The Day I Stopped Waiting Was the Day He Started Begging novel Chapter 78

"I understand, York."

York didn't say a single word on the drive back.

The moment his car pulled up to the Yates Manor, Seraphina emerged, affectionately linking arms with Felicity.

"Felicity, sweetheart, did you find any nice dresses today?"

"Are you hungry? Your health is so fragile, so I actually took a class on restorative stews just to make you something special."

"What's wrong? You look awful. Why are your eyes red?"

Seraphina immediately picked up on Felicity's silence and distress. She whipped around to glare at York, furious.

"York, I told you to take her shopping! Did you say something cruel and ruin her day again?"

"Seraphina, please don't blame York. It's not his fault..."

Seraphina clearly didn't believe a word of it. She shook her head, looking at Felicity with fond exasperation.

"Stop covering for him. Don't you think I know exactly how terrible my son's temper is?"

York was entirely immune to his mother's nagging. He let out a dry scoff.

"Mother, could you stop inventing drama? Your precious surrogate daughter is just overly emotional, and somehow that's my fault?"

"I've spoken like this my entire life. She's used to it by now."

"Since you clearly have too much free time, start taking her to more social galas. She's at that age. It's time she found someone to marry."

York delivered the suggestion with total deadpan seriousness.

Seraphina froze, staring at her son in shock.

"York, are you serious?"

"What else? No matter how much you dote on her, you can't expect her to stay single and live with you forever, right? If you really can't bear to part with her, just find some guy willing to marry into the family and live here."

"Maddy is getting off work soon. I'm leaving."

Seraphina was a woman who had seen it all. She obviously knew how Felicity felt.

While she couldn't force romantic feelings, she also knew that forcing Felicity to abandon her love for York and marry a stranger would utterly destroy the girl.

Having practically raised her, Seraphina couldn't bear the thought.

Tears of profound gratitude filled Felicity's eyes, and she hugged Seraphina tightly.

"Thank you, Seraphina. If it wasn't for you, Grandpa, and Arthur, I would have been dragged back to the Xavier family to suffer with my stepmother."

The Xavier family was wealthy, but Felicity's mother had died young, and her father had immediately remarried, barely sparing a thought for his daughter.

Hearing her bring up her tragic past only intensified Seraphina's protective instincts.

"You silly girl, don't talk like that. It was your grandfather's dying wish that we take care of you."

"After all these years, you are a daughter to me. No need for all this politeness. Come on, let's go try that stew I made you."