Chapter: 873

As Susanna spoke, Kayla found herself unable to dwell on Norah. She sat beside her daughter, with Matteo close by.

"I will always love you, Susanna. You are the only princess in my eyes. But poor Nancy. Abandoned by her birth parents, she grew up in an orphanage abroad and worked odd jobs to pay for school. Nancy has such a gentle nature. I know you two would get along wonderfully."

Convinced of Susanna's kindness, Kayla had brought Nancy home, hoping the two would forge a strong bond.

"Nancy has been with us overseas for the past two months. She's incredibly well-behaved and agreeable. You'll see how wonderful she is once you spend some time with her."

"No, I am your only daughter. Dad, please, I don't want her to be my sister."

Tears streamed down Susanna's face as she tugged at Matteo's arm, seeking his intervention.

“Maybe... I should leave."

Suddenly, Nancy rose to her feet, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her dress, her gaze lowered.

"It's clear Susanna isn't happy with me here. I can go. I don't want my presence to cause any disputes between you."

After she spoke, her shoulders trembled, and stifled sobs escaped her lips.

Hidden by the shadows, her face remained unseen, and those around her pictured her with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Nancy, known for her gentleness and thoughtfulness, had solidified that perception in everyone's minds, making Susanna's tears appear all the more spoiled by comparison.

Kayla, caught in her own conflict, glanced around. She noticed Matteo tenderly soothing Susanna with gentle pats on the back, while Nancy stood isolated, seemingly the loneliest person in the world.

Without their company, despair would envelop Nancy once more.

Resolute, Kayla approached Nancy and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't cry, Nancy. It's just that Susanna isn't feeling well and she's upset. She's a good person, just like you are.”

Susanna lifted her head and noticed Kayla speaking softly to her new sister.

“Mom, I'm your daughter!" she protested, bewildered by her mother's affection for an outsider. Her words were muffled by her sobs.

Sensing something amiss, Norah swiftly moved to the bedside table and retrieved a paper bag. She gently placed it over Susanna's mouth, urging, "Breathe slowly, Susanna. Take deep breaths."

This was a case of respiratory alkalosis, reminiscent of the episode when Alice had broken down in tears. Susanna needed to control her breathing quickly to recover, lest the situation escalate to dire consequences.

Kayla and Matteo watched the unfolding drama in shock. Kayla, visibly scared, released Nancy's hand and hurried over to Susanna, her expression fraught with concern.

Nancy glanced up, her eyes brimming with tears that belied the stoic indifference lurking within. She noted inwardly that Susanna was handling the situation better than expected.

But she could also do it. Emboldened, she clutched her chest, staggered slightly, then crumpled to the floor with a pained moan.

Kayla blanched at the sight. Rushing to Nancy, she fumbled for a medicine bottle in her pocket, extracted two pills, and hurriedly administered them to Nancy, saying, "Nancy, relax. Let's get you to the sofa."

From a distance, Sean observed his mother's actions with a cool detachment before turning to Norah to inquire, “How's Susanna doing?"