Chapter 446: A Show of Force

Chapter 446: Chapter 446: A Show of Force

Vera Xavier’s voice drifted over. "Actually, it’s not like there’s nothing. Look in the slop bucket—there’s plenty in there. If you don’t mind, you can pick it out and eat it."

Cara Preston whipped her head around and saw Vera Xavier leaning against the doorway. She was backlit, so Cara couldn’t make out her expression, but she could feel the disdain and coldness radiating from her.

Cara Preston desperately wanted to rush over and beat Vera Xavier to a pulp, but she knew that if she started any trouble with Vera now, she’d likely be thrown out of the Preston Family for good. And her money was still buried in the yard!

She decided to endure it. "Vera," she began, "why must you find all these different ways to bully me? I admit, I’ve made some mistakes in the past, but that’s all over now! Everyone makes mistakes. As the old saying goes, ’There is no greater good than to correct a fault.’ Why can’t you forgive me even now?"

A cold glint appeared in Vera Xavier’s eyes. "Cara Preston, I just asked Grandma. You call your recent behavior ’correcting a fault’? Are you telling me a joke?"

Cara Preston bit her lip. Vera continued, "There’s something you need to get straight. I’m the one in charge of the Preston Family now. Your little schemes won’t escape my discerning eyes."

Cara Preston’s hands clenched into fists. Vera Xavier raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, right. There’s one more thing I feel I should remind you of. I hold a grudge. Whatever someone has done to me in the past, I’ll do right back to them. And don’t you worry. We’ll be living under the same roof from now on. I’ll have plenty of ways to make your life difficult."

With that, she turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Cara Preston was trembling with rage, but then she remembered the methods Vera Xavier had used to deal with people before, and a chill ran down her spine.

While Vera Xavier had been away, Cara Preston’s life had actually been quite carefree and pleasant. Grandma had to do the housework and take care of Zachary Preston, so she had no time to bother with her.

Cara Preston knew that now that Vera Xavier was back, her comfortable days were over.

She glanced at the empty pots and pans. She knew this was just Vera Xavier’s way of putting her in her place. She was a city girl—how could she let herself be bullied like this by a country bumpkin like Vera?

And now, everyone in the Preston Family was on Vera Xavier’s side, especially since she’d become the provincial top scholar.

She silently compared her own assets against Vera Xavier’s and realized that in just a few short months, she, who had once held the absolute advantage, was now at a complete disadvantage.

’No, I can’t stay in the Preston Family any longer,’ she thought. ’I have to get that four hundred thousand as soon as possible and then leave this family!’

Vera Xavier stood in the outer room, watching the series of expressions cross Cara Preston’s face. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. ’Looks like Cara’s about to make her move. I’d better play along.’

In the afternoon, she told Grandma she was going to deliver a gift to Master Nathan. Grandma nodded in agreement. "The Nathan Family helped us out so much last time, so it’s only right that we thank them properly. But you have to come right back after you deliver it. Don’t stay at their house for too long. I heard Nathaniel Nathan came back yesterday."

Vera Xavier marveled inwardly at how well-informed her grandmother was. She gave a vague laugh and nodded in agreement. Grandma looked at her suspiciously and asked, "You’re not just using ’delivering a gift to Master Nathan’ as an excuse to go see Nathaniel, are you?"

Vera Xavier was speechless.