Filed To Story: The Scarlet Vengeance: Justice of a Framed Beauty Novel (Grace & Jason)
“I… I’m here to return your suit.” She stuttered a bit, then fumbled in her bag and took out the suit, presenting it to him as if to prove that she really came to return it.
But he didn’t even look at the suit. His eyes were still fixed on her as he repeated his question, “Why are you here?”
She bit her lip. “I… I don’t know where else to go to return your suit except here.” Although Jasper had said that he was now an exchange student at Stanford University, she didn’t know which department or class he was in.
“Then why bother picking up the clothes?” he asked again. “If they’re dirty, just throw them away. Why bother washing them?”
“The clothes are just dirty. They can be washed clean,” she said. “It would be a shame to just throw them away like that.”
“A shame?” He sneered. “It’s just a piece of clothing. What’s there to be ashamed of?”
She paused. Yes, how could she forget that he was Mason from the Reed family? Even if this piece of clothing was expensive, it was just an ordinary piece of clothing to him. He could easily have as many new ones as he wanted.
But she still picked up the clothes and even squeezed out several hundred dollars from her meager living expenses to dry clean it, just because… it was his clothes, and he had protected her while wearing it, so it got dirty.
Did he know how he looked when he shielded her from the pasta that was thrown at her? It made her feel like she was back in the past, when they were still together and he always protected her like that.
“So… this piece of clothing…” she asked hesitantly.
“Just throw it away, but it’s not just garbage,” he said.
She felt that the clothes in her hand became particularly heavy.
Garbage… was it just garbage to him?
But after receiving this piece of clothing, she gently stroked it over and over again, as if she was reminiscing about the past.
“I’m sorry,” she said, putting the clothes back in her bag and turning to leave.
“Why not throw it away?” His voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
She bit her lip. How could she bear to throw away his clothes?
But facing him, she couldn’t say those words.
She lowered her head, unconsciously gripping the handle of her bag tightly, standing there silently.
He looked at her, and suddenly a wordless anger filled his chest. He thought of the day he saw her backstage, standing silently as another woman scolded her.
In just a few years, it seemed to have worn away all the edges and corners on her, making her so quiet and silent.
“What, are you only capable of silence? Veronica, when did you become like this?” Mason asked.
She seemed even more at a loss… Yes, when did she become increasingly quiet and reserved?
It was as if since he left her and she moved out of the Barlow family, living alone in the house her biological mother left her, she had fewer and fewer words to say to the empty house.
Because words are meant for communication with others, but in that empty house, she didn’t even have anyone to talk to.
Taking a deep breath, Veronica looked up at Mason and said,
“I’m sorry for appearing in front of you again. Originally, I was going to give this dress to the servants in the mansion to pass on to you. Since you think it can be thrown away, then I will throw it away later.”
Pausing for a moment, she continued, “If my presence makes you unhappy, then I’m sorry. I will try my best to avoid appearing in front of you in the future.”
After saying this, she turned around and planned to leave again.
But she had only taken two steps when her arm was already caught by his hand. “Are you always so decisive? Do you treat other things the same way, just throw them away?” he asked.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” she said, twisting her arm, trying to break free from his grip, but she couldn’t.
“Just like how you treated me back then, didn’t you say you could just throw me away?” he said, “If it was destined to be thrown away, then why did you pick me up in the first place? Why bother?”
He seemed to be talking about this dress, but it was more like he was talking about himself back then!
Veronica’s body trembled. “I… I didn’t throw you away. In my heart, you have always been my most important family member.”
3
Her eyes stared into his, “It was you who hypnotized and made me forget all the emotions about our past, wasn’t it?”
“Why did I choose to hypnotize? Don’t you know?” Mason said, “Family, you only treat me as family, but I don’t lack family at all!”
Her body shrank a little.
“But now, you can rest assured,” he sneered at her, “I don’t love you at all, so you don’t have to be afraid that your ‘little brother’ will violate you.”
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Veronica’s face.
“I…I’m not…”
“And another thing!” He interrupted her, “Don’t say anything about treating me like a relative. You and I are not relatives!”
After saying this, he let go of her and went straight back to the. car. The silver-gray sedan drove into the Reed House.
Veronica stood there blankly, feeling the wind passing over her body, which was so cold that it was bone-chilling.
Veronica almost exhaustedly returned to her residence. As soon as she walked into the room, she saw her father and stepmother sitting there.
