Chapter 77
Ashton’s voice message came right after that kissing emoji. At first glance, it looked as if it was he who had sent both of them.
The very thought of it startled Veronica, though she quickly dismissed it. There was no way Ashton would ever do that. She reminded herself not to start imagining things again, as she had done six years ago.
She’d never repeat that mistake again!
It was most likely that Wanda had replied to her message, and Ashton had snatched the phone
from her.
“Uncle Ashton! Did Ms. Pretty reply? Let me see your phone!” Wanda danced around Ashton on her tiptoes, stretching her arms toward his phone.
Ashton dodged her grab and lazily glanced at the screen. “She replied. She said you should just get lost.”
“You’re lying! Ms. Pretty would never say that!” Wanda’s eyes went wide.
Ashton found his niece amusing. He asked, “And how can you be so sure?”
With a proud little grin, Wanda flashed her crooked baby teeth. “I may be young, but I’m not dumb! Ms. Pretty likes me. An old man like you who nobody likes just wouldn’t get it!”
Ashton was flabbergasted. He shot a dark glance at William, who was pretending to be very busy beside him.
Ashton questioned, “What kind of ridiculous shows have you been letting her watch?”
William gave an awkward little laugh and replied “If I said ‘Sheepo Sheep‘, would you believe me?”
Wanda called him out on the spot. “Mr. Dell, you’re lying! It was ‘Oh! Marry Me Darling!“”
“William Dell! Are you tired of living?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Fletcher. I swear I’m sorry! Sorry!”
Veronica had just returned from the supermarket with groceries. As she approached the apartment building, a blur of purple came running toward her.
“Ms. Pretty!” Wanda shouted excitedly.
Veronica set down her bags and caught the small figure as she leaped into her arms. “It’s you,
Chapter 77
Wanda.”
“Yeah! I knew that I’d run into you if I waited downstairs!” Wanda snuggled in, her twin pigtails bouncing with joy as she took in Veronica’s lovely scent.
Veronica let her cling to her and smiled. “What a clever girl. I bought chicken. I’ll make chicken soup for you tonight.”
“Yay! That’s amazing! I get to eat Ms. Pretty’s cooking again!” Wanda cheered.
Her joy was infectious. Veronica felt her spirits rise, too. She held the girl’s hand as they walked toward the apartment, chatting and catching up.
But just as they stepped onto the steps, a sharp voice rang out behind them.
“Mom!”
Miriam came charging over with her little backpack, her face full of fury. When Veronica turned around, Miriam’s small fists clenched even tighter.
“Mom! Why are you here? Why are you holding her hand? You wouldn’t come home to take care of me. Was it because of her? Is she your illegitimate daughter?”
Veronica had felt pleasantly surprised by Miriam’s sudden appearance at first, but as those words tumbled out, her expression gradually turned cold. She asked, “What are you doing here?”
? Miriam froze for a moment, halting her angry outburst.
She bit her lip, eyes fixed on Veronica and Wanda’s clasped hands, doing her best to act like it didn’t bother her.
So what if Veronica were her mother? She did not need her. She had Eleanor, and that was enough.
Then Miriam hesitated, suddenly wondering if Veronica assumed she had followed her here on
purpose.
“Mom, don’t flatter yourself,” she said scornfully. “I didn’t come here to see you. Ms. Turner
lives here. I chose to move in with her.”
Hearing her daughter’s attempt to explain, Veronica found it amusing. No matter where she went, it seemed that they always managed to find a way to haunt her. Still, she thought that she was already well past her year of misfortune.
Chapter 78
Chapter 78
