Hearing the voice, they all stopped and turned in unison to see who it was.
When Theodore Quinn, who was walking at the very front, got a clear look at the newcor, his already stern face grew even more severe, now tinged with a hint of indignation.
Seth Quinn and Miles Quinn, walking side-by-side behind him, were first surprised, then overjoyed. Miles happily cried out, "Sis!" and ran up to give her a hug.
Though Seth Quinn remained silent, a faint smile graced his usually stoic face.
Jenna Quinn let go of Miles, flashed a radiant smile at her mother and Seth, then took a few quick steps to stand before them.
Sienna Hale was overjoyed the mont she saw her daughter. "Jenna, what are you doing back here?"
As she spoke, she started forward to take her daughter’s hand.
But when Theodore Quinn heard this, his gaze shifted from Jenna to his wife’s face.
His brow furrowed deeply, his gaze cold. "Judging by your reaction, you’ve known about her situation this whole ti. For the past five years, you’ve been in contact with her, haven’t you?"
Theodore Quinn’s words stopped Sienna Hale in her tracks. A flash of embarrassnt crossed her face, but she quickly regained her composure and turned to her husband. "How could I possibly have been in contact with Jenna? If I had been, do you think I could have hidden it from you? I’m just... I’m just shocked to see her, that’s all."
"Is that so?" Theodore Quinn scoffed. "But your reaction is hardly that of soone who’s had zero contact with her for five years!"
"What do you an? How so? I’m her mother! After not hearing a word from my own daughter for five years, she suddenly returns. Shouldn’t I be surprised, overjoyed, and a little heartbroken all at once?"
Though she lacked confidence, Sienna Hale continued to argue her case.
Theodore Quinn glanced at her, let out a soft snort, and said no more.
Seeing that he had dropped the subject, Sienna Hale breathed an inward sigh of relief. ’She knew Theodore Quinn’s temperant better than anyone.’
’In the Quinn Family, he was the Family Head. His word was not to be defied, his decisions not to be resisted.’
’That was why, years ago, when Jenna ignored their objections and insisted on marrying that poor boy, Carter Shaw—even eloping with him in secret—Theodore had declared in a fit of rage that he would have nothing more to do with her. And he had ant it.’
’He had forbidden anyone in the Quinn Family from helping her, contacting her, or seeing her. No exceptions!’
’For the five years Jenna had been away, she had secretly kept in touch, even finding opportunities to go to the U.S.A. to see her every year. This was a blatant disregard for his authority as the Family Head, an unforgivable act of defiance!’
’So, of course, he could never find out.’
’Otherwise, forget Jenna being allowed back in the house—he would probably throw her out too, wouldn’t he?’
But just as Sienna Hale breathed a sigh of relief, she saw Theodore Quinn turn his anger back on their daughter.
"Who let you in? I told you back then, since you were determined to defy your mother and by marrying that dead-end, poor boy, you were never to set foot in the Quinn Family ho again. We decided then and there that we no longer had a daughter! So, what are you doing back here now? Ca to tell you picked the wrong man and that you regret it?"
Theodore Quinn grumbled, settling onto the sofa with an imposing air as he spoke.
Before Jenna Quinn could even speak, Sienna Hale cut in, displeased. She shot her husband a reproachful look and said in a chiding tone, "Theodore, Jenna’s back now. Why bring up things that were said in anger five years ago? Besides, you’ve missed her too, haven’t you?"
Theodore Quinn’s neck stiffened. He glared at her and spat, "Who missed her? How could I possibly miss such an unfilial daughter!"
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