Chapter 3463
Kathryn remarked, “I’ve endured a lot throughout this journey, and my values and character have been shaped over time. I can no longer grow up according to my mother’s expectations.”
Clarissa responded icily, “Are you trying to make me feel guilty?”
Kathryn chuckled at herself. “How audacious of me! But will you even feel guilty? Do you truly have a heart?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Clarissa struck Kathryn again.
This slap landed on the other side of Kathryn’s face.
Both sides of Kathryn’s face were now red and swollen, with blood oozing from the corners of her mouth.
“Miss!” Pedro exclaimed in distress. He could no longer contain himself. If Clarissa attacked again, he might just throw her out!
This was the person he had wanted to protect all his life. How could he stand by and let Clarissa continue to hurt her?
Clarissa lifted her gaze and shot a glance at Pedro. “Pedro, leave! This is a matter between my daughter and me. It doesn’t concern anyone else!”
Clarissa was genuinely afraid that Pedro would throw her out.
Pedro remained still.
Kathryn attempted to sit up.
Pedro quickly supported her, pulled out a tissue, and gently wiped the blood from Kathryn’s mouth.
“Mr. Fraser, can you check if any of my teeth have been knocked out?”
Kathryn opened her mouth wide for Pedro to see if her teeth were intact.
Pedro noticed that several of her teeth were bleeding. “I think your teeth are still there.”
Kathryn closed her mouth and gestured to Pedro for a glass of water so she could rinse her mouth and spit out the blood.
Kathryn rinsed her mouth multiple times, spitting out the blood afterward.
Clarissa observed all of this with cold indifference. There were still remnants of pain lingering in the atmosphere.
In her eyes, Clarissa and Kathryn had a fragile mother-daughter relationship. After ten months of pregnancy, they were separated at birth. Kathryn did not return to Clarissa until she was in her twenties. This meant that the best opportunity to nurture their bond was lost. As a result, their connection remained shallow and faint. The only tie between them was blood; had blood not been thicker than water, they might have been more like strangers than family.
Since Kathryn’s return, Clarissa has experienced mixed feelings towards her. Initially, she held disdain for Kathryn, viewing her as weak and ineffective, and she believed Kathryn was inferior to Shiloh. At one point, she even regretted bringing Kathryn back. However, she later realized that Kathryn was merely pretending to be less capable; in reality, she was far smarter and more competent than Shiloh. Despite her rural upbringing and limited exposure to business, Kathryn learned quickly. In just over two years, her skills had surpassed those of her three brothers.
Clarissa couldn’t help but admire the strength of the women in the Farrell family lineage. However, if the daughters of the Farrell family are indeed born strong, then her granddaughters, despite not carrying the Farrell surname, are also part of the bloodline but do not possess this inherent strength. It seems that only daughters born from strong mothers can inherit this quality. Perhaps this is why the Farrell family has always chosen to pass down its legacy to daughters rather than sons.