Chapter 4
Bruce was still seething as his anger was clearly written on his face.
However, James, who felt a twinge of guilt. in his heart, stopped him and softened his stance a little. “Forget it. I overreacted earlier. Don’t take it to heart. When I get back, I’ll bring you your favorite chestnut cakes.”
“However, I have one condition. You must promise not to make things difficult for Lucy anymore.”
The was a saying, give a slap with one hand and a reward with the other.
However, James had forgotten something.
I couldn’t even eat chestnut cakes because of my stomach problems. Years
ago,
he had gone through countless chefs because he was unsatisfied with them until he finally spent sleepless nights
researching to craft a medicinal diet.
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specifically for me. Meanwhile, Bruce relentlessly monitored my meals and ensured that I followed the plan to the
letter.
Yet, they had forgotten everything now.
A gust of wind swept past, and a cold chill surged through me. I shivered and
suddenly realized I was still wearing my soaked clothes. It seemed it was inevitable that I was finally having a fever.
As I struggled to stay upright, James bumped against my shoulder roughly as he brushed past me, “You’re still acting, huh?”
I could not take it anymore as the last bit of strength drained from me and I collapsed directly into the mud.
James turned his body. There was a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. However, in the end, he left with Bruce while putting Lucy between the two of them.
After struggling for a long time, I managed to climb up with difficulty and managed to
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Chapter 41
an ambulance myself.
Seeing the pitiful state I was in, my doctor was angry and could not stop himself from scolding me harshly, “You just got freshly out of the hospital but you managed to get yourself into this state? Do you even realize the condition of your health? You seem determined to push yourself to the edge!”
I did not dare to argue with him so I obediently stayed in the hospital for a few days of observation. Once my fever finally subsided, I was released.
I knew that I had lost a lot of time because of this so I could only try to make it up by moving forward with my plans.
I went back to the company to resign, hoping for a chance to say goodbye to my few close colleagues only to find that all of them had been fired by Lucy. The one who stayed behind shunned me as if I were a plague.
I stood at the entrance of the company and
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waited for hours, only to be informed that James and Lucy had gone on a business. trip. The three of them were visiting the beach I’d loved since I was a child, as well as the place I had always dreamed of seeing but never had the chance.
With a bitter laugh, I tossed my resignation letter away. I had been worried sick thinking about how to explain my absence, only to realize no one cared if I was there
or not.
All I needed to do was to say goodbye to Auntie Xander. After that, I could leave
without worries.
Knowing I would come to see her, Auntie Xander cleared her schedules and deliberately canceled an international meeting just so she could see me.
The moment she saw me her eyes turned red, “Why are you getting thinner now?”
“I heard about your engagement with the Lambert’s heir. He is a good boy. Dear
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Chapter 4
child, I hate to see you go.”
I handed Auntie Xander the bank card my mother had given me. “I’ll visit you whenever I can. Thank you for taking care of me all these years.
Her tears started to fall.
“Why must we be so formal with each other? It’s my fault. I was too busy with work and didn’t take better care of you.” She sighed. “I even foolishly hoped you could be my daughter–in–law, but now… those stupid boys don’t deserve you.”
She pressed the money back to me.
“Consider this as my contribution to your dowry. I won’t be able to attend your wedding, but I genuinely hope you‘ 11 be happy.”
As I held back my tears, I hugged Auntie
Xander.
In all my years with the Xander Family, she had treated me like her own daughter. Yet, when it came to matters of the heart, who
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could have a say?
Auntie Xander kept clenching my hands while repeatedly saying that she did not want to part with me.
In the middle of our conversation, James, Bruce, and Lucy came back.
When they saw me, the brothers‘ faces. darkened instantly.
“Leslie! What wedding are you talking about? Are you feeding lies to my mother again?” James’s tone was sharp.
“James! Is that the way to talk to your sister?” Auntie Xander said angrily.
Bruce rushed to her side and said, “Mom, don’t believe anything that Leslie says. The only reason me and my brother proposed to her back then was to fulfill one of her dreams”
Lucy, who was hiding behind James, gave Auntie Xander a shy smile.
James calmly added, “Though Lucy comes
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from a poor background, she was an independent and strong girl. She will not hastily agree to a marriage proposal just because she covets the Xander Family’s. wealth. Leslie who had been spoiled by me only knows how to bully others and stir up trouble out of jealousy.”
Auntie Xander, who was previously. confused about their outburst, exploded with anger. She slammed her cup down and shouted, “No wonder, Leslie insisted on leaving…. You two scoundrels, take that woman with you and get out!”
After they left, I spent a long time soothing Auntie Xander and helping her calm down. until she finally let me go with tearful blessings. She was too ashamed to keep me by her side.
I left with her final warmth as a swirl of
emotions clouded my mind.
On my way down the steps, I suddenly tripped and tumbled straight down the steps. After I managed to look up, despite
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the pain on my body, I finally realized it was Bruce who tripped me when I saw him standing before me.
“Why can you just leave me alone, Leslie? You even came to complain and slander me to Mrs. Xander. Are you so keen to destroy me?” James’s expression was ugly.
Bruce dragged me to get up and pushed me toward Lucy. “Apologize! Now!”
I had thought they would finally let me leave, but they still refused to let me go.
I could not stand it anymore and yelled, “I’m not in the wrong!”
The word barely left my lips when Bruce lifted his leg and stomped on my injured ankle.
Pain exploded and seared through my body as if my bones were about to crack.
“Remember this, Leslie. This is the price of hurting Lucy. Unlike my brother, I’ll not indulge your temper anymore.”
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As I curled up on the ground and pain
clouded my mind, there was one thing that lingered in my consciousness.
My debts had finally paid off.
Twenty years of sharing everything, through thick and thin, and twenty years of love as childhood sweethearts.
I owed them nothing anymore.
A kind passerby found me and rushed me to the hospital.
After confirming that there were not any major injuries on my body, I hopped on a plane, ignoring the throbbing pain in my swollen ankle and refusing to look back.
The next day, the news of my marriage to the heir of the Lambert Family became the top trending topic on the internet.
Before long the Xander brother sent me messages.
Bruce typed, “Are you running away from home again? Fine. I forgive you. Get your
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ass back here.”
While the words James was sending me, read, “Leslie, where are you? Why does the wife of the Lambert Family’s heir have the same name as you?”
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