“Not only that, Dad, but you also had designs on Aunt Jennifer and broke Mom's heart. If you didn’t love my mom back then, you
didn’t have to marry her. Now you're married yet failed to take responsibility. You were like eyeing the next best thing while you've
got a full plate—completely outrageous!” Cathy fumed.
She had lashed out at her father, then turned to her mother, “And you, knowing full well he didn’t care for you, you wasted so
much ton him. You're the prestigious girl, for heaven's sake, raised with such care. Your grandparents held you in the palm of
their hands and cared for you meticulously all those years—not to be trampled on by someone who doesn’t appreciate you!”
Her mother, Donna, was stunned by her daughter's words.
“Ever since we were kids, we were always compared to Uncle George and his family. Everyone believed we were not doing as good
as they did. At every social event, if they were present, guests would flock to them. Even in their absence, those people would still
question us about them.”
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Cathy's outburst had stunned everyone present.
“For example, ‘Is Mr. George McMillian coming to the birthday party?’ or ‘What's their next move on that big project?’ or ‘Will they
attend the charity gala?’ or ‘Are they going to clinch that real estate deal?".”
Cathy took a deep breath, “No one ever cared to ask how we were doing. Growing up in such an environment, feeling the
difference in how others treat us—it would be a lie to say that we don’t feel anything! However, they have never looked down on
us for their success. On the contrary, Uncle George and Jennifer have been very loving, and even though Romeo is strict, our
siblings have always been close!”
When Cathy said this, her eyes welled up with tears, “Do you know? I've always been proud of the bond between our two families.
When my classmates’ families fall into infighting, after having witnessed so many power struggles, I've always been grateful to be
part of such a loving and happy big family. | thought we were different from other families, but today.”
Her tears began to flow, “Today, I've realized that our family is even more ruthless and terrifying than others when it comes to
power struggles! My own father, for the sake of that bit of family business, actually contemplated harming his own younger
brother! And my mother, unable to win my father’s heart, turned her anger towards his beloved. What twisted values are these?!”
Perhaps Cathy's emotion got a bit too overwhelming, and Jeffery was moved to step forward and gently embrace her.
Unable to hold back any longer, Cathy wept in her brother's arms.
George's family felt a pang in their hearts, and even Phillip and Shirley were filled with mixed feelings after hearing their
granddaughter’s words.
In their eyes, their sons were successful, and their grandchildren were outstanding. Wherever they went, they were looked up to.
But from their granddaughter’s perspective, things were different.
For the first time, they becaware of how the outside world differentiated between the two families, and the negative impact it
had on the children.
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Such treatment from outsiders undoubtedly nurtured a sense of grievance and resentment within the elder branch.
“Cathy,” Shirley gently patted Cathy's head, and apologized, “I'm sorry you have been wronged.”
Cathy looked up and choked up, her eyes red and tearful, “Grandma, I'm not wronged. Even though those people outside always
flatter Uncle George's family and don’t take us seriously, even showing disdain and condescension. yes, it does make me
uncomfortable, but that feeling passes quickly.”
She spoke candidly, “I never thought it was our fault, or theirs. If they is admired and fawned over, it's because of their own merit.
My family simply hasn't reached their level yet, but that doesn’t affect my affection for Uncle George's family, nor does it change
how they treat us.”
Her words moved everyone present, such an understanding child.
“Even if back in the day, Grandpa and Grandma had split the family business in two, dividing it fairly between Dad and Uncle
George, each person's abilities are different. After a decade or two, it's natural that the brothers would be at different levels—one
above, one below. It's a matter of personal capability, not about fairness.”