Chapter 132
The next day, right after returning from North Ridge, Vivian rushed straight to the Jasper family estate to pour her heart out to the Mrs. Jasper Sr.
“Grandma,” she sniffled, her voice trembling, “I don’t think Charlotte likes me. I really don’t know why. That thing at the stables–it was just a misunderstanding. I already apologized, but she still won’t forgive me.”
Vivian sat beside Mrs. Jasper Sr. on the living room couch, eyes red and watery, her tone thick with grievance.
“She’s just… always so cold to me. I don’t know what I did, but it really feels like she’s always against me.”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s heart ached seeing her granddaughter like this. She took Vivian’s hand and gently patted it.
“Good girl, tell Grandma exactly how that Charlotte girl’s been bullying you.”
Vivian sniffled again, choking up as she spoke.
“Maybe she thinks I’m stealing my brother’s attention. That’s probably why she keeps trying to push me away. When we were resting at base camp, I made stew for him, and Charlotte grabbed the bowl right out of his hands. She told him not to eat it and even said it tasted awful.”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s brows knit together.
“She really said that?”
“That’s not all.” Vivian’s tone turned more aggrieved.
“We were hiking and I got tired, so I asked Sean if he could carry my backpack. But Charlotte stopped him and said she’s his girlfriend now, so he should only carry her bag. Grandma, you tell me–Sean and I grew up together. I’m his sister. I can’t even ask him to carry a bag for me?”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s frown deepened, her expression darkening with displeasure.
“This Charlotte girl is way out of line. She’s not even part of the family yet and already throwing her weight around like she owns the place.”
“Exactly! I was so upset. And when we were crossing the river, she wouldn’t let Sean help me. I nearly fell in!”
Mrs. Jasper Sr. gasped, clutching Vivian’s hand even tighter.
“That Charlotte is too much! Are you hurt anywhere, sweetheart?”
Vivian nodded, wiping away tears.
“I am…”
She lifted the hem of her skirt to reveal her ankle.
The scrape from the night before had already started to scab over, but this morning she had deliberately aggravated the wound–dragging it against the floor just enough to tear it open again. Now the skin was raw and bloody. She hadn’t cleaned or bandaged it either, just to make sure the sight would tug at her grandmother’s heart.
And it worked.
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s face twisted in distress. She immediately called for a maid to fetch antiseptic and bandages.
“I twisted my ankle last night and couldn’t walk,” Vivian added tearfully. “I asked Sean to carry me the rest of the way to the lookout so I could see the meteor shower. But Charlotte refused, She even said…” her voice broke again, “she said…”
She began sobbing before she could finish the sentence.
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s expression darkened.
“What else did she say?”
“She said I’m an adult now, and that I should keep my distance from Sean. That people might misunderstand us. And then she bragged to her friends that she’s about to marry into the Jasper family, that she’ll be the lady of the house soon, and that only she has the right to be carried by Sean.”
Vivian broke into loud sobs.
“Grandma, am I really supposed to stay away from Sean just because I got hurt? Am I not even allowed to ask him to help me?”
“Unbelievable!” Mrs. Jasper Sr. was fuming. “She’s not even married int
Chapter 132
The next day, right after returning from North Ridge, Vivian rushed straight to the Jasper family estate to pour her heart out to the Mrs. Jasper Sr.
“Grandma,” she sniffled, her voice trembling, “I don’t think Charlotte likes me. I really don’t know why. That thing at the stables–it was just a misunderstanding. I already apologized, but she still won’t forgive me.”
Vivian sat beside Mrs. Jasper Sr. on the living room couch, eyes red and watery, her tone thick with grievance.
“She’s just… always so cold to me. I don’t know what I did, but it really feels like she’s always against me.”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s heart ached seeing her granddaughter like this. She took Vivian’s hand and gently patted it.
“Good girl, tell Grandma exactly how that Charlotte girl’s been bullying you.”
Vivian sniffled again, choking up as she spoke.
