Filed To Story: The Scarlet Vengeance: Justice of a Framed Beauty Novel (Grace & Jason)
With a sigh, he kissed away her frantic voice.
She blinked and froze. Moments later, she heard Brian’s elegant voice in her ears. “Okay, this is the next time.”
Valda Theller froze before feeling Brian’s hand caressing her head. “There can be a next time and more if you want…”
Her eyes instantly lit up with joy. ‘Does he mean… I can kiss him again?’
It felt like they were getting more comfortable with each other.
There was suddenly a knock on the door, which ruined their mood.
Valda Theller hurriedly said, “I… I’ll get it.” She could also calm her heart, which was racing at the moment.
However, her expression sank when she reached the door and opened it.
The people in front of her were her aunt, Rowena Santiago, and her cousin, Wynne.
As soon as Rowena Santiago saw Valda Theller, she said, “Valda told you that you shouldn’t be so heartless. You refused when I asked you to lend me some money the last time. If I hadn’t heard from your cousin that your latest boyfriend is the crown prince of theentertainment industry, I’d have thought you were really broke.”
Valda Theller frowned. Aunt and the rest had probably learned about her relationship with Brian through online news.
Wynne looked displeased as he said, “Valda, you’re already the crown prince’s girlfriend. You’ve probably made a lot of money from the crown prince. You’re being very stingy to refuse to lènd us some money.”
“Yes, your cousin is the only child of the Theller family. Shouldn’t you contribute money and effort to his marriage?” Rowena Santiago said accusingly.
Valda Theller just found it funny. ‘Only child? What does that make me?’
“My cousin is the only child of your family, not mine. I have no obligation.”
Rowena Santiago snapped, “Valda, you shouldn’t say that. Our family? Don’t forget that your last name is Zhong! And your cousin and his girlfriend are preparing to get married. He has to buy a house and pay for the dowry. Since you’re the girlfriend of the crown prince surnamed Hart, it’s not too much to give your cousin a house right away.”
“Give him a house?” Valda Theller did not expect her aunt to be so greedy.
“It’s only a house. It’ll only cost millions of dollars. It’s nothing compared to what you can get from the crown prince. Besides, it’ll do you good if your cousin looks well-off. You don’t want people to say the crown prince’s girlfriend’s cousin can’t even afford a house when he marries, do you?” Rowena Santiago said matter-of-factly.
Valda Theller immediately refused, saying, “I won’t buy him a house. No matter what kind of person my boyfriend is, it’s none of your business.”
“You…” Their expressions changed.
Wynne threatened her by saying, “Aren’t you afraid we’ll tell the crown prince that you killed your parents?”
“Yes, would your parents have died in the accident if they hadn’t been protecting you? You’re the one who made such a fuss about going to that stupid place!
“Valda Theller, you’re responsible for your parents’ death! Would you be standing here today if we hadn’t taken care of you for so many years? If the crown prince knows you’re so heartless, he’ll probably dump you right away!”
The two chimed in. Each sentence was a threat! Valda Theller’s face gradually turned pale, and the voice of her parents during the car accident sounded in her ears. At the time, Valda Theller kept crying and had no idea what was happening.
When she realized it, her parents could never open their eyes anymore.
Watching Valda Theller in a trance, the mother and son thought their threat had worked.
“Don’t worry, we won’t say anything as long as you’re willing to give us a house. We’ll also say many good things about you when we meet your boyfriend, such as how filial you are and how you still remember your family after becoming successful…” Her aunt droned on.
‘Family. My family’s… long gone.’
Valda Theller looked at her aunt and cousin with red eyes. “I don’t need you to say good things about me. I told you I won’t give you any money, not to mention a house.”
Rowena Santiago’s expression changed, and Wynne’s expression looked even fiercer as he thought he was losing his house. “Are you taking the hard way out? You won’t give those things to us? Okay, I’ll go to your boyfriend and show him the real you!”
However, a voice already rang when he had just finished speaking. “Who am I supposed to see?”
Rowena Santiago and Wynne instantly froze as they stared at the tall figure sauntering over. Wynne recognized at a glance that he was the crown prince of the entertainment industry… Brian!
