From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 309: Chapter 309

The room fell silent except for the ticking of the old antique clock.
Anna's expression became serious, and she locked eyes with Tyson for a long while before softening her tone. "Tyson, I know you probably think I'm saying this because I favor the second branch."
"I—" Tyson wanted to comment.
"Don't speak, let me finish." Anna raised her hand to stop Tyson from speaking.
She took two deep breaths to calm herself before continuing, "Tyson, if I really favored the second branch, I wouldn't have let your father go find you when you left home, and I would have supported the second branch to take over while you were gone. But did I?
"I know the second branch doesn't have your ability. He can't support the family, and everyone knows that—everyone in the Godard family, everyone in Godard Group knows it!" Anna's emotions flared. "But what does that matter? This family needs a bloodline to carry on!
"You didn't marry or have children! You defied everyone to adopt Max, but Max isn't from the Godard family, and he can't be the heir!
"And then there's Paisy." Anna paused when mentioning Paisley. "Yes, she's outstanding. She's stronger than any child in the Godard family! If she were a man, I'd have no objections. I would fully support her. I believe not just me, but the whole family would support her!
"But Tyson, Paisy is a woman! Women cannot lead!" Anna looked at the family portrait on the wall, where Josie stood in the center, clearly the favored one.
"When you mentioned Josie, I understand what you mean. Josie is the late child of your father and me, so we dote on her. We give her everything, all the love, all the money. We fulfill all her desires, not letting her worry about the mundane.
"We want her to live a happy and peaceful life, to be a delicate flower forever. But a delicate flower can only bloom indoors, not on top of a mountain.
"So, she can own shares in the group, she can have a place in the group, but that's all. Your father and I never expected her to take charge. Letting her marry without becoming a tool for alliances is our greatest favor to her."
"So that's how it is," Josie's voice suddenly interrupted from the doorway.
Anna was about to speak again, but at the sound of Josie's voice, she stopped. She looked at Josie in shock, then grew furious. "Josie has arrived, and no one told me!"
Josie stood in the doorway, giving a light laugh. Beside her, the tall attendant stood nervously, unsure what to do.
Josie had just left but returned, saying she had something to discuss with Anna. The short attendant tried to stop her, knowing that Anna and Tyson were still talking.
But the tall attendant, thinking he could please her, brought her in, knowing that Josie was Anna's favorite. Little did he know, as soon as they got close, they overheard this explosive conversation.
"Mom, you don't need to get so worked up. If I want to come in, who's going to stop me?" Josie walked in with a seductive gait, a half-smile on her lips as she looked at her mother. "It's really strange. I never knew, until now, that you and Dad love me this way."
"Josie." Anna became anxious, especially when she saw the distant expression on Josie's face, one she had never seen before.
"Mom, you don't need to explain. I've heard everything I needed to hear," Josie smiled and nodded. "I understand, I really do!"
Anna sighed deeply, knowing that no matter what she said now, it wouldn't make a difference. "Josie, why are you here looking for me?"
Josie paused for a moment. After what had just happened, she couldn't even remember why she had come back to speak with her mother. It didn't matter. Right now, nothing mattered to her anymore.
"It's nothing," She smiled at Anna, then turned to Tyson with a complicated look in her eyes. "You two can continue your conversation. I'm leaving."
"Josie." Anna looked at her with compassion, but in the end, she didn't try to stop her anymore.
Josie turned to leave decisively, but as she passed Tyson, she gave his hand a firm squeeze. Neither of them said anything, but it was as if they had said everything.
Josie quickly walked away, her thoughts in disarray, oblivious to everything around her. When she looked up again, she was surprised to find that, without realizing it, she had ended up near the main building.
"Josie," Serena's soft voice called out behind her.
She stiffly turned around and saw Paisley's apprentice, who had returned with the two kids. Her gaze first landed on the limp Grayson, then moved to Serena.
"Josie, are you here to find my mom?" Serena asked.
Josie wasn't sure why she had come here. Facing the innocent and clueless gaze of the little girl, she could only force a nod. "Mm."
Paisley had just finished giving Max an acupuncture treatment and needed to wait for forty-five minutes before removing the needles.
Knowing the two kids were back, she went downstairs to greet them. She then saw Josie standing awkwardly in the lobby.
"Josie?" Paisley was slightly surprised. This was the first time Josie had come to this place since Paisley had moved in.
"I—" Josie felt embarrassed, especially after their recent unpleasant exchange.
"Mom, Josie is here to talk to you!" Seeing her great aunt struggling in silence, Serena decided to speak up.
Paisley smiled knowingly, not wanting to make Josie feel worse. She gestured towards the tea room. "Josie, let's go have some tea."
Josie let out a relieved sigh and took the cue Paisley gave her. "Alright, I'm thirsty anyway. I've heard your herbal tea here is really good. Can you make some for me to try?"
"Got it." Paisley noticed Josie's discomfort but chose not to comment. After telling Linna a few things, Paisley led Josie to the tea room.
Once inside, Josie, pretending to be busy, kept moving around, looking here and there, walking from one place to another. Eventually, she caught a whiff of a refreshing tea aroma and walked over to sit at the tea table.
"Is this the herbal tea you made yourself?" she asked, her eyes wide. She was more honest with her hands than her words, immediately picking up the tea and inhaling its fragrance before taking a small sip. "Mm, good tea."
She put the cup down, looking at Paisley with sincere eyes. "Actually, the person in our family who loves tea the most is my dad, your grandfather. I believe, if he were still alive, he'd love this tea so much."
Paisley poured herself a cup. "Not necessarily."
Josie froze for a moment, then understood the meaning behind Paisley's words. "Yeah, if he were alive, you probably wouldn't be back in this family."
That was right. Paisley's grandfather had known that Tyson had a wife and child in Harrowfell, but he still used his power to force her brother to forget about them. He never intended to recognize Paisley.
If it weren't for the fact that Tyson had eventually remembered everything, they might have never reunited.
Josie looked deeply at Paisley, the scene of Tyson defending Paisley against Anna flashing through her mind. "Paisy, I really envy you."