowly turned his head toward me, as if expecting me to deny it, or tell him this was all a misunderstanding. But when he saw the confused look on my face, and saw that I was just as surprised as he was, something in him seemed to collapse. His shoulders sagged, and his gaze dropped to the floor as if he was piecing together thoughts that were suddenly too hard to understand.

He lifted a hand to his head and let out a long, tired sigh, his body swaying unsteadily. For a moment, I thought he was going to fall. My cousin reacted instantly, stepping forward and grabbing his arm before he could collapse.

“U–uncle, be careful,” she said urgently, tightening her grip on him.

My father tried to speak, but the words didn’t come out properly. My cousin shook her head and held him more firmly.

“Don’t forget you’re sick,” she said. “Come on, sit down before you fall.”

She guided him to a nearby chair, and for once, he didn’t argue. He allowed himself to be seated, leaning back heavily as if the strength had drained out of him all at once. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and took a deep breath, then muttered under his breath, “God, I knew that child was special, but I never expected her to be part of the Jones family.”

Ryan’s mother glared at him sharply, her grief quickly turning into fury.

“That’s right,” she snapped. “She is my daughter. And you Reeds have no right to deny me entry to my daughter’s room. And now that I’ve finally found her, if you think I’ll ever let any of you near her again, you’re wrong. You people are bad news. I would rather die than let my daughter marry into your family.” 1

My father visibly flinched at her words. His lips parted as if he wanted to argue, but no sound came out. For once, he stayed silent.

Seeing this, my cousin frowned and stepped forward, crossing her arms. “Don’t you think you’re being a little too sure of yourself?” she said coldly.

Ryan’s mother turned her sharp gaze to her. “What did you say?”

My cousin didn’t back down. “You keep claiming you’re her mother without showing any proof. Don’t tell me it’s just because you look alike that you’re so determined to call her your daughter. That’s ridiculous. People can look alike and still have no blood relation at all.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “I know the Jones family has been searching for their long–lost daughter, but that doesn’t mean every woman who resembles you is suddenly your child. Please don’t be delusional.”

My father seemed to latch onto her words like a lifeline. He straightened slightly, nodding as if she had spoken the truth he needed to hear. He pushed himself up from the chair and spoke with confidence.

“That’s right,” he said. “Just because you look alike doesn’t mean she’s your daughter. I won’t let anyone take my daughter–in–law away from me.”

He lifted his chin smugly, as if he believed he had regained the upper hand.

Ryan’s mother frowned deeply, her face flushing red as emotion surged through her, her hands clenching at her sides as if she was barely holding herself together.

“She is my daughter,” she said hoarsely. “How could I not know my own daughter? I carried her, I gave birth to her. A mother doesn’t forget something like that.”

Everyone turned toward the voice at once. I did too, my expression unreadable as my gaze landed on the two figures standing at the end of the hallway. Ryan stood there with his usual serious, sharp expression, while Theodore leaned casually beside him, a playful smile on his lips that didn’t quite match the moment.

Ryan’s mother let out a broken sound that was half laughter and half sob. Tears streamed freely down her face as she covered her mouth with her hand.

“Finally… finally I’ve found my daughter,” she said through her tears. “Oh my God. I can’t believe it. I’ve finally seen her.”

My father sank back into the chair behind him as if all the strength had been sucked out of his body, defeat written plainly across his face as the reality settled in. He said nothing, staring blankly ahead.

Beside me, Genesis let out a quiet sigh and muttered under her breath, “I can’t believe Grace is really a Jones. This just made everything so much more complicated.”

She glanced at me, clearly trying to read my reaction. I gave her nothing. My expression remained calm.

Just then Ryan began walking toward me slowly, his footsteps measured. He stopped a short distance away and looked at me directly, his sharp eyes unblinking.

“Since we’ve confirmed that she’s my little sister,” he said, “that means I have more right than you do to stay here.”

He paused, then tilted his head slightly, a faint edge of mockery slipping into his tone.

“No, actually, that’s not quite right. Since you hate my family so much, that must mean you hate my little sister too, right? So you probably don’t want anything to do with her anymore now that she’s a Jones.”

“In that case,” he rasped, “you should leave immediately, Apollo Reed.” (2