Suddenly, Veronica felt uneasy. Every time her father and stepmother came to see her, it was never for anything good.
This year, due to her falling out with Mason, the Barlow family’s business has plummeted. Her father is no longer as vigorous as he used to be, and all the luxury brands he used to wear are gone. Maybe he sold them or mortgaged them.
“Is there something you need?” Veronica asked calmly.
“Is this how you talk to your father? What, can’t I come here if I’m not in trouble?” Archer said unkindly.
Veronica shrugged indifferently, “If you weren’t in trouble, you wouldn’t be here.”
Archer’s expression stiffened, “There’s a dinner party in a few days. Dress up and come with me.”
“I have to work, I don’t have time to attend any dinner parties,”
Veronica said.
“Working, how much money can you earn?” Archer sneered.
“At least I can earn my own tuition and living expenses,”
Veronica said.
“That’s just foolish of you!” Archer was getting angrier, “The
Reed family has already said they will provide you with living expenses and tuition, but you insist on earning it yourself. Do you think money is that easy to earn?”
“I just don’t want to be a parasite anymore!” Veronica said,
“For so many years, we’ve been living off the Reed family like parasites. But once we’re no longer with the Reed family, what do we have left that we’ve earned ourselves?”
Archer couldn’t bear to be spoken to like this by his daughter. “Being a parasite is not something ordinary people can do!”
“Look at what our family has become after you fell out with Mason. If it weren’t for you, the Barlow family’s business wouldn’t be in such a state. Your brother wouldn’t have missed out on the best high school in Emerald City. If this continues, we don’t even know if he’ll be able to go to college!”
“The Barlow family’s business is failing because you don’t have the ability to run a business. Your brother can’t get into a good high school because of his own academic problems,” Veronica spoke frankly.
Archer was furious and raised his hand to slap his daughter.
Veronica dodged the slap and said, “Dad, if you’re here to hit me, I’ll call the police!”
Outside, she was submissive to survive, but she didn’t want to accept all the blame from her unreasonable family members at home.
“Okay, okay!” Rosalind, the stepmother, quickly acted as a peacemaker. “Your father came here today to invite you to a dinner party in a few days. It’s also a kind gesture. He thinks you’re at the age where you should be dating and wants you to meet some young men at the party. There will be many talented young people there, and it will expand your network, which will also help your future career.”
But Veronica politely declined, “I don’t want to attend any dinner parties, Auntie Rosalind. I appreciate your kindness, but right now I just want to work hard and finish my studies.”
“You–” Archer’s face turned red with anger.
Seeing this, Rosalind pulled her husband’s sleeve and said to
Veronica, “Since that’s the case, your father and I will leave first. Rest well.”
After speaking, she immediately pulled Archer out of
Veronica’s room.
As soon as they left, Archer said, “Why did you pull me out?
She clearly said she wanted to see Veronica!”
“If you keep talking like that, she’ll only become more cautious. Anyway, I have a way to make her obediently come to the dinner party.” Rosalind’s eyes flickered as she spoke.
Upon hearing this, Archer immediately felt relieved.
“That’s good. You must make sure that girl comes to the dinner party, otherwise that business deal will be ruined.”
“I will!” Rosalind smiled.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Veronica took out Mason’s suit from her bag and held it tightly to her chest. It was as if the suit was her last support.
Now, she was all alone!
Unlike before, even if she was feeling down, she had Mason by her side, and they had a feeling of mutual reliance.
But now, she had no one to rely on!
Two days later, after finishing her classes, Veronica was on her way to work when Rosalind stopped her outside the school gates.
“Auntie Rosalind?” Veronica looked at her in confusion.
“Your father had an accident. You and I need to go see him right away.” Rosalind said urgently.
“An accident? What happened?” Veronica asked quickly.
“At today’s dinner party, your father spoke carelessly and offended someone. He’s now being held there, and I…I’m at a loss. The other party said they must see you before they’ll release him,” Rosalind said.
“See me? Why do they want to see me?” Veronica asked, puzzled.
“It’s all because your father talked too much. He said you and Mason used to call each other brother and sister, and that Mason lived in our house for many years. But the other party didn’t believe him, and now there’s trouble. They insist on seeing you. Maybe we can talk to the Reed family and they can help us out. Then your father will be okay,” Rosalind said, looking troubled.
As she spoke, Rosalind observed Veronica’s reaction.