When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 343

“Why?” His words came out slow and deliberate, and Nelly instantly felt the urge to fight back.

She put on a playful smile. “Actually, you’re not wrong. I am the mysterious Watson heiress.”

Brody didn’t even blink. His eyes stayed steady, his voice calm and certain. “No, you’re not. There’s no way you’re the Watson heiress.”

If she really was, she would’ve left him a long time ago. He could keep Nelly around, but he’d never be able to hold on to the Watson family’s real heiress. And that’s why Brody hoped his guess was wrong.

Nelly didn’t bother arguing. The corners of her mouth lifted in a small, almost involuntary smile. She looked completely unbothered, but her eyes told a different story—there was a flash of mockery and a touch of disdain.

Of course, even if she told Brody the truth, he wouldn’t believe her. In his eyes, Nelly was just someone ordinary, someone who could never fit the role of a rich heiress. People make up their minds about you right from the start, and that first impression is almost impossible to change.

His perfect, untouchable first love could be all smoke and mirrors, but he’d still see her as someone worth risking everything for. But Nelly, who was always right there in front of him, could give everything she had and go through hell for him, and he’d still act like she didn’t matter.

The driver pulled up, and Nancy got into the car right after. Nelly moved again, sliding into the back row. Nancy quickly sat down beside her.

The air inside the car felt tense and heavy, and Nancy picked up on it right away. She glanced at Nelly during the ride. Nelly barely moved, just stared quietly out the window. Brody sat in front of them, not looking back even once.

By the time they got back to the hotel, it was already late. Nelly and Brody didn’t say a word to each other. They just went straight to their own rooms.

Once she was inside, Nelly’s phone rang. The caller’s name made her pause for a second.

“Hello?” Her voice was soft. “Hey, Jonah.”

He was quiet for a few moments before he finally spoke. “I heard the show went really well. Congratulations.”

He didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched for a moment, then Nelly’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” Jonah’s voice was a little rough, but he sounded like he was trying to smile, as if he wanted to keep things light.

“Just… sorry.”

Sorry that she hadn’t chosen him. Sorry she’d picked Nancy instead. Nelly knew she was being selfish. Right now, Nancy meant more to the success of the show than Jonah did. And in her heart, Nelly knew she couldn’t just think about herself.

Jonah had always been good to her, but that kindness had come at the cost of someone else’s pain.