Chapter 276

Aurelius Manor. When Clara got home, Nancy was already waiting outside. "Clara, thank goodness you're back!" "They're still here, huh?" "Yeah, totally glued to the house. Your dad and I are at our wit’s end—we had to call you in." "Got it." Clara followed Nancy inside. Martha and the second branch folks were all lounging around like they owned the place—someone was flat out on the couch, others glued to their phones. Off to the side, Sean tried reasoning, clearly uncomfortable. "Mom, please don’t force me like this. Isn’t this a bit too much?" "I’m not forcing you. It’s your duty as the eldest. If you won’t go back and handle it, then we’re not leaving. We’ll move in right here!" Martha said with zero shame. "Move in? Are you telling me you’ve got nowhere else to go?" Clara chimed in as she walked through the door. The second she spoke, they straightened up like students caught cheating. "Clara Howard, this is an adult matter. Stay out of it!" Grace snapped. "Stay out of it? In my own