Grace was trying to use guilt-tripping to force the Sinclair family to cut ties with Josephine. But she seemed to be mistaken. Ever since Josephine left the Sterling family, she hadn’t relied on anyone. Grace’s words were completely useless against her.
Not only were they useless, but they were also laughable. Neither the Sinclairs nor Josephine would pay any mind to a threat that didn’t even exist.
"Say whatever you want. I don’t care, and it’s impossible for me to return to the Sterling family, so you might as well give up!" Josephine didn’t bother explaining.
During her time with the Sterlings, she had explained herself far too many times, but when had they ever believed her? Rather than waste her breath on people who refused to believe her, she might as well spend that time doing something more meaningful.
"I think you just have nothing left to say!" Howard’s eyes were filled with mockery. "Things like you are like vampires. Without someone to latch onto, how could you possibly survive anywhere?
"Sinclair, I respect you as a man of stature, so I don’t want to make this ugly.
"Today, the Sterling family is teaching an unfilial daughter a lesson. I must ask you not to interfere."
Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair exchanged a glance.
"Forgive me, but I must disagree," Mr. Sinclair said. "Miss Sterling is an adult. If she is unwilling to do something, it is hardly appropriate for you to force her, Mr. Sterling.
"Since this is the Sinclairs’ home, if your actions violate the law, we naturally will not sit idly by."
Howard never expected the Sinclairs to be so unappreciative of his restraint. "So, you insist on interfering?"
"That is quite an unreasonable thing to say, Professor Sterling." Ethan had returned at some point. He opened his car door and took long strides to stand beside Josephine. "My father has already made it perfectly clear. If you want to discipline a Sterling, go back to the Sterlings’ home. Don’t come yelling in the Sinclairs’ home. That is my first point.
"Second, why did I hear that the two of you blindly barged into our home today demanding someone?
"What, do you think the Sinclair family has fallen so far that any random nobody can come knocking and barking at our door?"
"You..." Howard’s old face flushed bright red as he pointed a trembling finger at Ethan. "You are completely unreasonable!
"Josephine, I will ask you one last time. Are you coming back with us or not?"
Josephine glared at him coldly. "I believe I have made myself perfectly clear. I have cut ties with the Sterling family. I have absolutely nothing to do with you anymore. The Sterlings’ home is no longer mine, and I will never go back."
"You wouldn’t dare!" Howard had never been defied like this, especially not by a daughter he had always looked down upon.
Furious, he lunged at Josephine, intent on dragging her back. He was going to take her back today no matter what. Even if he had to tie her up, he would take her back. He refused to believe the Sinclairs would actually intervene. If they dared, he had plenty of ways to ruin their reputation in their social circles.
Josephine braced herself to fight them with everything she had. She had been careless. She thought they wouldn’t come looking for trouble so soon, so she hadn’t brought her bodyguards out with her. It seemed she would need to keep them close by from now on.
Howard’s hand was suddenly seized by Ethan.
"Since Professor Sterling and his wife refuse to give an explanation, then I am absolutely going to protect her today," Ethan stated. With a forceful shove, he pushed Howard to the ground. "Go back and tell your son—he’s a grown man. Getting beaten up and then running to his parents? Have some shame!"
Josephine froze. She wondered how Ethan knew Liam had been beaten up.
Before she could figure it out, Grace Hayes rushed toward her. "Josephine, you are so ruthless! That is your father, and you actually let an outsider lay a hand on him! Do you have any conscience left?"
Seeing that Grace’s slap was about to land on her face again, Josephine quickly grabbed the woman’s wrist. Annoyed, she mimicked Ethan’s actions and gave her a hard shove outward.
"Can you not understand human speech? I said it before, I am no longer a Sterling, and he is not my father.
"Leave. Do not come looking for me ever again, or I will call the police and press charges for harassment."
Grace was stunned by her cold demeanor. In all the years this girl had spent in the Sterling family, she had never been so heartless toward them.
