Chapter 423 I Demand An Explanation
When Jennifer reached home, she found Vincent and Laura sitting in the living room. Like a little girl, Jennifer rushed over to Laura’s side to hold her mother’s arm.
“You went to see Carter again, didn’t you?” inquired Laura while running her fingers through her daughter’s hair.
Jennifer pouted and nodded in response. “Mom, be honest with me. Am I really that terrible? I did everything I could to get his attention, yet he still didn’t want me. Ever since Amelia got back, he seemed like he has been possessed. The way he talked to me sounded even colder than usual. I just don’t understand. What does she have that I don’t? How did she get him to fall in love with her so effortlessly, while nothing I do seem to matter to him?
Seeing how much Jennifer had suffered for love, Laura could not help but furrow her brows in concern. “Jennifer, why don’t you just forget about Carter? An old friend told me that her son is about to move back into town, and he’s just two years older than you. From what I know, he’s a very talented young man. What do you say—”
“No, Mom. I can’t,” interrupted Jennifer before her mother could finish.
“But Jennifer…”
“I love Carter, Mom. He’s all I can think about. Do you think I wouldn’t have moved on a long time ago if I could do it? This must be karma. I used to enjoy stringing men along but never committing myself to any of them. The universe must’ve deemed me guilty for playing with their feelings, so it wants to punish me.”
“Nonsense! You’re my girl, you’re perfect! Nobody, not even the universe, can tell me otherwise. You did nothing wrong,” assured Laura in all seriousness.
After some thought, Laura turned to her husband. “Vincent, we have to speak to the Scotts. Jennifer is our only child, and we can’t let anybody treat her like that. Carter thinks he doesn’t have to answer to anybody, so let’s remind him that we are not to be trifled with. Not only is our daughter a beauty, but she also comes from a respectable family. What more could that man ask for?”
“You must be joking. Are we supposed to question the Scotts as though they have wronged us? Are we going to ask them straightforwardly why their son refused to accept our daughter? Do you also want to mention how our daughter insisted on being with him and nobody else?” inquired Vincent sarcastically.
“What the heck is that supposed to mean? As I said, our daughter is perfect, so Carter should consider himself lucky that she has shown interest in him.”
“Enough of this nonsense. If Carter has made it clear that he doesn’t like Jennifer, then there’s no point beating a dead horse. Don’t embarrass yourselves.” With that, Vincent stood up and was about to go upstairs.
“Don’t you turn your back on me, Vincent! If you refuse to meet the Scotts with me today, then don’t you ever dare call Jennifer your daughter again!” shouted Laura.
Suddenly, Jennifer could feel a sharp pain in her head, for she never meant for her parents to argue because of her.
“Dad, Mom, please stop fighting! I’m sorry, okay? You don’t have to worry about me. I can deal with this on my own.” Jennifer then ran to her room upstairs.
After her daughter had left the living room, Laura shifted her attention back to Vincent and sighed, “Do you see how much pain she’s in, Vincent? Can you really sit by while your daughter writhes in agony because of a man? Either you go visit the Scotts with me now, or you can watch your daughter shut herself off.”
Eventually, Vincent agreed to go with his wife, for his fatherly love for Jennifer compelled him to do so.
“Vincent, Laura, you’re here! Where’s Jennifer?” Faye excitedly greeted the couple when they arrived at the Scotts residence.
In contrast to Faye’s excitement, Laura only snorted in response before entering the house.
Faye instructed her housemaid to prepare tea after her guests got comfortable on the couch. “Abel and Jack are out with their friends now, and they might not be back any time soon. You should’ve told me that you were coming. That way, I would’ve asked Jack to stay home.”
With her arms crossed, Laura continued to harden her face, obviously upset with the Scotts. “I’m going to be frank with you, Mrs. Scott. The only reason that I came here today is to speak with you about Carter. I only brought Jennifer back to introduce her to him because we both wanted our children to have a chance to get to know each other. And I’m glad that Jennifer fell for Carter. However, Carter doesn’t seem to want to accept Jennifer even after they’ve shared a bed. Do you know how much it pains me to see my daughter get tortured by love like that? If Carter doesn’t want to be with Jennifer, he should cut ties with her immediately.”
