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On Sunday, Veronica woke up early and took some time to dress up, putting on her new dress.
When Mason saw Veronica at the dining table, he was slightly surprised. He felt that Veronica was different from before, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was different.
Stepmother Rosalind Bush looked at Veronica and couldn’t help but ask, “Veronica, are you going to accompany Mason to the Reed family today?”
Although Mason lived with the Barlow family, he still had a few fixed days each month to visit the Reed family. This was one of the conditions that Jason agreed to when he allowed his son to live with the
Barlow family for a long time.
“No, I’m going shopping with…um, a friend later,” Veronica said.
“Shopping? Do you have enough money? If not, just tell me!” Rosalind played the role of a kind mother at the moment.
Over the years, she has been working hard to please and flatter Veronica. After all, the Barlow family now relies on Veronica to keep Mason hooked, which is why they are living the good life.
“No need, I have enough money,” said Veronica calmly.
In recent years, due to the Reed family’s influence, her relationship with her stepmother has somewhat improved.
However, she is aware of her stepmother’s insincerity and superficial warmth, which is only due to the Reed family’s influence.
Mason looked at Veronica and asked, “Do you want to go shopping with your friends?”
“Mmm,” she said.
“Which friend?” he asked insistently.
“Hmm?” After a moment of confusion, she said, “It’s Pamela.
She called me a few days ago and said that it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, and she wants to meet up and go shopping.”
Pamela was her classmate in junior high school and they had a good relationship. They used to hang out together on weekends.
Mason didn’t say anything else.
Veronica couldn’t help but silently criticize herself for lying just now.
Why did she lie to Mason? Maybe it’s because Mason and Daniel had a conflict last time, so she instinctively didn’t say that she went shopping with Daniel this time.
“I’ll take you there. Where will you meet Pamela?” said Mason after finishing breakfast.
“No need, I’ll take the subway directly to the mall entrance, it’s very convenient. You can go back to your home first, I still need some time before leaving,” said Veronica.
In the living room now, only Rosalind and Veronica remain.
Rosalind smiled and said, “Veronica, it seems like you haven’t been as close to Mason as before. Has something happened between you two?”
Veronica looked at Rosalind strangely and said, “I don’t understand what you mean, Aunt Rosalind.”
Rosalind smiled and said, “Remember how Mason used to always be in your room before? He wouldn’t leave until it was time to sleep. But lately, it seems like you’ve been leaving your room earlier than usual.”
“He finished his homework and naturally left my room. Besides, I also need my own alone time,” said
Veronica.
Actually, this is intentional on her part. She doesn’t want Mason to spend all his time around her. She hopes he can use some of his time for his own hobbies. So sometimes, after finishing homework, she’ll make an excuse to go to bed early or say she wants to do something alone and quietly, and let him go back to his own room.
“I see,” Rosalind said thoughtfully, “although you need some alone time, Auntie just wants to remind you that even though
Mason is like a brother to you, he’s not actually your real brother. He’s the second son of the Reed family, so you mustn’t cause any rifts with him. If he goes back to the Reed family, things won’t be as good for us in the future.”
“I know he’s the second son of the Reed family, but to me, he’s just my little brother,” Veronica looked straight at Rosalind and said. “Besides, even if Mason goes back to the Reed family in the future, it’s only natural because that’s where he belongs.”
She doesn’t believe that if Mason returns to the Reed family, the bond between her and him will disappear.
“What are you talking about?” Rosalind’s voice suddenly rose. “How could you let him go back to the
Reed family? If he goes back to the Reed family, will they still treat our family so well?”
“Why can’t he go back to his own home? Are you trying to keep him in the Barlow family forever, Auntie
Rosalind?” Veronica sneered at Rosalind.
Although Rosalind has been trying to please and flatter her stepdaughter for years, she became displeased and angry when she saw the expression on her stepdaughter’s face at this moment. “Of course we have to keep him in the Barlow family, the longer the better! Have you ever thought about it? Without him, could you live the way you do now and live in this house?”
“Mason won’t stay with the Barlow family forever. He’ll have his own life, just like Auntie Rosalind said. He’s the second son of the
Reed family, so naturally, he’ll return to where he belongs in the future.”
Mason will have a wider horizon, not being trapped here as a tool to be used due to her relationship with the Barlow family!
“You…” Rosalind suddenly exclaimed in anger, “Are you trying to make me angry to death?!”
At that moment, Archer Barlow emerged from the bedroom and said, “What’s all the fuss about so early in the morning?”
