The True Heiress: Legend Mode novel Chapter 142

Mid-sentence, Gwendolyn paused, seemingly realizing something, and let out a lighthearted scoff as she reached for the rubbing alcohol. "I'm your mother. What's wrong with me coming into your room?"

It was a delightfully unreasonable logic.

Juno remained stubbornly clutching the sealed cardboard box. Realizing it was a losing battle to make her let go, Gwendolyn simply worked around it, carefully applying antiseptic and wrapping the wound.

The silence felt a bit too heavy, so Gwendolyn casually struck up a conversation.

"Your second brother is coming home soon. Once he's back, you'll have one more person to spoil you. We weren't there for you all these years. You've been through so much, but we're your family now. Whatever happens, you can always tell us."

Juno looked up, her expression slightly dazed as she echoed the word, "Family."

Gwendolyn secured the bandage. "Yes, family. The people who will stand by your side no matter what, the ones who will protect you when you're in danger."

She offered a warm, earnest smile. "So, Juno, you're still just a kid. If there's something you can't handle, let your parents take care of it."

Juno replied, "I'm twenty."

Rather than getting annoyed, Gwendolyn found her stoic response incredibly endearing. "To us, you'll always be our little girl."

As she spoke her final word, she tied the bandage off into a perfectly neat, undeniably feminine bow.

It looked ridiculously dainty.

Gwendolyn packed up the supplies. "Alright, you can go back to zoning out. I'm heading downstairs to make you some food."

Before leaving, Gwendolyn reached out and gently patted her daughter's head.

Then, she practically bolted before the girl could react.

Stepping out of the room, Gwendolyn immediately made a beeline for the kitchen, eagerly discussing recipes with the private chef.

Back in the room, Juno's grip on the box tightened slightly. Her gaze remained fixed on the dainty little bow on her hand for a long, long time.

At dinner, it was a rare occasion where everyone was present.

The atmosphere was thick with tension. Babur Corrington looked at Juno with genuine curiosity. "What happened to your hand?"

She couldn't stand being in this house anymore.

Matilda slammed her hand onto the table. "Enough! Can we not just have a peaceful dinner? What is wrong with your attitudes? Just because she's blood, Rhiannon can just be tossed aside like trash? Who has been by your side all these years?! It was Rhiannon! When I was sick in the hospital, who stayed up all night taking care of me?! Rhiannon!

And now, over some trivial little scratch, you're all cornering her? Even as an outsider, I can't stomach this!"

"If you know you're an outsider, don't you think it's inappropriate to interfere in our family's business?"

Only Juno could deliver such an arrogant, unapologetic line.

"Just look at her! Compare the two, and isn't it obvious who acts more like your daughter?!" Matilda sneered. "I seriously suspect someone messed with that DNA report!

How could the refined bloodlines of our two families produce such an arrogant, unreasonable delinquent?! Get her tested again!"

As unstoppable and confident as Juno had been in Blackwood City, she was just as frustrated in Kingsland.

Every day spent in this city felt like it shaved a decade off her life.