Grace wondered where on earth Josephine got the confidence to actually get physical with her, and if it was simply because of the Sinclair family’s backing. She reasoned that the Sinclairs only held a grudge against the Sterlings, which was why they were instigating the girl to turn against them. Yet, that idiot had actually fallen for it.
Grace cursed inwardly. Once her eldest brother dealt with the Sinclairs, she would show Josephine what real suffering was.
She turned and helped Howard up. "Josie, Mom has raised you for so many years. I truly never expected you to be such a heartless person.
"Since you’ve made up your mind not to return to the Sterling family, then Mom just hopes you can live a good life. If you ever suffer any grievances, remember to come back and find Mom.
"The Sterlings’ home will always be your home."
Grace was truly a master at acting. She spared no effort in putting on a show!
If the Sinclair family hadn’t been present, Josephine would have cursed her out loud. The breath caught in her throat. She clenched her fists three times before finally suppressing the urge to scream at her. She cursed the shameless Sterlings in her mind. It had only been a few days, and they were already trying to drag her back. She wondered if they really thought she was a born pushover.
Only after they left did Josephine’s shoulders slump in defeat, her body swaying slightly.
Clara Sinclair rushed over and caught her arm. "Are you okay?"
"I’m fine." Josephine forced a smile. How could she be fine after being verbally abused and nearly assaulted by her own parents in front of outsiders?
Even though she had stopped caring a long time ago, the sheer hatred still drained her of her strength. But she didn’t want Clara to worry. "Hurry and go back inside. Don’t make your parents worry."
Clara rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "Don’t be silly. Come on, come inside with me."
"Next time!" Josephine walked over to Clara’s parents. "Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Sinclair, I am truly sorry. My affairs have dragged you into this mess. I apologize.
"If there is a next time, you don’t need to be polite to them. Just kick them out immediately.
"I’m so sorry you had to see that."
Her endless stream of apologies took Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair somewhat by surprise. This younger one was certainly far more pleasing to the eye than those two older ones.
Every family had their fair share of parent-child conflicts, but to blow it up until everyone knew, leaving no face or dignity whatsoever—the Sterling family was definitely the first in Aethelgard to do so. It was far too shameful!
The Sinclair couple exchanged another glance.
"Come on in," Mr. Sinclair said.
"I shouldn’t." How could Josephine enter the Sinclairs’ home at a time like this? Wouldn’t that just confirm the rumors that the Sinclair family was protecting her and opposing the Sterlings?
She couldn’t allow the Sinclairs’ reputation to be damaged. At this crucial moment, she couldn’t afford to be associated with them any further.
"It’s getting late today, so I won’t intrude," she continued. "Next time. Next time, I will definitely pay a formal visit."
Clara was about to protest, but Ethan raised a hand and tapped her lightly on the head. "Go inside."
"Ethan!" Clara whined in dissatisfaction.
Mr. Sinclair also shot her a look. "Listen to your brother. Go inside for now."
No matter how much she worried about Josephine, Clara didn’t dare defy Mr. Sinclair right now.
She blamed it all on Howard for actually coming to the Sinclair family to demand someone. It was one thing for him to forbid her from associating with Josie before, but now Josie was just hanging out with her, and they actually made a scene in front of her family. They were absolute scumbags.
Clara winked and signaled to Josephine before reluctantly heading back inside the house.
Once she was gone, Mr. Sinclair finally turned to Josephine. "If you face any difficulties, please don’t hesitate to ask. Since you are Clara’s friend, we will definitely help you however we can."
"You’ve already helped me so much today. Thank you!" The things Josephine needed to do didn’t require relying on others. When it came to dealing with the Sterlings, she had to do it herself!
Mr. Sinclair didn’t stand on ceremony either. He simply nodded and began walking inside with his wife. "Ethan, see Miss Sterling off."
"Understood." Ethan gave a slight nod. Only after his parents had left did he look at Josephine. "Where do you live? Should I have the driver drop you off?"