Chapter 8 Like an Outsider Because of this , Marcelo had always been more affectionate toward Stacy than Elaine , treating her with indifference . Moreover , since Abraham never liked her , Elaine was sent to live with her grandmother of the maternal line in Prarc Town when she was young . She stayed there until her grandmother passed away when she was thirteen , at which point she was brought back to the Valentine family . IA Elaine stood stiffly , and Constance quickly stepped in to help . " Dad , Elaine came back specifically for your 80th birthday , which is in two weeks . She wanted to wish you well . " She then shot Elaine a pointed look . 觉 Elaine pretended not to notice and stayed silent . If it hadn't been for Constance's repeated insistence , she wouldn't have returned for such an insignificant birthday celebration . N ༤ རམ In the Valentine family , only Constance and Stacy treated her with any kindness . However , ever since Stacy married Cordell , there had been a distance between them . To be fair , it was a distance that only she felt . Stacy still treated her with the same care - checking on her when she 0.00 % 10 10 G 1102 Chapter 8 Like an Outsider 1288 Vouche was sick , asking about her daily well - being . Elaine had struggled with this for a long time , which led her to deliberately distance herself from Stacy , and as a result , their relationship was no longer as close as it once had been . Marcelo didn't want her return to disrupt the family's peace , so he joined in with Constance , saying , " Dad , Elaine called me a few days ago to ask what kind of gift you'd like . She's really put a lot of thought into choosing something special for you . " If it hadn't been for Marcelo's reminder , Elaine would have completely forgotten about preparing a gift . Thankfully , she still had two weeks , plenty of time to find something fitting for Abraham . When Marcelo said this , Abraham held back his anger , though his face remained stern . Elaine didn't mind , though . In her memories , Abraham had always been like this - stern and unapproachable . The only time he had been genuinely warm was when she was sixteen . She had scored first in the entire school and was accepted into a prestigious high school . That same year , Stacy had used the family's connections to get into the same school . Just then , the phone in the living room rang . Constance , who was standing next to it , picked up the receiver . 28.58 % PO 10 10 0 G 12 11.02 Chapter 8 Like an Outsider 288 Vouc After a brief conversation , she smiled brightly . " Okay , got it . " She hung up the phone and turned to Abraham . " Dad , Stacy and Cordell know you're back today . They've made a reservation at a restaurant to welcome you . " Abraham's expression softened slightly . " Stacy is such a thoughtful child . " Before long , Stacy and Cordell arrived at the Valentine family home to pick everyone up for dinner . As soon as Stacy entered the living room , she walked over and hugged Abraham's arm before sitting beside him . Her delicate makeup only made her appear even more graceful and lovely . " Grandpa , I've missed you so much these days . How was your time in Orevine ? " Abraham clearly appreciated her affection . A rare smile appeared on his usually stern face . " I'm well . Everything is fine . But why didn't you bring Shauna ? " Stacy smiled brightly . " We're going out later , so it's not convenient to bring her along . " In the evening , the group went to the restaurant , where the waiter led them to a private dining room . 60.61 % 10 10 0 G 1102 Chapter 8 Like an Outsider 288 iVouchers Stacy sat to Abraham's right , and throughout the meal , she kept the conversation lively with amusing stories that made him laugh heartily . Abraham shared stories about Orevine's customs and scenery , and everyone listened attentively . The conversation flowed smoothly , but Elaine sat quietly , feeling out of place at the family gathering . She felt suffocated , like an outsider , and eventually excused herself , saying she needed to use the bathroom , before quietly slipping away from the table .