After the two little ones fell asleep, the nanny carried them back to their room.

Aveline stood up and said, "I've been working on some sketches lately. You two chat. I just had a spark of inspiration and need to put it down before I lose it." Selena immediately made a show of trying to stop her from leaving, but Aveline only smiled faintly, giving her a meaningful look as if to say, "Take care of Jolie." Selena was left speechless.

She suddenly regretted bringing Jolie here.

What on earth had possessed her to do that? Was she out of her mind?

Aveline had already gone upstairs, and now Selena couldn't just get up and leave. Glancing at Jolie, she asked, "Want to watch TV?"

Instead of answering, Jolie asked, "Why did you bring me here, Selena?"

Selena fell silent.

Her irritation spiked.

Why did everything have to be spelled out? Why couldn't people just let things be?

With a grumble, she snapped, "You probably think I've lost my mind, don't you?"

Jolie chuckled softly. "If that's the case, I hope you keep losing your mind more often."

Selena was speechless.

She stared blankly at the wall, her face utterly devoid of expression.

Jolie stood up, her tone calm but decisive. "I know you don't like me and would rather not see me. But the fact that you brought me here... it meant a lot. Thank you. I'll head out now and stop bothering you." "Stop."

The word left Selena's lips instinctively, cutting Jolie off before she could leave.

Jolie turned to her, confusion evident in her eyes, as if silently asking. "You don't even like me why stop me from leaving?"

Selena glanced at her briefly before looking away and saying, "The security cameras clearly caught you leaving with me. If you leave now and something happens, it's on me. So, no, you're not going anywhere." Jolie blinked.

That reasoning... felt awfully flimsy.

Seeing that she still seemed inclined to leave, Selena frowned and added, "You're already here. What's the rush?"

Jolie hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, I'll stay."

She sat back down on the couch.

Selena grabbed a cushion and hugged it, falling silent.

Jolie busied herself with her phone. Neither of them said a word and the atmosphere grew awkwardly tense.

After a while, Jolie broke the silence. "If you don't want to go home, then don't."

Selena didn't respond.

Jolie continued as if speaking to herself. "To them, making a profit is always the priority. Even after all these years of being doted on, I still can't escape that reality."

Selena let out a faint scoff. "You're important to them. They'd never use you as a bargaining chip."

"Why wouldn't they?" Jolie said with

a wry smile. The only reason they haven't is because none of the offers interested them before. But now, they've found someone they deem worthy, and suddenly,bhave a rofe to play."

Selena turned to her, narrowing her eyes. "Who do they want you to marry?"

Jolie's lips curved into a bitter smile. "Gavin Cooper."

Selena scoffed. "They've got some nerve dreaming that up."

Jolie shrugged. "Who doesn't, right?"

After a brief pause, Selena said, "You could always choose to leave."

Jolie shook her head, her voice calm

but resolute. I don't have that

option. I've benefited from

everything 'the Quin family has provided me. It's only fair that Kdo

what's best for them in

return."

She looked at Selena, a flicker of longing in her eyes. "That's why I envy you so much. You're free, unrestrained by any of this."

Her gaze lowered, and she didn't continue.

If she had the choice, she would've gladly traded places with the one who wasn't loved, the one left overlooked.

But fate rarely grants wishes-it only offers the opposite.

Selena frowned, watching her for a moment before saying, "Let's not compare ourselves. If you're bored, watch TV. I'm going to rest for a bit." With that, she stood up and left the room.

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