“Mom!” Brady’s patience was wearing thin as he held Noreen back. “Enough! Colleen just got back to the country! How could this be some scheme by Hadley? Not everyone schemes like you!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Noreen gaped at her son, shocked. “You’re talking to me like this? And you claim she hasn’t manipulated you? You’re my son! How can you side with her?”

“Mom…” Brady’s brows knit tightly. He knew his mother’s suspicious nature, but he had never imagined she would turn on him like this.

He glanced at Colleen, noticing her hands clenched nervously, her face pale.

“Come with me!” Brady said firmly, pulling Noreen toward the door. “Now!”

“What’s happening?” Hadley overheard the commotion and stood, puzzled.

Zane tilted his head, listening. “Sounds like it’s coming from the cabin.”

“I think I heard Brady’s voice. Is something wrong?” Hadley seemed worried.

“Go check it out, then. Don’t worry about Joy—I’ll keep her company.”

“Alright!” Hadley rushed out, running into Brady and Noreen right outside the cabin.

“Let go of me!” Noreen was still ranting. “Acting all innocent? Does she think staying quiet makes her blameless?”

“Mom!” Brady snapped, his voice low with anger. “Stop it! Are you trying to humiliate me?”

“You…” Noreen started to retort but froze when she saw Hadley. “Ha! The puppet master arrives! Perfect timing! Let’s have it out! You’re clever, setting a honey trap to ensnare my son!”

She grew more animated. “Tell me! What are you plotting? Trying to fool my son into handing over the whole Jenkins family?”

Hadley’s expression hardened.

From just a few words, she pieced together that Noreen had likely learned about Brady and Colleen. Content originally comes from find?novel.net

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“Humph.” Hadley let out a quiet, icy chuckle, glancing at Brady.

For Brady’s sake, she restrained herself again and again. “Noreen, for Brady’s sake, stop causing a scene here…”

“For Brady’s sake? Ha!” Noreen’s voice grew shrill, her eyes blazing at Hadley. “How dare you say that? When have you ever cared about him? You’ve been manipulating him, using him to get what you want!”

Hadley’s brow creased as the accusation struck, leaving her without a defense.

The truth stung—with Brady, she had always been on the receiving end of his kindness and support.

“Your opinion of me doesn’t matter,” she replied, her voice steady despite the tension. “But Brady’s heart belongs to Colleen…”

Hadley drew a patient breath, speaking for Brady’s benefit.

“Colleen only recently returned to the country. Joy had already gone through her surgery by then. When Colleen flew back, I couldn’t get away, so I asked Brady to pick her up at the airport… What they share is real.”

“Airport pickup? Do you mean this? Ha! Haha…”

Noreen’s laughter erupted sharp and triumphant, as if she had caught them red-handed.

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