Just as she started to feel a bit regretful, Joanna’s cold eyes met hers, and the anger that had just begun to subside flared up again.
"You troublemaker!" he yelled, pointing at Joanna’s nose, "What kind of expression is that? Do you think I’m being unfair to you? You don’t even have basic respect for your elders, and it’s such a disgrace to the Lawrence family!"
"Look at your sister, and then look at yourself! You’re a total failure as an older sister!"
"Dad, please calm down, calm down!"
Standing behind Benjamin Lawrence, Annie looked at Joanna with a gleeful and provocative expression in her eyes.
She walked forward and supported Benjamin, pretending to be well-behaved and sensible, coaxing in a soft voice, "The doctor told you to take good care of yourself, and you shouldn’t get angry ."
"Joanna, seriously." She frowned and raised her head to gently scold, "You know Dad’s health isn’t good, and he can’t take too much anger. Can’t you just say less?"
"Do you really want to make him sick before you’re satisfied?"
"I know you’re in a bad mood right now, and it’s fine if you yell at me or hit me, but please don’t make Dad angry anymore. Joanna, I’m begging you, enough."
"Our dear Annie is so sensible," Rose Liall said meaningfully, "Sir Darren, these are your daughters. You should know better who truly cares for you."
Benjamin looked at Annie approvingly, but when he turned to Joanna, all that was left was disappointment and disgust, "The moment you came back, this home was filled with negative energy. It’s better if you come back less often in the future."
"Rose and Annie are gracious enough not to dwell on what just happened; I can’t be bothered to say anything else either. Go on, I don’t want to see you now."
Joanna covered her face and expressionlessly looked at the three people standing opposite her.
They had a harmonious and happy family of three.
They were the real family.
As for her, she was just the redundant one.
This scene was truly ironic.
Indeed, she should have realized long ago that this place was no longer her home.
Actually, she had always been aware of it.
It was just that this time, the feeling was deeper than ever before.
"Joanna, you should go back to school first," Annie said with a seemingly well-intentioned tone, "Dad is just angry right now, and he’s just speaking out of anger. Don’t take it too seriously. Once he cools down, you can still come back..."
"Annie Lawrence, shut up! Put away your hypocritical face; it’s disgusting."
Joanna couldn’t stand Annie’s fake behavior of acting well-behaved and sensible.
"Joanna, you..." Immediately, Annie put on an injured look, her eyes turning red.
"Sir Darren, look at what she’s become. She bullies us mother and daughter even in front of you. Imagine how much worse it must be when you’re not around," Mrs. Rose Lawrence said.
"Now you have to believe what I’ve been telling you before. In the early years when Annie and I moved here, we were often bullied by her. If you don’t discipline your daughter, I’m afraid she won’t even respect you anymore." Rose wiped the corner of her eye, looking quite upset and wronged.