Chapter 572
The answer was clear if someone asked Betty who her favorite person was. It was her mom, Leanne.
Unlike other parents who might use this question to vie for their child's affection playfully, Curtis never bothered competing for Betty's favor. After all, when faced with the same question, Leanne was always his undisputed choice.
Betty loved her mom, just as Leanne loved her. But even the closest of mother-daughter bonds could sometimes face their little quarrels.
Growing up doted on by everyone, Betty was the apple of her family's eye. Maddox and Jennifer would've plucked the stars from the sky for her if they could. Her two godmothers showered her with love, treating her as their own, not to mention her reliable and wealthy Uncle Phillip, the spendthrift but affectionate Devin, and Skyler, who secretly hoped to become her godfather but was outright rejected by Curtis And then there was the award-winning actress, Larissa, who eventually took Leanne as her goddaughter.
With everyone doting on her so much, it's no shocker that Betty ended up a bit spoiled.
And while Leanne was usually gentle, she was clear about her principles. Betty would get criticized for her mistakes.
As Betty grew older, her sense of self also began to blossom. After a wrongdoing she refused to admit, Leanne's stern discipline brought her to tears.
Holding her smartwatch like a lifeline, she sought external support.
Leanne sat unmoved on the couch. "Go ahead."
Betty first called her dad, but Curtis was unreachable on a flight back from a business trip.
Next, she called her godmothers. Joy answered the video call with a flurry of kisses. "Oh, my darling, mwah!"
After a brief exchange of affection, Betty voiced her plea. "Joy, can you tell my mom off for me?"
The thought of having to scold Leanne put Joy off. Cooking might not be her forte, but passing the buck? She was a pro. "Uh, well, sweetheart, don't cry. I'll send Selina to deal with your mom!" The baton passed to Selina, who was visibly shocked. 'Me? Dare when you didn't?'
Betty looked at her with hopeful eyes.
Selina clutched her stomach and dramatically collapsed. "Oh, my stomach! It's like someone poisoned me!"
With her godmothers proving unreliable, Betty sought another ally.
She called Devin. "Devin, take me away with you. I want to live with you from now on."
'Take her away?' Devin wondered. Curtis would have his head.
Ever cautious, Devin replied, "Who's trying to set me up now?"
Betty then called Jennifer, and her voice choked with sobs. "Grandma, I miss you."
Hearing Betty's distress, Jennifer immediately sent a car to bring her back to the Richardson Manor Nestled in Jennifer's embrace, Betty tearfully sought her support. Can you back me up, Grandma?"
Wiping away her tears, Jennifer felt helpless. "Darling, your mom is right. If I went against her, your dad would turn the world upside down when he gets back." Betty's tears flowed even more freely.
Just then, Maddox arrived home to find his granddaughter with tear-stained cheeks and sorrowful, big eyes. His heart ached for her.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Determined to seek justice for her, he declared, "Come on, I'll go with you."
Betty jumped to the ground, grabbed Maddox's hand, and set off with him.
Maddox accompanied Betty back to Leanne's Castle. Having just returned from taking the cat to its vaccination, Leanne was neither surprised nor intimidated by their arrival. "Maddox, you're here."
Maddox spoke gravely, "Betty came back crying. Did you scold her?"
Leanne explained, "Yesterday, I had an emergency at the hospital. Laura took her to school, and she insisted on bringing the cat along. It scratched a classmate because the kids were too rowdy, and she wouldn't admit her mistake.”
Betty protested, "The lessons are too easy. The cat could've learned them."
Maddox paused before speaking, "Then you need to reason with her properly, not be harsh."
Leanne didn't reply but changed the subject. "Jennifer mentioned you skipped your check-up last month."
Suddenly feeling like a student caught unprepared, Maddox's
authoritative aura deflated. How net
cleared his throat. "I've been busy
with work. I'll make time for it soon."
"A check-up won't take long. You can get it done in the morning," Leanne pressed. "Come to my place tomorrow. I'll go with you."
With that, Maddox left, his mission to support Betty unfulfilled and himself roped into a check-up.
With tearful eyes, Betty looked from Maddox's retreating figure to Leanne, realizing her last bastion had fallen.