Now They Want My Forgiveness - Chapter 95: Chapter 95

Just then, they heard Fiona greeting them, her words dripping with thinly veiled disdain. "Mom, it's not that we didn't tell you. We just thought that, at your age, a buffet might be too much for your health.
"Look, it's not about money. That's really nothing to us. But honestly, you really wouldn't eat enough to make it worthwhile."
Eleanor's face was icy as she snapped, "You're just being stingy and don't want us to eat, aren't you? Since you claim it is nothing, then what does it matter how much or how little we eat?
"So you've squandered so much of Stella's money, but can't even spare a buffet for your own mother and daughter? Is that it?" Eleanor's voice was loud enough to draw the attention of those nearby.
Fiona's face twisted in embarrassment. "Mom, what are you saying? Could you keep your voice down? Do you really want everyone to hear this?"
Eleanor retorted sharply, "What? Now you're embarrassed? Afraid your perfect family image will crumble in public? If you'd simply bothered to greet us, I wouldn't have said a word. But now that you're acting this way, why shouldn't I speak up?"
Max snarled, "It was you, wasn't it?" Max, always quick to blame Stella, jabbed a finger right at her nose, his face twisted in anger.
Stella shoved his hand away and snapped, "You know exactly what you've done, yet you still blame me? What goes around comes around. This is your instant karma. You'd better watch yourselves."
Max snapped, "Stella, ever since you came back to this family, this house has been nothing but chaos. What on earth do you want? I'm asking you, what exactly are you after?"
Anna quickly tugged at Max's sleeve and whispered, "Max, let's just drop it. Not in front of all these people. We can talk about it at home."
Max snapped, "I'm going to show everyone what she's really like."
Stella slammed her hand on the table and shot to her feet, eyes blazing. "Oh, you want to see my true colors? Fine. Grandma and I were willing to let this go. But since you're pushing me, then let's do this your way. Right here—"
Before Stella could finish, Anna dramatically dropped to her knees. "Stella, it's all my fault. Please, can we talk about this at home? Even if you don't care about embarrassing Max and our parents, at least spare Grandma's dignity."
"Don't worry about my dignity," Eleanor snapped. "I'm not afraid to show everyone your true colors."
It wasn't long before someone in the crowd recognized them and quietly whispered, "Isn't that the Hayes family that's been trending everywhere lately?"
"I heard that Stella, the daughter they didn't rescue, came back and started getting back at her family, doing all sorts of heartless things. But they say her family never gave up on her. Why does it look so different now?"
"Things are never what they seem. Maybe that family is just bleeding her dry."
"My goodness, this is some juicy gossip. Let's just keep eating and watch the show. Who knows, maybe her parents are real pieces of work."
Andrew rubbed his temples in frustration, immediately yanking Anna up from her knees and shoving Max back.
Max still wanted to argue, but Andrew kept shooting him warning looks before turning to Stella and Eleanor and saying, "Mom, Stella, please, just take your time and eat."
"Stop right there!" Eleanor barked.
Andrew and the others froze and then turned to face her.
Eleanor shot to her feet. "Don't mistake our patience for weakness. I was willing to overlook you sneaking off to this buffet behind our backs. After all, we're here now. But what exactly did Fiona and Max mean by those words?
"Are they looking down on me, this old woman who can hardly move? Or is it Stella you despise just because she came back from some backwater town and doesn't even know how to walk properly?
"So, us coming out to eat embarrasses you, huh? You get to feast outside while we're stuck eating at home? Let everyone here be the judge. Is this how family should act?"