"Mom, why do you keep bringing this up?" Carlisle's expression showed clear impatience.

"If you hadn't opposed me being with Shirley back then and forced her to leave, she wouldn't have ended up with the wrong man, and she wouldn't be in this situation now, with nowhere to live. "Consider this my way of making up for the wrong I did her. Can you stop targeting her and Ivy?"

Martha looked at him with disappointment written all over her face. "You've really been enchanted by that woman. If you continue to keep her by your side, she's going to tear your whole family apart!" Carlisle frowned and immediately defended her, "Stop making things up. Shirley isn't like that."

Martha sneered, visibly frustrated. "You still have the nerve to say that? What position does Shirley have to be living in our family? It's all because of your indulgence and favoritism toward her. "Don't think I don't know what's happening just because I'm not around. You've pampered her so much that she's even climbed over Katrina's head.

"At least Katrina is your legally married wife. But you've completely lost your dignity for an outsider. Are you doing this just to make others laugh at you?

"And Ivy is Shirley's daughter! Have you forgotten everything about your past with her? She even had an abortion for you!

"How can you let a woman like that have a daughter and then allow her to be with your son? Don't you fear the gossip? Aren't you ashamed?"

Each of Martha's words struck like daggers, piercing Carlisle's heart. A flicker of guilt crossed his face.

But when he heard her bring up Shirley's abortion for him, his expression darkened, and resentment and dissatisfaction filled his gaze.

"I'd have forgotten about it if you hadn't brought that up. Yes, we once had a child, but you and that woman killed him!

"It's all because of you and your selfishness that I lost Shirley and the child! It was your fault that after Shirley miscarried, her health was

detriment, and she couldn't have any

more children after having Ivy!

"I only wanted to make up for it, but what's that to anyone else? Why do you have to push me like this? Why do you have to cause trouble with Shirley?"

As Carlisle's accusations rang out, Martha's face turned pale.

She knew that Carlisle had always resented her for forcing him to break up with Shirley, and he became cold and distant over the years.

But she had done it for his own

good. Had she not forced him to give up Shirley, the maid's daughter and marry the eldest daughter of the Farrell family, Evelyn Farrell, the Zackman family would have been ruined by now.

Without their current wealth, did he really think that Shirley, that gold-digging woman, would have stayed with him? That vain woman would never have been so devoted if their family hadn't become wealthy and powerful.

If the family had gone into decline, deep in debt, she would have disappeared without a trace. However, even after all these years, the foolish Carlisle still clung to memories of her. Martha's heart brimmed with disdain.

Men truly were despicable! What remained beyond their reach became something they held dear, like a first love. They became blind to the person's true nature.

Martha wouldn't have cared at all if it were anyone else. But for Carlisle, she had done everything for his benefit, yet he showed no gratitude, even resenting her because of Shirley.

She felt a knot tighten in her chest. If this had happened ten years ago, she probably would have turned away and left after hearing his dumb response.noveldrama

But now, as she aged, she longed for family bonds and had grown more inclined to reconcile with Carlisle over the years.