Chapter 119
Slam! All of a sudden, the door to the office flung open with a hard kick.
Veronica and Xavier whipped their heads around, startled, only to see a woman with long, wavy hair and thick makeup strolling in. A pair of sunglasses rested on her face, and several bags hung off her arms.
“Hey, Xavier, look what I bought for you…”
The woman turned her head to look at the side as she spoke. All of a sudden, she went stiff. Her slender fingers reached up to pluck her sunglasses off so that she could take a closer look at the person in front of her. She shrieked then, tossing aside her bags to charge toward Veronica and wrap her in a hug. “Oh, Veronica, you‘re alive! You‘re still alive! This is great news! Hahaha, I was so worried. I thought that something actually happened to you.”
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Melissa was so worked up that she hopped as she screamed, like an overstimulated kid.
“Ow… that hurts! Release me! Stop hugging!” Veronica sucked in a breath after Melissa jostled her injury, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Having seen this, Xavier pulled Melissa aside. “Let her go, Melissa. Roni is injured.”
Melissa‘s smile froze over. “Ah, she got… hurt?” She loosened her hug then. Seeing Veronica press a hand to her right arm, she leaned in close, frowning as she asked in worry, “Oh dear, how did you get hurt? I‘m so sorry. I didn‘t do that on purpose.” She pursed her lips. Her heart ached, yet she was also happy.
“I‘m okay, really.” Veronica waved a hand dismissively and shook her head, but the pain in her arm still didn‘t abate.
“So long as you‘re fine. Tell me now, what happened to you guys that day actually? You got swept away by the river currents, and we couldn‘t find you. Later on, when Xavier said that you were alive, I didn‘t believe him. Who would have thought that you really are alive?” Melissa dragged Veronica to sit on the couch. She kept chirping away endlessly like a sparrow.
“When I got swept away, I managed to get back to shore by pulling myself up a tree by the riverbank. Your brother found me later. I got hurt while in the river, and was discharged from the hospital just recently.” In a few quick sentences, Veronica explained the terrifying events of that day clearly.
“It‘s all in the past now. So long as you‘re okay now.” Melissa grinned beatifically, overjoyed
Xavier was a little baffled by their closeness. “Since when were you two so close?” he asked as he picked up Melissa‘s shopping bags and placed them aside.
“Hehe, now that‘s a secret for us girls.” Melissa abruptly snapped her fingers as she spoke. “Oh, right, I have something for you.” She got up and rifled through her dozen or so shopping bags before she found what she was looking for. She then brought a handbag over to Veronica. “Here you go. Good things always happen after a disaster. Here‘s a present for you.”
Melissa had initially bought the bag for herself, but with Veronica here, it would be better to gift it to Veronica instead. After all, Melissa would be able to see her idol every day with Veronica here.
The bag was a limited edition Hermès. Design–wise, it was sophisticated and elegant. Veronica glanced at it and shook her head. “I get your sentiment, but you should keep the bag for yourself. I can‘t use this.”
“If I said it‘s for you, then it‘s for you. Take it!” Melissa shoved the Hermès bag into Veronica‘s arms. “Hmph, nobody can refuse my gifts!”
“But I really can‘t…”
“Since it‘s a present for you, you should accept it,” Xavier advised Veronica before she could continue protesting.
“Yep, yep. I see you as my bestie, so you‘ll have to accept my presents, or you‘ll be looking down on me.” Melissa raised an eyebrow, radiating pure “I‘m a princess and my words is law” energy. Her directness was a trait that others liked.
“Thank you.” With no other choice, Veronica helplessly accepted the bag.
“Come on now, no need to thank me. You‘ll have plenty of opportunities to make it up to me in the future.”
“Heh.” Veronica just knew that Melissa definitely had her own plans since she gave her a gift.
“By the way, Xavier, didn‘t you say that you were going to propose to Veronica after she‘s back? Why aren‘t you seizing this opportunity now?” Melissa asked Xavier outright, having suddenly remembered this matter.
Nitier shrugged helplessly with his hands raised. “I got shot down.”
Xavier and Melissa were as close as could be. Although they were only half–siblings through their father, Xavier thought that Melissa‘s straightforward nature was adorable and likable.
“Huh? Rejected?” Melissa was outright baffled. She turned her head back to look at Veronica. “Why did you reject my brother‘s proposal? Is it because he seems like too much of a womanizer?”
Such direct words! An awkward look came over Veronica‘s expression as she chuckled in embarrassment. “Maybe.”
“Oho, a lady with her own thoughts and personality, and who isn‘t a gold–digger. I like you even more now.” Melissa threw an arm over Veronica‘s shoulder and rubbed herself against it. “You really shouldn‘t agree to a proposal from a f*ckboy like my brother. You‘ll need more than a single book to fully write about his philandering ways.”
“Hey, Melissa Crawford, I’m your brother here. You‘re going overboard with the roasting!” Xavier leaned against his desk, his arms folded over his chest as he observed the two women on the couch. He wasn‘t sure whether he should laugh or cry at Melissa‘s antics when he heard that. But, he wasn‘t angry. On the contrary, he was actually glad to see Melissa was on good terms with Veronica.
“Look, Xavier, Veronica‘s like a sister to me. How can I just stand by and watch her jump into a dumpster fire?” Melissa shook her head and let out a sigh. “From now on, I‘ll protect her. You should set your sights on another woman. If I‘m going to introduce a man to Veronica, he‘s going to be someone with class.”
Although Melissa was close to Xavier, she also knew about his womanizing antics. Naturally, she didn‘t want him to hurt Veronica.
“Are you itching for a fight because you haven‘t been in one the last few days, Melissa?”
“Hah, I‘m just telling the truth. Besides, you can‘t bring yourself to hit me anyway.”
“Just come here and try me!”
The siblings bantered back and forth. They seemed to be arguing, but in reality, it was just their way of teasing each other.
Veronica couldn‘t help but feel jealous at the sight. She also had a sister, but their relationship wasn‘t like that of the Crawford siblings.
8s
When noon came, the three of them had lunch together. After lunch, Melissa made up an excuse to lead Veronica away.
“Where are you taking me?” Veronica asked inside Melissa‘s car.
“Of course it‘s to see Matthew. It‘s been a while since I last saw him,” Melissa answered while driving
Veronica pressed a hand to her forehead. What evil thoughts could this woman have actually...
“Oh, there‘s reception now: Add my Venmo and I‘ll Venmo you the money. We may be besties, but we should still settle money matters properly. I‘ll need to pay you for
earlier.” Melissa opened her Venmo app. Veronica checked her details and added Melissa.
The next moment, a message popped up on Veronica‘s Venmo app. It was a transaction notice, informing her that she had just received 30,000 bucks.
“We agreed that I‘d pay you 30,000 for getting me a date with him, with an extra 10,000 as a one–time bonus. You better not go back on your word.
