She actually didn't want to say that about Rebecca. After all, Rebecca had just returned from overseas. She took a long journey from Fairport to Rookfort. Even if she hadn't visited for four years, and didn't make any calls, she was still part of the family after all.But they had been rude to Mary.Even if Mary had a bad temper, was divorced, and had a child to care for, she was still better than her other two children. She knew that her parents had aged, and she lived with them to accompany them.The same could not be said for Zelda and Henry.One married a poor guy without listening to them, and now she didn't care about the Stigg family because her husband had gotten rich. Another forgot about them after marrying and moved out once they separated from the family, as if they were afraid that James and Angela would disturb them.Luckily Angela had three children, or else she and James would be living on their own.When she thought of this, Angela became defensive of herself.
Mary kept silent. She looked at Angela as if she was asking her to rescue her from this predicament.Angela, unexpectedly, didn't say anything.She thought that Mary had truly gone overboard this time.James and she were still alive and yet Mary said such words. It was… disappointing.James didn't want to argue anymore. He left after he put everything back in the boxes.On the table, Mary took a glance at Angela and asked cautiously, "Mom…"It was fine if Mary offended James; he had never been on her side after all. Angela was the one who gave her pocket money, so it was enough to just please Angela.But Angela didn't try to comfort her like she usually did. She simply avoided meeting Mary's gaze, "Let's eat."She didn't say anything else after that.Mary could only continue with her meal and say one or two words to flatter Angela, or help serve Angela the dishes, hoping to gain her favor.However, Angela remained quiet.…As for Rebecca, after she left the villa with Alber
The meal had successfully brushed away all the negative feelings Rebecca had.Those overthinking tendencies, grievances, and regrets had all been forgotten in the midst of laughter.After all, who didn't like being praised?Although it might not be sincere, it was nice to hear.Moreover, Henry and Emily were not insincere in their praises.They enthusiastically expressed their concerns and care, and their behavior during the meal showed how much they respected and cared about the youngsters.Even Albert, who was usually more mature, also seemed like a kid there. He also received criticism and praise like the others.For instance, if Albert forgot to place the cutlery properly, or if he kept looking at his phone, Henry would scold him. If he took out a cigarette and held it between his fingers, Emily would reprimand him too, even if he didn't light it up.As for Rebecca, who was well-behaved and not picky, all she received was praise.She had been smiling the entire meal.She
The restaurant that Rebecca had booked was a Western restaurant at Riverwood that had good ratings.It was different from Gourmet Haven, which mainly offered local dishes. She chose a Western restaurant for the atmosphere. The food was quite good, but the portion sizes were small. The restaurant's interior was impeccable. In fact, even just taking a photo outside the restaurant and sharing it on social media prompted people to inquire about the restaurant.Rebecca didn't wait for David to arrive before ordering some food in advance. The restaurant served small portions, and she didn't want to starve herself.It was no wonder this restaurant had high ratings. Their desserts were exquisitely made, and even the beverages were related to characters from popular animation series. In this era where appearance was considered a virtue, aesthetics might be more important than value for money.Moreover, the food was delicious enough, and the price unsurprisingly matched the cost of livin
"Let's go and see the surprise I have for you," said David as he wiped his mouth. He looked at Rebecca sitting opposite him and spoke calmly.Rebecca couldn't wait any longer. She couldn't feel at ease before she saw Susan with her own eyes.Hence, as soon as David said that, she asked the waiter to present the bill. She did not want to delay it any further.She didn't even let David pay for the meal as his apology. Rebecca quickly scanned the QR code, picked up her coat, and left."Let's go!" said Rebecca."You are so excited!" David laughed.There was a hint of teasing in his pitch-black eyes, but there was also something unfathomable about them.Rebecca pursed her lips. Perhaps as she realized that she had made her intentions too obvious, she stayed quiet by the side and waited for David.But David was still relaxing and didn't seem to want to leave anytime soon. Rebecca couldn't stand it anymore. She said, "We have finished the meal. It's not good to keep sitting here for
As the even more dazzling fireworks illuminated the night sky, the uneasiness in Rebecca's heart solidified. "Becca, will you marry me?" The man before her knelt down on one knee while holding a large bouquet with a stunning diamond ring. The fireworks in the sky reflected off the ring and made it sparkle. The surrounding crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Alongside the people strategically placed by David, spontaneous onlookers who had been out shopping joined the celebration. Smiles lit up their faces as they clapped and cheered. They shouted phrases like, "Marry him!" and "I do!" The fireworks continued to illuminate the night sky, and even drones weaved through the display. Amidst this lively atmosphere, a chill ran down Rebecca's spine. She gazed blankly at the man before her and was uncertain of how to respond. Behind David stood Susan, who was being held captive by a man with an exotic face. The man dressed like an ordinary person; his arm was draped over Susa
