Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Lifesaver
After she finished, Grandma Dixon leaned in conspiratorially toward Vera Xavier and said, "Iâve heard about that factory in Corvale. Itâs a real sweatshop. Never mind the pay; the work is said to be back-breaking. A girl from the west side of town went to work there last year, and when she came back, she was nothing but skin and bones. She said the managers there are no good, always getting ideas whenever they see a pretty girl."
Vera Xavier gave a small smile. âSo Grandma Dixon already knows about Rona Langdon trying to send me to work in Corvale.â
Grandma Dixon added, "Your dad is back now. You donât have to be afraid of that tigress anymore."
Vera Xavier felt a wave of relief. "Thank you, Grandma Dixon."
"Donât mention it." Grandma Dixon smiled. "Youâre such a sweet and sensible girl, Iâve really grown fond of you. Oh, right, it looks like you have guests over today. They still havenât left, so you should hurry on back!"
Vera Xavier wasnât particularly interested in who the Preston Familyâs guests were. All that mattered was that with Zachary Preston back, she could finally return home.
However, when she pushed open the door and saw Nathaniel Nathan standing in the courtyard, her eyes flew wide. She almost blurted out, âWhy are you here?â
Before she could say a word, she heard Zachary Prestonâs cheerful voice. "Vera, youâre back! Have you said hello to Nathan yet?"
âNathan?â Vera shuddered at the form of address. She looked up at him, only to see a teasing glint in his eyes as he said, "Hello, little sister Vera."
His tone was as cool and detached as ever, and his expression was impassive, but those words nearly made Vera Xavier keel over in shock.
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âLittle sister Vera? Oh my god! That name is just mortifying!â
The truth was, she had forgotten that it was popular for young men and women to call each other "brother" and "sister" in this day and age.
Seeing her reaction, Nathaniel Nathan gave a rather uncharitable laugh.
Just then, Zachary Preston walked out of the house with Master Nathan by his side. The moment Vera Xavier saw the old man, she recalled what Nathaniel Nathan had told her yesterdayâthat he would come to the Preston Family to thank her in person.
At the time, she hadnât taken his words seriously, assuming he was just being polite. âEven if he did come,â sheâd thought, âheâd surely wait until Master Nathan had recovered a bit more.â She never expected them to arrive so soon!
Master Nathan gave Vera Xavier a quick wink before his expression turned serious. "Vera, I owe you everything this time. If it werenât for you, this old bag of bones would have been done for. From now on, youâre my lifesaver!"
His words made Veraâs head spin. She quickly replied, "Mr. Nathan, youâre being too kind. I just happened to be passing by. I didnât really do anything."
"The fact that you just happened to be passing by, saw an old man collapsed on the ground, and immediately offered your help is proof of your outstanding character. That makes your actions all the more commendable," Master Nathan said with great seriousness.
Zachary Preston smiled. "Not to brag, but our Vera is a good kid."
Master Nathan had just finished singing Veraâs praises to Zachary Preston, giving him a brief account of how she had saved him. However, he had altered the story slightly, saying only that Vera had rescued him and then left, making no mention of her spending the night at the Nathan Familyâs home.
This version of events had actually been Nathaniel Nathanâs idea. He knew Vera didnât have an easy life with the Preston Family, and for a young woman to spend the night at another familyâs house could harm her reputation. It would be better for her if it wasnât mentioned.