Chapter 21
“Adora Matthews!” Peter’s patience snapped, and he roared so suddenly that the entire room flinched in shock.
Lilian quickly stepped forward to soothe her future daughter–in–law.
“Julianne, don’t take her words to heart. She was trafficked for three years. She’s not in the right state of mind anymore. She
rambles nonsense all the time.”
“Wow, just listen to that. A mother saying that about her own daughter,” Adora thought and let out a cold laugh but didn’t bother defending herself.
Julianne had been forcing herself to suppress her discomfort the moment she laid eyes on Adora.
She hadn’t said anything, yet Adora was the one stirring up trouble first.
Ignoring Lilian’s attempts to pacify her, Julianne’s eyes sharpened as she turned to Peter.
“What did you promise me yesterday? You said she wouldn’t be here, that you’d make sure she was gone!”
Peter quickly moved to reassure her.
“Baby, I meant it–I’ll keep my word. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she’ll be out of this house!”
Adora, instead of reacting with anger, simply tilted her head, her tone light but laced with provocation.
“Oh? You’re that afraid of me staying? Could it be that you have a guilty conscience? Afraid I’ll expose something?”
“Adora, stop talking nonse-”
Julianne started to refute her, but Adora suddenly gasped, feigning exaggerated shock.
“Oh! Don’t tell me… you’re still in love with my dear ex–fiancé, and you chased after my brother just to marry into the Matthews family, so you could stay close to your real sweetheart?
“Or is this revenge? If you couldn’t have Eugene as a lover, you decided to become his sister–in–law instead?”
Adora clicked her tongue and shook her head dramatically. “Now that’s some twisted, undying love.”
“Adora, shut up!”
“Say another word, and I swear I’ll hit you!”
Her words had successfully ignited the entire room.
Both Eugene and Peter lunged toward her, their anger boiling over.
But before they could lay a finger on her, Adora lazily lifted her fork and pointed them in their direction.
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“Careful now. Don’t touch me. I have HIV, remember? Look, I’m having a flare–up. see all these red spots:
With that, she lifted her arm, deliberately showing off the rash spreading across her skin.
Just yesterday, the doctor explained the cause–severe malnutrition, a weakened immune system, and prolonged exposure to unhygienic conditions had completely wrecked her skin’s natural barrier, leading to recurring rashes.
She had a prescription, but in her hurry to leave with Laura that morning, she’d forgotten to take it.
Now, in the bright lights of the dining room, the rash looked particularly unsettling.
The moment Eugene and Peter got a good look, they both recoiled, stepping back in alarm.
Julianne was shaking with fury, her chest heaving as she wiped away angry tears.
“Peter Matthews, are you just going to stand there and let your sister humiliate me like this? Aren’t you going to do something?”
Peter looked troubled, hesitating before saying, “Baby, she’s… she’s having an episode. We… we shouldn’t touch her…”
“You…” Julianne’s brain short–circuited from frustration.
Her tongue twisted as she struggled to find the words.
After a moment of seething silence, she stomped her foot furiously.
“Peter! I’m breaking up with you! I should never have come to your house tonight! What a damn disaster!”
Before anyone could react, she spun around and ran out in tears.
“Julianne! Julianne–Peter, go after her!” Lilian panicked and urged her son to stop her.
If she ran off crying like this, the Carter family would definitely retaliate, demanding justice for their daughter.
Peter hurried forward and caught her by the arm, trying to coax her.
“Jules, don’t listen to her. I told you that she’s unstable. I love you. I was the one who pursued you, and I don’t care about your
past.”
“What good is that? You have a lunatic in your family, and on top of that, she’s got HIV! Who the hell can live with that?” Julianne
wailed.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Ruby turned on Eugene, her expression furious.
“When exactly did Julianne like you? How come I’ve never heard about this?” she snapped.
