Win Back the Heiress 159

Chapter 159 Nancy Is Burning Up 

Regina’s eyes were clouded with regret. 

Nancy had long since stopped expecting anything from her, but seeing that look still stung like a fresh burn. 

Shaking her head, Regina’s face twisted with disappointment and bitterness. “If I had known you’d turn out like this, I never would have given birth to you. You’re nothing but an ungrateful brat! People like you have no feelings. You’re a freak!” 

Nancy’s fingers curled tight at the word “freak“. 

The memories she had buried deep came rushing back. 

At the orphanage, being adopted and abandoned repeatedly like an endless cycle, she had heard those words more times than 

she could count. 

“Why doesn’t she talk? She’s so weird!” 

“Look how filthy she is. Hey, maybe she’s sick. We’d better stay away!” 

“I spent good money to adopt you, yet you still won’t speak? You’re a freak! Get out of my house!” 

Presently, rain had started to fall. A damp chill seeped into Nancy’s bones. 

Regina’s eyes were still full of self–righteous pain as she spoke. “Nancy, if you have even a shred of decency, you’ll talk to Jasper.” 

With that, she turned on her heel and left. 

She was furious, but satisfied. Nancy’s reaction told her what she wanted to know. She had always thought Nancy was heartless, but she finally saw that she did care. 

After all, who wouldn’t care about their own mother? 

If Nancy would swallow her pride and beg for forgiveness, Regina would grant her one more chance. If not, Regina would cut her off for good. From then on, she’d only ever acknowledge Raine as her daughter. 

The drizzle of rain thickened into mist. 

By the time Nancy got home, she was soaked through. She drew herself a hot bath, sinking into the steaming water. But no matter how warm it was, she couldn’t stop shivering. 

She watched the water drip from her fingertips. 

Was she really that coldhearted? 

She texted Gideon. “Something came up tonight. We can’t have dinner together.” 

After the bath, she curled up in bed as the rain drummed on. She had almost messaged Hillary several times, but her fingers froze every time. 

She silently shut her eyes. Regina’s voice echoed in her head, mixed with all the jeers of the past. 

Was she really a freak? 

Nancy took a deep breath and forced the thoughts away. She tried to rest. 

Thirst woke Nancy up in the middle of the night. She wandered past the living room for a drink. 

To her surprise, Freya and Ian were there waiting. 

Chapter 159 Nancy Is Burning Up 

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“Mom? Dad? When did you get here?” she asked, stunned. 

But their faces were strangely cold. Then, she noticed the girl standing beside lan. She looked obedient. 

“Mom, Dad, who is she?” 

“Nancy, you’ve never been obedient. You haven’t an ounce of warmth in you. You’re a freak, so we’ve adopted another daughter. From now on, we no longer have any ties.” Ian’s voice was cold. 

Nancy’s chest tightened. “Mom, Dad, what did I do wrong? I can change.” 

“There’s no need. We already have a new daughter.” 

Freya and Ian turned away, leading the girl to the door. 

“Mom! Dad!” Nancy reached for them, but no matter how fast she ran, the distance between them never closed. Tears blurred her vision, her chest hurting as if knives were tearing her heart apart from the inside. 

“Nancy!” A voice shattered the nightmare. 

Nancy opened her eyes. A white ceiling swam into focus, and Gideon’s worried face appeared above her. 

She blinked. “Was that… a nightmare?” 

“Yes, you’ve got a fever.” Gideon was concerned. “Nancy, why are you burning up?” 

He pressed his hand to her forehead. It was scorching. 

Carefully, he laid a cool towel across her brow, then fetched her some medicine. 

Nancy looked at the raw concern in his eyes, and the ice around her heart began to thaw. Her voice was soft and uncertain. 

“Am I too coldhearted? Regina did carry me for nine months, after all. She went through so much pain just to bring me into this world.” 

Gideon’s chest ached at the confusion in her gaze. He took her hand and said in a low voice, “You may think you’ve been cruel to them, but what about how they’ve treated you? You’re their real daughter, yet all they see is Raine. They even pushed you into blind dates, not for your happiness, but to control you.” 

Nancy hesitated. “You’re right. That’s true.” 

“If you show mercy to an enemy, you’re only being cruel to yourself.” Gideon’s grip tightened around her hand. “Tell me. Would Ian ever treat you this way?” 

Chapter 160 He Only Cares About Nancy