Chapter 70: Chapter 70: A Guilty Conscience
Because of the "mailmanâs" shout, the person beside him immediately peered into the room, spotting several new outfits and pairs of shoes.
Rona Langdonâs face turned ghastly pale. Her mind went blank with a loud BUZZ, and she screamed inwardly, âItâs over! Itâs all over!â
She flew into a rage and charged up to the second floor, snarling viciously, "Who let you into my room! All of you, get out!"
The "mailman" said with a smirk, "Mrs. Preston, why are you being so aggressive? Is it because you have a guilty conscience?"
Someone else nearby chimed in, "Thatâs right. Let Vera come in and see if these clothes are hers."
With two people blocking the door, Rona Langdon had no way of forcing them out. Vera Xavier was "called" upstairs by them. She looked at the clothes and shoes and said with feigned astonishment, "These are the things I lost."
After speaking, she looked at Rona Langdon with a "naive" expression and asked, "Mom, why are my things in your room?"
âRona Langdon was always calling her stupid and foolish, wasnât she? Well, right now, she would play the âfoolâ for Rona Langdon to see.â
Hearing this, Rona Langdon was furious. "I already told you," she snapped, "your things werenât lost! Why are you making such a fuss?"
Vera Xavier countered, "But my room was completely ransacked..."
"Iâm the one who did it!" Rona Langdon declared, full of self-righteousness. "So what if I wanted to wear your clothes? Look at you, getting all high and mighty. You even know how to call the police now. Arenât you just so capable!"
Grandma Dixon sneered from the side. "Now, Rona Langdon, thatâs not right. You ransacked the girlâs room, and her things went missing. She obviously thought there was a burglar in the house. Whatâs wrong with calling the police?"
"This is my familyâs business! Itâs none of your damn business!" Rona Langdon shrieked, her shame turning to fury.
Grandma Dixonâs expression darkened as well. "Itâs true that itâs not my place to meddle in your familyâs affairs, but Vera is already eighteen. Sheâs an adult with full civil rights. When her things go missing, calling the police is perfectly justified!"
Grandma Dixon had learned that phrase from Vera Xavier and quoted it quite fluently today. She continued, "Even if you are her mother, taking her belongings without her permission is still theft!"
A few of the other women nearby immediately chimed in to agree. "Isnât that the truth! A mother stealing from her own daughter... Iâve lived for decades, and this is the first time Iâve ever seen anything like it!"
"Thatâs nothing. I heard that for the ten thousand yuan bride price from the Kane family, she nearly sold Vera off."
"She may be her biological daughter, but she didnât raise her. There are no real feelings between them."
"That poor child, Vera."
As the crowd murmured amongst themselves, Rona Langdon began stomping her feet in fury. She lunged forward to grab Vera Xavierâs ear, shouting, "Vera Xavier, you worthless girl! Iâll teach you to make trouble!"
There was no way Vera Xavier would let her get her hands on her. She immediately ducked behind a police officer. "Officer, help me! My momâs trying to hit me again!"
The officers had been on the force for years, but this was a first for them. Rona Langdonâs behavior was completely out of line. One of them immediately shouted, "Stop! Your actions are illegal! If your daughter decides to press charges, what youâve done today is enough to get you fifteen days of detention!"
Rona Langdon was incensed. "Vera Xavier, you dare press charges against me!"
Wiping away tears, Vera Xavier said, "If Mom isnât going to let me live, then I have no choice but to press charges against you."