Crash!
A file came flying down from above, and the sharp corner sliced across Vera Ashton’s cheek.
"Vera Ashton, you’ve still got the nerve to come looking for Xavier? A second-hand woman who’s already had a child, and you still dream of marrying into the Cowman family? Get out. Xavier will never marry you, and don’t let me catch you pestering my son again!"
Vera lifted a hand and touched the spot the paper had cut. She stared at the elegant woman in front of her, stunned.
"Mrs. Cowman, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Had a child? Are you saying I had a child?"
"Still pretending? Then take a good look at that file yourself. It’s your medical report!"
Mrs. Cowman stood on the steps, looking down at Vera from above, her face full of disgust.
"Vera Ashton, wow, you really have no shame. You said you took a year off school four years ago because of a car accident. The truth is, you went off to have a baby, didn’t you? You’re clearly some cheap, shameless trash, yet every day you put on this innocent act. Who are you fooling? Did you really think our Cowman family was that easy to mess with? Butler, throw her out. And from now on, she is not allowed to step one foot in here again!"
Bang!
That was the sound of the villa door slamming shut.
Vera was driven out of the villa, stumbled, and fell hard to the ground.
The file that had been tossed at her landed by her feet. She stared at it blankly, her mind completely empty, like someone had hit pause on her whole world.
That’s not true.
How could she possibly have had a child?
Four years ago, she was in a car accident. That was it.
"Mrs. Cowman, please open the door and let me explain—"
A crisp ringtone suddenly rang out, cutting her off.
Vera’s small face had already gone pale. She pulled out her phone, glanced at the screen, and answered at once.
"Aunt Lan!"
"Miss Ashton, please come to the hospital right away. Your grandmother suddenly passed out and has already been taken into the ER."
Grandma had fainted again!
Vera Ashton’s face changed on the spot, and she hurried out.
...
At the hospital, Vera stood by the ward window, looking at the old woman on the bed who had just been pulled back from the brink. Her eyes slowly reddened.
Her grandmother had severe kidney disease.
She needed a transplant.
But Vera had no money. Not a cent.
That was why, with nowhere else to turn, she had gone to see her boyfriend, Xavier Cowman, hoping to talk to him and ask if he could lend her some money first so Grandma could get treatment.
But who would’ve thought...
The second Xavier crossed her mind, Vera sniffed hard, forcing the tears back down. She walked to the side, took out her phone, and dialed again.
Before this, every time she called Xavier, his phone had been off.
But this time, it actually went through.
A spark lit up in Vera’s eyes. She blurted out, almost breathless, "Xavier..."
"Hello?"
A soft, sugary female voice came through the phone.
The smile on Vera’s face froze instantly. She stared at the screen in disbelief.
She had called Xavier’s number.
So why was a woman answering?
"Are you looking for Xavier? He’s washing up right now, so it’s probably not convenient for him to answer. If you need anything, you can tell me. I’ll pass it on for you."
The woman’s voice floated over, smug and full of attitude.
Vera’s grip tightened around the phone. "Who are you?"
"Miss, a man and a woman alone in one room..." The woman gave a light laugh, her tone practically dripping with provocation. "What do you think I am to Xavier?"
The woman let out a mocking little laugh. "Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up."
The next second, the line went dead.
Vera Ashton’s face turned a shade paler, and the hand hanging by her side slowly clenched into a fist.
So Xavier Cowman really did have another woman out there?
A dull ache spread through her chest. Her breath caught, and she unconsciously took a step back.
"Oww!"
A soft, milky little voice came from behind her.
Vera snapped back to herself, only then realizing she seemed to have bumped into something.
She turned around and saw a tiny boy sitting on the floor, brows scrunched together, one small hand rubbing his sore little butt.
Startled, Vera hurried over and helped the little guy up.