“Maybe she thinks I’m stealing my brother’s attention. That’s probably why she keeps trying to push me away. When we were resting at base camp, I made stew for him, and Charlotte grabbed the bowl right out of his hands. She told him not to eat it and even said it tasted awful.”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s brows knit together.
“She really said that?”
“That’s not all.” Vivian’s tone turned more aggrieved.
“We were hiking and I got tired, so I asked Sean if he could carry my backpack. But Charlotte stopped him and said she’s his girlfriend now, so he should only carry her bag. Grandma, you tell me–Sean and I grew up together. I’m his sister. I can’t even ask him to carry a bag for me?”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s frown deepened, her expression darkening with displeasure.
“This Charlotte girl is way out of line. She’s not even part of the family yet and already throwing her weight around like she owns the place.”
“Exactly! I was so upset. And when we were crossing the river, she wouldn’t let Sean help me. I nearly fell in!”
Mrs. Jasper Sr. gasped, clutching Vivian’s hand even tighter.
“That Charlotte is too much! Are you hurt anywhere, sweetheart?”
Vivian nodded, wiping away tears.
“I am…”
She lifted the hem of her skirt to reveal her ankle.
The scrape from the night before had already started to scab over, but this morning she had deliberately aggravated the wound–dragging it against the floor just enough to tear it open again. Now the skin was raw and bloody. She hadn’t cleaned or bandaged it either, just to make sure the sight would tug at her grandmother’s heart.
And it worked.
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s face twisted in distress. She immediately called for a maid to fetch antiseptic and bandages.
“I twisted my ankle last night and couldn’t walk,” Vivian added tearfully. “I asked Sean to carry me the rest of the way to the lookout so I could see the meteor shower. But Charlotte refused, She even said…” her voice broke again, “she said…”
She began sobbing before she could finish the sentence.
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s expression darkened.
“What else did she say?”
“She said I’m an adult now, and that I should keep my distance from Sean. That people might misunderstand us. And then she bragged to her friends that she’s about to marry into the Jasper family, that she’ll be the lady of the house soon, and that only she has the right to be carried by Sean.”
Vivian broke into loud sobs.
“Grandma, am I really supposed to stay away from Sean just because I got hurt? Am I not even allowed to ask him to help me?”
“Unbelievable!” Mrs. Jasper Sr. was fuming. “She’s not even married into the family and already pulling rank? Acting like she runs the household?”
“Grandma, please… you have to stand up for me!”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” Mrs. Jasper Sr. patted her hand firmly, “Grandma’s on your side. At the next family gathering, I’ll make sure that girl knows her place.”
Soon, the day of the Jasper family gathering arrived.
Sean picked Charlotte up and brought her to the estate.
1/2
Chapter 132
+25 Bonus
As soon as they arrived, Mrs. Jasper Sr. found an excuse to send Sean off on an errand, leaving Charlotte to sit in the living room with her and Sean’s mother, Lilian.
Vivian sat close beside Mrs. Jasper. She had clearly dressed to impress–light makeup, perfectly polished, and a pale blue silk dress that gave her a soft, graceful look. Her whole vibe was sweet and refined, exactly the kind of traditional elegance Mrs. Jasper Sr. loved.
Chapter 133
o the family and already pulling rank? Acting like she runs the household?”
“Grandma, please… you have to stand up for me!”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” Mrs. Jasper Sr. patted her hand firmly, “Grandma’s on your side. At the next family gathering, I’ll make sure that girl knows her place.”
Soon, the day of the Jasper family gathering arrived.
Sean picked Charlotte up and brought her to the estate.
1/2
Chapter 132
+25 Bonus
As soon as they arrived, Mrs. Jasper Sr. found an excuse to send Sean off on an errand, leaving Charlotte to sit in the living room with her and Sean’s mother, Lilian.
Vivian sat close beside Mrs. Jasper. She had clearly dressed to impress–light makeup, perfectly polished, and a pale blue silk dress that gave her a soft, graceful look. Her whole vibe was sweet and refined, exactly the kind of traditional elegance Mrs. Jasper Sr. loved.
Chapter 133
