Chapter 467: Chapter 467: The Difference Between Clouds and Mud
"Why are you in Veridia?" Susan Caldwell was surprised. She hadnât expected Rona Langdon to show up in Veridia, and a knot of anxiety instantly tightened in her stomach.
Rona Langdonâs eyes welled up with tears. "When I left Crestfall, I only had the few hundred I had hidden on me. It took everything I had just to get to Veridia. If it werenât for me, you wouldnât be living the high life with the Caldwell family right now, so..."
"Thatâs enough," Susan Caldwell cut her off, her voice cold. For years, Rona Langdon had said the same thing in nearly every phone call, a constant reminder that she was the daughter of this crude, vulgar woman.
âEven though I donât like Winter Sullivan,â Susan thought, âif I had to compare her to Rona Langdon, Winter would be a cloud in the heavens, and Rona would be the filthiest mud on the ground.â
Winter Sullivan was noble and elegant. Rona Langdon was crude and ignorant.
Susan Caldwell was Rona Langdonâs last hope. In the past, Rona would have screamed back at anyone who spoke to her that way, but now, she didnât dare raise her voice to Susan.
Rona Langdon sniffled pathetically. "Susan, all my money is gone. You canât just abandon me."
Ever since Trellis lost ten million to Vera Xavier, the very mention of money grated on Susan Caldwellâs nerves. But she knew Rona Langdon was shameless. If she didnât placate her, Rona would show up at the Caldwell residence demanding cash, and that would be a disaster.
So, she forced herself to be patient. "I know. Iâll send you some money later."
"You really are my daughter. I donât regret carrying you for ten months for a second," Rona Langdon said with a broad smile. "My old accounts were all frozen. Since weâre both in Veridia anyway, just bring me the cash tomorrow!"
Her words disgusted Susan, but she couldnât just cut her off completely. She gave a cold grunt of acknowledgment and hung up the phone.
She had just hung up when there was a knock at the door. When she opened it, Julian Caldwell was standing outside. She jumped, startled. "Dad, how long have you been standing there?"
"I just got here," Julian Caldwell said. Seeing her frightened expression, he assumed she was still shaken by what Winter Sullivan had said earlier. He quickly tried to comfort her. "Your motherâs standards are a little high, but sheâs your mom. Everything she does is for your own good."
He had heard her hang up the phone and just figured she was upset and complaining to a friend, so he didnât press the issue.
Hearing his gentle tone, Susan knew he hadnât overheard anything. She silently breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then, her eyes turning red, she said, "Dad, Mom doesnât believe me. Iâm so hurt!"
"I believe you," Julian Caldwell said softly. "Youâre a daughter of the Caldwell family. How could you possibly do something like that? Itâs just... the information your mother received came from the military department. Thatâs why sheâs so angry. But deep down, she still loves you."
Of course, Susan didnât believe for a second that Winter Sullivan loved her, but she would never say that to Julian. Sobbing softly, she said, "To be doubted by the person I respect most... Dad, it just hurts so much."
Julian Caldwell smiled. "Your mother just has that temper. Donât take it to heart. Besides, I believe you! Once she investigates and finds out the truth, she wonât be angry with you anymore. Our Susan is the best daughter in the world."
Hearing from Julian that Winter Sullivan was still going to investigate the incident with Trellis, Susan looked even more wronged. "So, to put it bluntly, you still donât believe me!"