Chapter 71

Sean let out a long sigh. "It's true. But Grace, you got it all wrong. No one handed anything over—you folks just didn't want it!" The second branch's faces instantly soured with irritation. "Big Brother, even if we did let it go, that was still originally Anna's engagement!" Stephen Howard snapped. Nancy couldn't hold it in anymore. For the first time, she stepped up, voice sharp. "Uncle, how can you say that? Sure, the Evans family did come to you for Anna first, but you all flat-out refused Nicholas. Called him a cripple and pushed Rachel out there to take the fall. And now you're spinning this like it was yours all along?" Grace Collins's expression turned ugly. "Well, look at you, country girl! You really think you've made it, huh? Just 'cause Big Brother's showing a little backbone, you think you can yap in the Howard house? Who gave you that right?" Ganging up on her mom? Clara wasn't having any of it. "Auntie Grace, if my mom's an ‘outsider,' then so are you. Doesn't matter whe