Jasmine finally rose to her feet and spoke earnestly, "Dad, trust me. I'll provide Asher with excellent care. You won't be disappointed."
Raymond nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. "I have faith in you. I believe you won't let me down."
"How could you do this, Dad? Are you deliberately trying to drive me away? Could you have even welcomed Asher into the Shelbert family without my help?" Luna protested.
She couldn't make sense of it. Raymond had readily agreed to Jasmine's grandparents' demand to keep Asher, but it meant Luna would be forced to leave.
But where could Luna possibly go?
She had fought tirelessly to be accepted into the Shelbert family, to be Raymond's beloved daughter. The mere thought of leaving was inconceivable to her.
Jasmine seized the opportunity to address Luna, saying, "Luna, there's no need for such distress. Sending you away doesn't mean you're being ousted from the family.
"It's simply that, for now, it's not conducive for you to be around Asher. So, a temporary separation is necessary until Asher matures and overcomes his past behavior.
"Ultimately, it's all for Asher's benefit. As his mother, I trust you can understand, right?"
Portraying oneself as the innocent victim—it seemed that skill had become universal, hadn't it?
Once upon a time, Jasmine would have looked down upon such tactics, but strangely, witnessing Luna's frustration now brought her a sense of satisfaction.
Ever since Luna's arrival, their family dynamic had been thoroughly disrupted.
It was time for Luna to experience a taste of her own medicine.
"Jasmine, keep your mouth shut! Don't think for a second that I'm unaware of your intentions. You're trying to force me out so you can manipulate Asher more easily, aren't you?
"Well, keep dreaming. I won't give up!" Luna shot back, feeling utterly deceived at that moment.
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