“It’s your precious daughter after all. I can’t believe she doesn’t want Mason to stay with the Barlow family and instead wants him to go back to the Reed family. If Mason really goes back to the
Reed family, what are we going to do?” said Rosalind.
As soon as Archer heard this, his face immediately changed and he said to Veronica, “Veronica, did you really say that?”
“Yes, I said it,” Veronica said.
“How could you say something like that? You should know what
Mason means to our family, the Barlows! In the future, you can’t say such things casually, and especially not in front of Mason!
Do you understand?” Archer said to his daughter with great seriousness.
“What you need to do is figure out how to keep Mason in the Barlow family for as long as possible!”
“So, Dad, are you planning on being a parasite forever?” Veronica asked. “Our family has relied on the
Reed family for too long, but it’s better to rely on oneself than on others. You should know this. If you always think about relying on and using others, one day you won’t be able to rely on them.”
Archer became very angry and said, “What parasite? How dare you speak to your own father like that?”
“I’m telling the truth. Do you not know that many people outside are calling us, the Barlow family, parasites?”
As Veronica finished speaking, Archer raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
Suddenly, a red mark appeared on Veronica’s face.
“Enough, you can’t say things like that anymore!” Archer said angrily.
Meanwhile, Rosalind said on the side, “Okay, Veronica, apologize to your dad. He’s doing it for the whole Barlow family, isn’t he?”
This couple, one playing the angry role and the other playing the conciliatory role.
Veronica only felt a strong sense of fatigue and disgust. She didn’t even want to say much, just picked up her bag and said, “I’m leaving.” And she left directly.
Behind her, Archer was still cursing, while Rosalind was trying to persuade her.
Veronica walked out of the community and headed towards the subway station.
Although she had woken up feeling excited today, her mood was now so depressed.
Her father and stepmother were just using Mason as a tool to continue their parasitic lifestyle.
And she was probably an accomplice.
She knew that Mason would stay with the Barlow family solely because of her relationship with them.
Perhaps, over the years, Mason hasn’t made many new friends and has spent most of her time revolving around the Barlow family due to her close relationship with them.
If Mason had really been taken back to the Reed family back then and lived with them, he wouldn’t be struggling to adapt to society like this now!
As soon as Veronica thought of this, she felt a strong tightness in her chest.
She didn’t even know when she arrived at the entrance of the mall until she heard Daniel’s voice, which snapped her back to reality.
“What’s wrong with you? I called you so many times just now, it’s like you didn’t hear me,” said Daniel as he ran up.
“I spaced out a bit just now,” said Veronica.
Suddenly, Daniel frowned and asked, “What’s wrong with your face?”
“Face?” Veronica was confused until Daniel’s finger touched the red mark on her cheek. Then she realized it was the spot where her father had slapped her before.
She bit her lip and showed an embarrassed expression on her face.
“Did someone hit you?” At this moment, Daniel also noticed the bruising on Veronica’s face, which was a sign of being hit.
She gave a bitter smile and said, “I was beaten by my father.”
Now it’s Daniel’s turn to feel embarrassed, “Sorry.”
“Not much,” she said.
“Um…actually, I also used to get beaten by my father quite often!” Daniel said, trying to ease the awkwardness. “I’ve caused a lot of trouble since I was young, and my father didn’t hesitate to hit me.”
“But my father hits me not because I cause trouble, but simply because my thoughts are different from theirs,” Veronica said, looking at Daniel. “Do you know what a parasite is?”
My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex–Convict!
“Huh?” He was stunned for a moment, as if he didn’t expect the topic to suddenly shift to this.
“A parasite is an animal that lives on or in another animal or plant and feeds on its nutrients, but can harm the host. If we use it to describe a person, it refers to someone who relies on others and doesn’t work for themselves!” Veronica spoke with bitterness in her eyes. “And my family and I are like parasites.”
At this moment, she inexplicably wanted to speak out the words that had been suppressed in her heart.
She couldn’t say these things to Mason or any other classmates, even though she knew they were all talking about the Barlow family. She had been suppressing these thoughts in her heart.
After having a conflict with her family today, she suddenly had the urge to confide in Daniel when she saw him.
Daniel felt his heart tighten as he saw Veronica’s expression, which made him feel a little sorry for her.
“Who…who talks about their own family like that?” he asked quickly.
She gave a self–deprecating smile, “There are also many people at school who say that. You must have heard of it too.” Even though Daniel had never heard of it before, he must have heard of it after the fight with Mason.