After hearing what Laura had to say, Faye took a deep breath to calm herself down before responding, “Since when have you started addressing me in my last name? I remember that you used to call me Faye. What happened?”
“Don’t change the subject. If I don’t get a reasonable explanation from your family today, our family and yours are through,” threatened Laura.
Faye gave the couple a half-smile before calmly continuing, “Now, now. There’s no need for rash decisions. I like Jennifer. I can imagine having her as my daughter-in-law, and I’ve told Carter that. Heck, we even argued over it. Unfortunately, since he’s already made up his mind, there is nothing I could do about it. So why don’t we just let the youngsters deal with their own relationships? What do you think?”
“Do you take us for idiots, Mrs. Scott? Your son kept my daughter on the back-burner, and you expect us to just be okay with it? Carter discarded Jennifer as though she was trash the moment Amelia returned. Do you remember what you promised me? You promised me that Carter would be good to my daughter. If that’s not you taking us for fools, I don’t know what is,” scoffed Laura.
“What did you say? Amelia is back?” Faye’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Save it. You don’t have to pretend as though you have no idea. I know you do.”
“You have to listen to me. I really don’t know that she’s back. Just give me some time and let me talk to Carter first. And don’t worry. One way or another, I’ll make sure Carter marries Jennifer. She’s the only daughter-in-law who I’ll accept.”
Still, Laura glared at Faye, seemingly unconvinced by the woman’s words.
“Our families have known each other for many years now. We’re friends, and I have no reason to lie to you. Trust me. I want to see my son marry your daughter as much as you do. It’s just that he’s an adult now. He’s his own person, so it’s difficult to persuade him sometimes. But you don’t have to worry, okay? I’ll make sure it happens,” promised Faye.
“Fine. I’ll believe you for one last time since I’d rather our families stay friends.”
After her guests left, Faye immediately ordered her housemaid, “Call Carter now and tell him to come home this instant. Otherwise, he can forget about coming home ever.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Faye waited for almost half an hour before Carter finally reached home.
“What is it, Mom?” inquired Carter.
Faye scoffed at her son before responding, “Don’t play coy with me.”
“You’re mad about something, aren’t you?” Carter rubbed his forehead restlessly, expecting to receive a scolding.
Faye rose from the couch and walked toward her son before questioning him directly, “What did you say to Jennifer? Tell me. I need to know.”
“Mom, she’s like a sister to me. I know she wants to be with me, but I don’t feel the same way about her. I told you this two years ago, and I’ll tell you the same thing now.”
“Does a brother sleep with his sister? Does a sister spend so much time and effort on her brother as though she were his wife?” retorted Faye.
“It was a misunderstanding, Mom. We were both drunk that night, and I mistook her for somebody else. It only happened once. I do feel guilty for what I’ve done, but I can’t be with her just because of that. I can try to make it up to her in other ways, but I can’t promise her love. I only have eyes for one person.”
“What’s so good about Amelia that you just can’t seem to get over her? What the heck does she have that Jennifer doesn’t? Amelia has ruined you once! Are you trying to give her another chance to do it again?” rebuked Faye.
“That’s not what happened, Mom. I just couldn’t let her go. She’s the only woman I love, and nobody else can take her place in my heart. I’m sorry, but that’s just how it is.”
Upon hearing that, Faye got so furious that she gave her son a hard slap to the cheek. “You idiot! You’ve gotten so obsessed with that woman you don’t even remember who you are anymore.”
Carter remained silent.
“You’re trying to test me, aren’t you? Just like how I managed to get her to leave you before, I can do it again. I’ll make sure you forget all about her. Jennifer is the only daughter-in-law that I’ll ever recognize, so I suggest you accept this reality sooner rather than later,” sneered Faye.
Carter looked coldly at his mother before threatening, “Mom, if you dare lay a finger on Amelia, you’ll never see me again. Now, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
“Don’t you walk away from me, Carter! I’m not done yet,” yelled Faye, but her son continued to walk out without even turning back to look at her.
“That da*n woman!” cursed Faye with her teeth gritted and fists clenched.