“Y-Young Master Hart!” Wynne looked awkward. ‘Why… Why is Brian here?
‘How much did he hear?’
Brian had already walked over to Valda Theller and gently wrapped one arm around her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Valda Theller stared blankly at Brian with red eyes. For some reason, she suddenly felt like crying as she looked at him.
Wynne quickly said, “What could’ve happened to Valda? We’re her family! Hello, Mr. Hart. I’m Valda’s cousin, Wynne, and this is my mother.”
Wynne introduced himself with an obsequious expression. Rowena Santiago also had an obsequious smile on her face. It was as if she had seen the God of Wealth.
“Valda is lucky to have a boyfriend like you, Young Master Hart! Speaking of which, Valda’s parents died when she was young. We worked very hard to raise her. I think of her as my own daughter.”
Rowena Santiago looked like she loved Valda Theller very much.
Others would probably think she was kind.
Then, Rowena Santiago rubbed her hands and said, “Well, Valda’s cousin is getting married. They said they want a house of their own. Our family doesn’t have enough money, so we’re asking Valda to help us raise some money to buy a house for her cousin.”
Wynne added, “Mom, why would Valda refuse? She’s my cousin. My friends and girlfriend know that Valda is Young Master Hart’s girlfriend now. They said Valda is lucky, so I can also borrow some of her glory. Right, Valda?”
Wynne’s speech was equivalent to forcing Valda Theller to agree.
If Valda Theller did not want to have a falling out with them in front of Brian, she could only agree.
As long as Valda Theller agreed in front of Brian, they could find a way to take more advantage of her.
In their opinion, Valda Theller would not have a falling out with her family and risk losing her reputation in front of Brian.
However, Valda Theller simply said, “No!”
The word made Rowena Santiago and Wynne freeze immediately.
“What… What did you say?”
“I don’t want to raise any money for you. Cousin, the house is your business. I have no obligation to raise money for you. Buy a house if you can afford it. If not, you should discuss with your girlfriend about renting a house,” Valda Theller said coldly.
“You get to live a lavish life with Young Master Hart, but you’re asking your cousin and his wife to rent a place?” Rowena Santiago asked, her voice rising suddenly.
“Mom, don’t do that. You’ll freak Valda out,” Wynne hurriedly said. Then, he said to Brian with a guilty expression, “Young Master Hart, don’t mind her. My mother just didn’t expect Valda to say that… She lost her temper for a moment. After all, we’ve always thought that we should find ways to deal with difficulties together when a family member is in trouble.”
“Oh, a family?” Brian raised his eyebrows.
Wynne said, “Yeah, Valda would’ve ended up in an orphanage if my family hadn’t adopted her. I thought I would rent a house with my girlfriend if I had no choice. But… didn’t Valda become your girlfriend, Young Master Hart? I’m worried that people will accuse Valda of being heartless and preoccupied with her own luxurious life if they find out I’m renting a place. So I thought I should buy a house instead.”
After that, Wynne said with a ‘sincere’ look, “If Valda doesn’t want to borrow me money, then… Why don’t you lend me some, Young Master Hart? I can write an IOU and pay you back in the future. I don’t want the outside world to get the wrong idea about Valda.”
He spoke so earnestly as if it came from familial love.
In Wynne’s opinion, Brian was bound to give them money or a house after he said that.
With Brian’s wealth, he probably would not ask him to pay back the millions of dollars.
Brian looked at Wynne with a half-smile. “In that case, thoughtful of you.”
how “No, no, I’m Valda’s cousin. I have to be considerate of Valda, of course,” said Wynne.
“What about you? What do you want me to do?” Brian turned to look at Valda Theller and let Valda Theller decide. It was as if he would follow her wishes no matter her decision.
“Brian, you don’t need to lend them money because of me,” said Valda Theller.
“Valda Theller, don’t go too far!” Wynne panicked. He thought he had persuaded Brian, but his cousin sabotaged it again.
“I’ll only tell you the same thing. I won’t lend you any money,” said Valda Theller as she looked at them.
“You stupid girl. Do you think you’re all that just because you’ve gotten a wealthy boyfriend?” Rowena Santiago habitually slapped Valda Theller’s face.
After all, she used to slap Valda Theller whenever she found her annoying.