Ethan said all this simply to ease any worries Janina might have.
What parent wouldn't want to be close to their children? But he knew their family's circumstances were a difficult burden for any child to bear.
"Dad, don't worry. This is my home now," Janina said, deciding to test the waters with the truth. "Actually… I'm already divorced. I left with nothing, and I don't have a job. Right now, I don't have anywhere else to go…"
After she spoke, she waited for their reaction - a mix of distance and unease settling in her toward this family. Maybe it was because she no longer held any illusions about family affection.
She laid her difficulties bare to let them know she was no longer a wealthy heiress or a rich man's wife. She was just as poor as they were.
If the Holts truly wanted her back, she would treat them as family.
But if their intentions were impure from the start, hoping to gain something from her, she would walk away and pretend she had been an orphan all along.
Janina's words left all three of them stunned for a moment.
They clearly hadn't expected her life to be so difficult. Grace burst into tears.
She wheeled herself over to them, took her daughter's other hand, and sobbed.
"Nina… don't be afraid. You have Mom and Dad now, and your brothers. We will all love you and protect you. We won't let you suffer any more hardship."
Grace cried until she was out of breath.
She assumed her daughter must have been terribly wronged by her in-laws to get a divorce. Seeing how the Gables had treated her earlier, she guessed that Janina's life with them hadn't been good either.
The more she thought about it, the more her heart broke. She ended up hugging Janina and crying uncontrollably, blaming herself over and over.
Easton said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line. He raised a hand to wipe his eyes and then walked out of the room.

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