"I'm still your mother, even if I didn't give birth to you, Hannah," Francesca said.

It was a fact Hannah couldn't deny, but conversations like this seemed endless. On one side, Francesca insisted on the statement, "I am still your mother.

On the other hand, Hannah felt that Francesca was only her late father's partner. The stepmother never played the role of a real mother.

"So you want something in return, is that it? Hasn't Alden already given you money? Money that wasn't rightfully yours?" Hannah said bluntly.

Francesca just rolled her eyes, trying to avoid Hannah's sharp gaze. And surely Francesca would change the subject after that or pretend...