Go home? Rebecca blinked as she glanced at the luxurious villa outside the car window. This place definitely wasn't her home. Recalling the spectacle in the city center a while ago, she could easily imagine what the public opinion was like. Undoubtedly, it was likely that this proposal had already been captured by many and posted as short videos online. If David had wanted to, he likely would have escalated the situation, while ensuring that the Johnson family was aware of it. Thinking about the incessant buzzing phone in her bag a moment ago, Rebecca felt a headache coming on. She hadn't figured out how to explain to her family that she accepted a proposal from such a lunatic. Taking a deep breath, she turned to David and asked, "If I say I want to go home, Mr. Winston, would you be willing to drive me back to the Johnson residence? It might take an hour or so to get there from here." She certainly didn't consider this place as her home. Leaning against the backsea
Rebecca was so lazy that she didn't even bother to open the videos and see what comments were written about them. Just watching these videos and the mismatched captions on the thumbnails made her feel suffocated. After locking her phone, she rested in silence. Inside the car, silence prevailed, with only the mechanical hum of the engine breaking the quiet. Occasionally, when Rebecca opened her eyes, all she saw were the passing streetlights. It wasn't until the surroundings became vaguely familiar that Rebecca's inner restlessness began to settle. She felt like a lost child finally finding her way home. As the car approached the familiar breakfast shop not far from her home, her anxious heart finally settled. Home was all that mattered. "Just a little more until I'm home," she thought. She was determined not to close her tired eyes. She feared that if she closed and opened her eyes again, she would not see anything familiar. A few minutes later, the car reached a narr
Penny didn't have much free time over the past three years.As she had envisioned, during the first year, she honed her acting skills amidst criticism while also working as a translator.Later on, she felt that acting didn't hold much appeal anymore. Moreover, realizing that there weren't any roles left for her, she gradually gave up and moved toward working behind the scenes.She had some work during this period.It seemed that a daring reality show, not caring about potential risks, decided to capitalize on her controversial popularity and invited her to participate in one of their programs.The reason Penny agreed to participate was because the show's first season had a good reputation, and the payment offered was reasonable.Continuously doing translations could be quite tiring. After discussing with Cecilia and weighing the pros and cons, she eventually signed up for this TV show.Unfortunately, she had underestimated the darker side of human nature.The show's production
"Really?" Zane blurted out, staring incredulously at Sam, who nodded calmly. His unruly and carefree demeanor was restrained, and his composed attitude showed that he wasn't joking.Zane fell silent again, furrowing his brow as he intently observed Sam.It was as if he thought everything through in an instant, giving up without hesitation. He didn't even remind Zane of the request from years ago to take care of Penny. Instead, he said this would be the last time he would help out.Logically speaking, this should be a satisfactory outcome for Zane. After all, from any perspective, the Lowe family's scion would only be a burden to Sam.Looking again at Sam's attitude, it seemed he didn't want Penny to know he was the one quietly spending money to handle things behind the scenes.Since there was no plan to meet her, he didn't need to worry about anything after that. If that was the case, it would be better to just end it early.That way, if Sam saw Penny falling in love, getting mar
All those old scoundrels from the Lowe family undoubtedly ranked the highest. Then there was Jessica, the entertainment industry's national goddess, who also played a significant role.Besides them, there were a few minor celebrities who didn't really make the cut.However, as Sam's partner and someone who watched him grow up, Zane privately hoped Sam could find a better girl.So, he advised, "There are plenty of socialites in Riverwood, and Amdale has no shortage of beautiful young ladies, either, and Rookfort isn't much different."You and the Lowe family's daughter haven't even officially met…""Who said I haven't met her?" Sam interrupted him without a second thought.He had even seen her twice. How could Zane say they hadn't even met yet?The first time, she gave him all the money she had. The second time, he spoke up to help her get that role.After these interactions, they could be considered acquaintances.Zane choked up and couldn't find the words to refute.He was s
