When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 2011

Heather’s heart turned to ice as she listened to her younger son, Jonah.

A cutting wind lashed her face. She had no roof, no money, no grandson, no son. Where in the world was she supposed to go?

But Heather was not one to surrender. After brooding for a long while, she decided to seek out Chelsea.

Inside the Rainsworth Manor, Chelsea was doing everything she could to dodge the latest blind date her parents had arranged for her.

Her parents had locked her in her bedroom, saying, “You can come out only after you’ve thought it through.”

“Allen and his ex-wife never had children. What’s so wrong with him?” Phoebe reasoned.

Chelsea snapped, “That man was still married when he went on a blind date with me. He’s morally bankrupt!”

She knew men like Allen; he disgusted her even more than his brother, Alec.

“We’ve checked—he’s decent enough. He divorced only because his wife couldn’t give him children. Doesn’t the fact that he stayed with her for years prove his character? And Miranda personally guaranteed you’d never suffer if you married him,” Phoebe continued to persuade her daughter.

Chelsea’s patience snapped. “Stop trying to sell me off! If you like him so much, marry him yourselves!”

All she wanted was a quiet life; she truly couldn’t fathom what went on in her parents’ heads.

Phoebe was about to retort when the housekeeper hurried over.

“Mrs. Rainsworth, there’s an elderly lady outside who wishes to see you.”

Phoebe frowned. “An elderly lady? Who could that be?”

“She says she’s Magnus’ granny and wants an explanation,” the housekeeper reported.

Phoebe searched her memory, finally recalling who Magnus was.

“My grandson spent a great deal of money courting Ms. Rainsworth, yet she refuses to be with him. Since she isn’t his girlfriend, I believe the money he spent on her should be returned,” Heather declared.

Phoebe’s expression darkened at once.

The Rainsworths were certainly not short of money, and Chelsea was their only child.

Yet the old woman’s words suggested Chelsea had toyed with Magnus’ feelings and squandered his money.

“My daughter is not the kind of woman who leeches off men,” Phoebe replied icily. “And the Rainsworth family does not lack money.”

“Well, who can really say?” Heather sneered. “Plenty of girls nowadays take a man’s money and give nothing in return.”

“You dare lump my daughter in with gold diggers?” Phoebe’s anger flared; her fists clenched.

She had raised Chelsea in luxury. How could her daughter possibly covet a few trinkets from another man?