Chapter 78: Where to Sleep Tonight?

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Where to Sleep Tonight?

Alden chimed in, "Exactly! What’s the point of a girl getting an education? No matter how much she studies, she’ll just end up getting married, having kids, and staying home to raise them. It’s a complete waste of time and money!"

Vera Xavier knew what they were planning. Her tone was level. "Mom, we agreed. If I did well on my exams this time, you’d let me keep studying."

"Only your dad would be naive enough to think you could do well!" Rona Langdon snapped. "Someone like you? Are you even cut out for studying? You’re just a walking embarrassment!"

Vera said calmly, "The scores come out on Monday."

"We don’t need to see any scores. You’re going to Corvale tomorrow to work!" Rona Langdon’s tone was decisive and vicious.

Recalling Vera’s recent strange and defiant behavior, she added, "Go upstairs and stay put. You’re not going anywhere for the next two days!"

Vera took one look at her mother’s expression and knew her plan. The man immediately moved to block her path, snarling, "Get upstairs and rest. We’ll call you when it’s time to leave tomorrow."

Vera’s gaze darkened. She suddenly whipped the backpack off her shoulder and swung it straight at the man’s head. He hadn’t expected her to be so aggressive and, caught off guard, instinctively raised his arms to shield his head.

Vera ducked and darted past him. ’A wise girl knows when to retreat. I have to get out of here first!’

As she ran out, Rona Langdon shrieked, "Vera Xavier, you get back here!"

Vera scoffed. ’I’m not an idiot. If I go back, they’ll lock me in my room and ship me off to Corvale tomorrow to work.’

’It wasn’t that I had a problem with working, but I refused to be forced to go somewhere against my will.’

’I can already guess that this so-called ’job’ won’t be anywhere decent. I probably won’t have any freedom at all.’

Because of what had happened a few days ago, Rona Langdon didn’t actually dare to chase after Vera directly. She stomped her foot and cursed, "That wretched girl, Vera Xavier! Just wait till she gets back, I’ll tear her to pieces!"

Alden didn’t miss the chance to fan the flames. "Rona, I don’t mean to overstep, but you’re way too soft on her. A girl shouldn’t be so disobedient!"

The man chimed in, "Sis, that girl didn’t grow up by your side. You need to show her you mean business!"

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

He was Rona Langdon’s younger brother, Jason Langdon. He was a butcher, and known for being a cruel and ruthless man.

Rona Langdon felt utterly humiliated and furious. She mentally ran through a hundred different ways to punish Vera, but of course, none of them would work unless Vera came home.

She said to Jason Langdon, "I know what to do. You stay here tonight. As soon as Vera comes back, teach her a good lesson. Then tomorrow, we’ll throw her on the bus."

Jason Langdon nodded. "You should’ve done this ages ago. You were always too nice to her, and that’s why she’s so ridiculously arrogant."

The matter was thus settled. But they were doomed to be disappointed, because Vera didn’t come back that night at all.

As Vera made her way out, a knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. ’I left in such a rush—using my backpack as a weapon, no less—that I don’t have a single cent on me!’

’Besides, when I really thought about it, I didn’t have a single friend or relative in the city. Those so-called relatives from the Preston and Langdon families never considered me one of their own. If they saw me out by myself, they’d get all sorts of suspicious ideas and would probably just send me right back to the Preston Family.’

’So, where was I supposed to sleep tonight?’