Because Penny declined his offer, Zane didn't insist. After a bit of small talk, he ended the call.He politely mentioned that if she needed any help, she could call this number again. If he could assist in any way, he certainly would.However, Zanw knew very well that, given Penny's temperament, she would rather give up what she had than actively seek help from a stranger.Yes, to Penny, Zane was just a stranger. He was a person she had met once but didn't really know.This time, Penny didn't respond as coldly as she did when she was 18. Instead, she exchanged a couple of polite pleasantries, mentioned that she would reach out if needed, and then hung up the phone.After that, she let out a long sigh of relief and lay on the lounge chair on the balcony, gazing at the view outside the window.There were fluffy white clouds in the azure sky and the greenery visible in the neighborhood. Sparrows were chirping persistently as they darted through the forest, and the cicadas loudly bu
Although the other person said only one word, Penny could still tell he didn't have any ill intentions.Because of that faint sense of familiarity, Penny didn't hang up the phone immediately. "Hello? May I ask what this is about?"The unfamiliar and distant tone probably made the man on the other end of the phone pause for a moment. It was only after a brief silence that he responded."Young lady, don't you remember me? It's Zane Moran."His voice carried a laugh, with a hint of teasing.Only then did Penny remember who he was, but she wasn't happy at all.Zane meant no harm when that incident happened back then. But despite that, over the years that had passed, he became one of the people and things Penny would rather not recall.Whether it was the exam she missed, the incident where Spencer took her to the hotel against her will, or Zane, who gave her 30 dollars for a taxi ride.She just wanted to hide all of them deep in her memories.The recent events had particularly made
"I'm fine. You all don't have to look so worried. You're making it seem as if something bad is going to happen to me."Penny looked at the two people at the door who were showing a range of expressions, feeling speechless.Cecilia was provoked by her words, and her eyes turned red."We're worried about you. You have no idea what you look like right now. You're almost like one of those disheartened protagonists in novels who hated the world."Penny clicked her tongue twice and said, "Aren't you exaggerating?"She didn't believe it. She was just worried about money. It wasn't like she had become disillusioned with life.Besides, she didn't dislike this world at all. On the contrary, she really liked it.Whenever Penny came across posts online suggesting that all humans should just die, she always felt like rolling her eyes. If they wanted to die, they shouldn't drag others with them.When searching for her own role in movies, TV dramas, and novels, Penny particularly preferred re
Penny's way of clarifying things was to simply tell the truth.Sometimes, trying to cover things up would just lead to needing 100 more lies to continue the cover-up. That would often end up making things worse and more ridiculous.It was better to tell the truth about the situation.To answer the question of why she lashed out at the Lowe family, she briefly explained her experiences over the years.Why didn't she attend the final paper of the college entrance examinations? She personally reopened that old wound.As for that man in the hotel, Penny didn't have much of an impression of him anymore. She only remembered not taking his business card and accepting 30 dollars from him.Why did she show up at that man's hotel room? She wrote it down truthfully—it was her father who personally took her and left her at the hotel, wanting to trade her like a commodity.Every single word was carefully considered and written by Penny.She didn't share much of these things with Cecilia. Th
Once the official statements were released, Penny's career being ruined became a certainty.The only surprising thing was probably that after the film crew issued their statement, the largest investor also requested to withdraw.The film crew was completely shocked, but there was nothing they could do. The scion was willing to lose money just to withdraw his investment, so what could they do?The amount of money in the compensation was nothing compared to the amount that the scion planned to invest. The production team would incur a significant loss.With one less investor, the project's status was essentially downgraded. They had much less room to manipulate their gains now, too.One would understand why the scion was doing this if they used their brain a little.However, the protests from the audience couldn't be ignored, and compared to the investors, it was clearly more important to keep the show going.After all, they could always attract more sponsors, even if the amount o
In addition to the widespread backlash caused by the phone recording, Penny's academic credentials were also scrutinized and exposed.Before the college entrance exam, she had always been the top student in her school and had never ranked anything else.However, in the college entrance exam, she barely passed the minimum mark for key institutions, far below her usual performance.Some people speculated that she had been cheating during regular exams and that her actual abilities were much worse.However, the exam results could be checked online, and the fact that Penny scored zero on the last exam was surprising.It was even more shocking that she was admitted to a top-tier university despite missing an exam. It was truly exceptional.But few people paid attention to this information.After all, the achievements attained through hard work couldn't be faked. Even if the results weren't as expected, it was undeniable that she was stronger than many others.Regarding this topic, t