When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 399

He was willing to do anything for the person who had saved his daughter’s life. Even so, he couldn’t stand Tina. For someone from an influential family, she had no sense of class at all.

“Uncle Nicholas, I wish I could just let this go too. But honestly, I’m not that generous. After everything I’ve been called, just dropping it doesn’t feel right to me.”

Jonah looked completely calm. He glanced at Tina, who was sitting in the corner with her head low, then set his phone down on the table.

The small thump made Tina flinch.

A choppy recording started playing, filling the room with chaotic background noise, but Tina’s voice was crystal clear. She spat out words like “cheaters” and “thieves” over and over.

Tina’s face twisted in humiliation. She turned to Sheila, wishing she could just disappear. How was she supposed to know that Nelly and that guy were siblings?

“Mr. Watson, I want to apologize on behalf of Mrs. Garland for what happened today.” Sheila stood up so fast her chair almost toppled over. She bowed deeply to Nicholas and Nelly, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles popped.

“You don’t have to be so formal, Ms. Olson, since you were involved too,” Jonah said in a calm, almost casual voice, but his words were sharp.

Sheila kept her head down, her brow twitching as she bit the inside of her lip. “You’re right, Mr. Watson... I didn’t know who Ms. Stewart really was. I made assumptions, I got carried away... I did something wrong, and I want to apologize. Please, I hope you can forgive me...”

Her voice was soft, fragile, full of hurt and helplessness, like she was the one being picked on. But her apology wasn’t really for Jonah or Nelly—it was for Nicholas.

“Uncle Nicholas, since you’re asking, of course I’ll give you this courtesy.”

Just as tension filled the room, Nelly—who had been silent the whole time—finally spoke up.

“But just saying sorry feels a little empty. I think a real apology should mean something.”

She looked up at Nicholas, her eyes clear and steady, a gentle smile curving her lips. For a moment, Nicholas saw Christopher’s face in hers, the memory flashing through his mind.