Chapter 7

Linda couldn’t sleep well all night. Thinking about her adoptive parents’ attitude toward Elizabeth disturbed her. The next day, Linda directly approached Jack, who was busy with work on the sofa.

“Jack.”

Jack looked up, his handsome face serious, “You look exhausted. Did you stay up late studying again?”

“No.”

Nervously, Linda handed over a tightly gripped bank card, “Jack, this is the pocket money I’ve saved over the years. Could you give it to Elizabeth for me?”

Jack looked puzzled, “What’s this about?”

Linda felt a little awkward, “I want to apologize to her. I didn’t mean to reveal that her clothes were knock-offs yesterday. She seemed upset and ignored me. I’ve saved quite a bit of money over the years, just in case…”

Jack frowned, his thoughts racing. Had Linda been feeling insecure for a long time?

His heart felt restless. Though he was seven years older than Elizabeth, he spent most of his childhood abroad with his grandfather and never got to establish a strong sibling bond before Elizabeth went missing.

Later, when Linda arrived in the Wilson family, Jack transferred the affection he had for his biological sister to Linda, trying to make up for the void left by Elizabeth. As time passed, he increasingly began to treat the sensible and well-behaved Linda as if she were his real sister.

Linda smiled, “I don’t know what Elizabeth likes, but this money should be enough for her to buy several luxury items.”

Meeting Linda’s innocent eyes, Jack took the bank card silently, “Elizabeth would be really happy that you care about her this much.”

“You had your eyes on a bag last time but didn’t buy it. I’ll have my secretary order it for you later.”

Hearing this, Linda’s voice sweetened, “Thank you, Jack. you’re so sweet.”

Jack chuckled, “You’re so good at acting spoiled.”

Linda quickly tried to smooth things over, “Who else but Jack spoils me the most?”

A faint smile formed at the corner of Jack’s lips, displaying an indulgent expression as if to say he couldn’t help but pamper her.

As if remembering something, Linda said, “Oh, right. Doesn’t Elizabeth want to get into Sunny Heights High School? I was thinking of getting her a tutor. We still have a month before the school year starts; it should be enough time.”

Jack looked a little odd. A month? Even a year wouldn’t be enough time for Elizabeth to get into Sunny Heights High School, but he didn’t want to dampen Linda’s enthusiasm, so he said, “I’ll arrange it.”

Sophia brought breakfast to the table and glanced at the two whispering siblings, “What’s the secret conversation about so early in the morning?”

Jack expressed his concerns, “We were discussing Elizabeth’s academics. Linda suggested that we hire a tutor for her. I think it’s a good idea, and perhaps we could also get an etiquette teacher while we’re at it.”

Sophia’s face darkened immediately, “No way!”

Jack felt a jolt go through him, and the words he was about to say got stuck in his throat. He looked at his mother and he felt puzzled.

“You just welcomed Elizabeth home, and you’re already thinking of hiring her a tutor! Do you want her to think we’re dissatisfied with her academic performance? And an etiquette teacher, right? Jack, what are you thinking? She’s your sister; even if she picks her nose or scratches her feet, you should still find it endearing.”

Sophia was at a loss for words.

Linda felt a surge of anger inside her.

Flagrant favoritism!

Jack thought about it and realized his mother was right. Still, for the sake of his ego, he couldn’t help but argue, “It was my mistake; I didn’t consider it carefully. I just wanted to help her fit into our family sooner.”

“Fine, if you really want what’s best for Elizabeth, then don’t do anything unnecessary.”

Sophia finished speaking and looked at Linda, “If you have nothing better to do, go do your homework instead of coming up with messy ideas.”

Linda pouted in distress.

Jack quickly explained, “It’s not Linda’s fault; she meant well.”

Fearing Linda might misunderstand, Sophia added, “I may have neglected you a bit these past few days because of Elizabeth’s return. But you are just as important to me as Elizabeth. Linda, you are a good kid, but sometimes you try too hard, and that’s not good.”

Linda was confused.

Why did that sound so off to her?

After a moment, she reluctantly admitted, “Mom, I was wrong. I won’t come up with bad ideas anymore.”

Jack frowned slightly, “We also want to make it up to Elizabeth; we want to do something for her, but she… seems hard to get along with.”

Sophia was not pleased, “Just make an effort to get along.”

Jack was speechless.

Sophia’s eyes were filled with concern, “Elizabeth has been away from us for so many years; we don’t know how hard it has been for her. You’re her eldest brother; you should be tolerant of her, no matter what she does or says.”

Jack’s face stiffened for a moment, “I understand that a certain amount of indulgence is okay, but let’s not go overboard with the pampering. I’m worried Elizabeth might not be able to resist the temptations of the big city.”

Sophia pondered for a moment and said calmly, “You should go back to work then.”

Watching his mother storm back into the kitchen after finishing speaking, Jack didn’t know what to say.

Thinking about Elizabeth’s behavior yesterday, Jack rubbed his temples, feeling somewhat helpless.

Was he wrong to be concerned that Elizabeth might be corrupted by the materialistic city and become depraved?

As her own brother, could he not be worried?

On the contrary, he hoped more than anyone that Elizabeth would become better, regardless of her previous character. They should correct it now while she’s still young to avoid going down the wrong path later.

Jack felt his parents were too soft-hearted, so he should be the stern one.

Linda looked concerned, “Elizabeth, don’t be angry with mom. I can understand her emotional state of losing and regaining.”

“I know.”

Jack rubbed Linda’s head tiredly, feeling a bit discontented that his parents had been so cautious about Elizabeth and had overlooked Linda’s feelings.

Elizabeth was standing on the second floor, watching the harmonious scene below between brother and sister.

Her clear eyes moved slightly and her gaze fell on Jack’s hand as he rubbed Linda’s head.

She lifted her own hand and touched her own head.

After standing in place for a moment, she turned and went back to her room. She threw the watch worth over ten million dollars on the table into the trash can, then picked through her suitcase.

Finally, she took out a twenty-dollar digital watch and squinted satisfactorily. It looked much better now.

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