Chapter <b>132 </b>
The next <b>day</b><b>, </b>right after returning from North Ridge, Vivian rushed straight to the Jasper family estate to pour her heart out to the Mrs. Jasper Sr.
<b>“</b>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, <b>but </b>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 <b>Sr.’s </b>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.
<b>“</b>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 <b>to </b>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<b>, </b>so he should only carry her bag. Grandma<b>, </b><b>you </b>tell me–Sean and I grew up together. I’m his sister. <b>I </b>can’t even ask him <b>to </b>carry a bag for me?”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s frown deepened, her <b>expression </b>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 ce<b>.</b>”
“Exactly! I was so upset. And when we <b>were </b>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 <b>too </b>much! Are you hurt anywhere<b>, </b>sweetheart?”
Vivian nodded, wiping <b>away </b><b>tears</b><b>. </b>
“I am…”
She <b>lifted </b>the hem of her skirt to <b>reveal </b>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 <b>it </b><b>open </b>again. Now the skin was raw and bloody<b>. </b>She hadn’t cleaned or bandaged it <b>either</b><b>, </b><b>just </b><b>to </b>make sure the sight would tug at her grandmother’s heart.
And it worked.
Mrs. Jasper <b>Sr.’s </b>face twisted in distress. She immediately <b>called </b>for a maid to <b>fetch </b><b>antiseptic </b>and bandages.
“<b>I </b>twisted my anklest night and <b>couldn’t </b>walk,” Vivian added tearfully. <b>“</b><b>I </b>asked Sean to <b>carry </b>me the <b>rest </b><b>of </b>the way <b>to </b>the lookout so <b>I </b>could <b>see </b>the <b>meteor </b>shower. <b>But </b>Charlotte refused, She <b>even </b>said…” her voice broke again<b>, </b>“she said…”
She began sobbing before she could finish the <b>sentence</b><b>. </b>
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s expression darkened.
“What else <b>did </b>she say<b>?</b>”
<b>“</b>She said I’m an adult <b>now</b><b>, </b>and that I should keep <b>my </b>distance from Sean. <b>That </b>people might misunderstand us. And then she bragged to her friends that she’s about to <b>marry </b>into the Jasper family<b>, </b><b>that </b>she’ll be thedy of the house soon<b>, </b>and that only she has the right to be carried by Sean.”
<b>Vivian </b>broke into loud sobs.
<b>“</b>Grandma<b>, </b>am I really supposed <b>to </b>stay away from Sean just because <b>I </b>got hurt? Am I not <b>even </b>allowed to ask him to help me?”
“Unbelievable<b>!</b><b>” </b>Mrs. Jasper Sr. <b>was </b>fuming. “She’s <b>not </b><b>even </b>married int
Chapter <b>132 </b>
The next <b>day</b><b>, </b>right after returning from North Ridge, Vivian rushed straight to the Jasper family estate to pour her heart out to the Mrs. Jasper Sr.
<b>“</b>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, <b>but </b>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 <b>Sr.’s </b>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.
<b>“</b>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 <b>to </b>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<b>, </b>so he should only carry her bag. Grandma<b>, </b><b>you </b>tell me–Sean and I grew up together. I’m his sister. <b>I </b>can’t even ask him <b>to </b>carry a bag for me?”
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s frown deepened, her <b>expression </b>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 ce<b>.</b>”
“Exactly! I was so upset. And when we <b>were </b>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 <b>too </b>much! Are you hurt anywhere<b>, </b>sweetheart?”
Vivian nodded, wiping <b>away </b><b>tears</b><b>. </b>
“I am…”
She <b>lifted </b>the hem of her skirt to <b>reveal </b>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 <b>it </b><b>open </b>again. Now the skin was raw and bloody<b>. </b>She hadn’t cleaned or bandaged it <b>either</b><b>, </b><b>just </b><b>to </b>make sure the sight would tug at her grandmother’s heart.
And it worked.
Mrs. Jasper <b>Sr.’s </b>face twisted in distress. She immediately <b>called </b>for a maid to <b>fetch </b><b>antiseptic </b>and bandages.
“<b>I </b>twisted my anklest night and <b>couldn’t </b>walk,” Vivian added tearfully. <b>“</b><b>I </b>asked Sean to <b>carry </b>me the <b>rest </b><b>of </b>the way <b>to </b>the lookout so <b>I </b>could <b>see </b>the <b>meteor </b>shower. <b>But </b>Charlotte refused, She <b>even </b>said…” her voice broke again<b>, </b>“she said…”
She began sobbing before she could finish the <b>sentence</b><b>. </b>
Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s expression darkened.
“What else <b>did </b>she say<b>?</b>”
<b>“</b>She said I’m an adult <b>now</b><b>, </b>and that I should keep <b>my </b>distance from Sean. <b>That </b>people might misunderstand us. And then she bragged to her friends that she’s about to <b>marry </b>into the Jasper family<b>, </b><b>that </b>she’ll be thedy of the house soon<b>, </b>and that only she has the right to be carried by Sean.”
<b>Vivian </b>broke into loud sobs.
<b>“</b>Grandma<b>, </b>am I really supposed <b>to </b>stay away from Sean just because <b>I </b>got hurt? Am I not <b>even </b>allowed to ask him to help me?”
“Unbelievable<b>!</b><b>” </b>Mrs. Jasper Sr. <b>was </b>fuming. “She’s <b>not </b><b>even </b>married into the family and already pulling rank? Acting like she runs the household?”
<b>“</b>Grandma<b>, </b>please… you have <b>to </b>stand <b>up </b>for me<b>!</b><b>” </b>
“Don’t worry<b>, </b>sweetheart<b>.</b>” <b>Mrs. </b>Jasper Sr. patted her hand firmly, <b>“</b>Grandma’s on your side. <b>At </b><b>the </b><b>next </b>family gathering<b>, </b>I’ll make sure that girl knows her ce.”
<b>Soon, </b>the day <b>of </b>the Jasper family gathering arrived.
<b>Sean </b>picked Charlotte up and brought her to the estate.
<b>+25 </b><b>Bonus </b>
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. <b>Jasper</b>. She had clearly dressed to impress–light makeup, perfectly polished, and a pale blue silk dress that gave her <b>a </b>soft, graceful <b>look</b>. Her whole vibe was sweet and refined, exactly the kind of traditional elegance Mrs. Jasper Sr. loved.
o the family and already pulling rank? Acting like she runs the household?”
<b>“</b>Grandma<b>, </b>please… you have <b>to </b>stand <b>up </b>for me<b>!</b><b>” </b>
“Don’t worry<b>, </b>sweetheart<b>.</b>” <b>Mrs. </b>Jasper Sr. patted her hand firmly, <b>“</b>Grandma’s on your side. <b>At </b><b>the </b><b>next </b>family gathering<b>, </b>I’ll make sure that girl knows her ce.”
<b>Soon, </b>the day <b>of </b>the Jasper family gathering arrived.
<b>Sean </b>picked Charlotte up and brought her to the estate.
<b>+25 </b><b>Bonus </b>
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. <b>Jasper</b>. She had clearly dressed to impress–light makeup, perfectly polished, and a pale blue silk dress that gave her <b>a </b>soft, graceful <b>look</b>. Her whole vibe was sweet and refined, exactly the kind of traditional elegance Mrs. Jasper Sr. loved.