Chapter 37: She Pinched Herself

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: She Pinched Herself

When Rona Langdon heard Vera Xavier mention the word "oil," she grew even more incensed. She was clearly the one who’d been burned, yet Vera dared to tell such a bald-faced lie.

She roared, "Vera Xavier, you little bitch! I’m going to beat you to death today!"

Vera Xavier led Rona Langdon on a two-lap chase around the room before bolting outside. Vera was much younger and her feet were uninjured, so there was no way Rona could catch her.

Vera Xavier unlatched the front door and ran out, only to find several neighbors already gathered outside.

Her next-door neighbor, Grandma Dixon, was a kind woman. She pulled Vera behind her and said to Rona in a cold voice, "Rona, what are you doing now? Vera is eighteen years old. How can you hit her every day?"

Rona Langdon, having lost all reason in her fury, started screaming, "How I discipline my own daughter is none of your damn business! If you get in my way, I’ll hit you too!"

Grandma Dixon’s temper flared. "Fine! I’d like to see you try and hit me!"

As furious as Rona Langdon was, she didn’t dare to actually hit Grandma Dixon. Instead, she grabbed a shoe and swung at Vera, who was hiding behind the old woman. Grandma Dixon thought the blow was meant for her and instinctively dodged aside. As a result, the shoe smacked her squarely instead.

Rona Langdon was stunned. So was Grandma Dixon. After a long moment, she pointed a finger at Rona and said, "Fine! Just fine! You’d even hit me. I’m going to find Theresa Goodman right now and let her sort this out!"

Theresa Goodman was the wife of the Party Secretary, as well as the director of the Municipal Women’s Federation.

Stupid as she was, Rona Langdon knew she had screwed up. If word of this got to Theresa Goodman, the Party Secretary would surely find out, and it could very well affect Zachary Preston’s political career. She hurriedly grabbed Grandma Dixon’s arm. "Ma’am, I really didn’t mean it just now. Let’s settle this between ourselves. Director Goodman is so busy, we shouldn’t bother her with such a trivial matter!"

"Didn’t mean it?" Grandma Dixon was enraged. "That’s a bald-faced lie! You threatened to hit me in front of all these people. Everyone here heard you!"

Grandma Dixon was known in the residential compound for being feisty herself, but she was nothing like Rona Langdon. Grandma Dixon was reasonable and only blew up when provoked, whereas Rona flew off the handle at the slightest provocation. Because of this, her reputation was miles better than Rona’s.

Besides, everyone in the compound knew that Rona Langdon beat and berated Vera. They had always turned a blind eye because it was the Preston family’s private business and not their place to interfere. But after such a huge scene today, and seeing Vera’s miserable state, the crowd immediately began to denounce Rona Langdon.

"I heard Rona say she was going to hit Grandma Dixon just now, too."

"I heard it too. Rona, it’s not my place to say, but even if Vera didn’t grow up with you, she’s still your own flesh and blood. How can you be so cruel! Look at the state you’ve beaten her into!"

"Exactly! That’s no way for a mother to act!"

Rona Langdon snapped, "I didn’t even hit her today!"

"Then where did those bruises on her come from?" Grandma Dixon asked.

Rona Langdon faltered for a moment before blurting out, "She did it to herself!"

Grandma Dixon scoffed. "Vera did it to herself? Who’s going to believe that!"

Rona Langdon shrieked, "Vera Xavier, you little bitch, hurry up and tell everyone where those bruises came from!"

Wiping away her tears, Vera said, "Mom, I’ll listen to you from now on when I cook. I won’t use too much oil again."

Then she turned to Grandma Dixon. "Grandma Dixon, please let me apologize on my mother’s behalf. Please don’t report her."