"Stay out of grown-up business," Zachary Preston said, his face stern. "As for you, I need to have a serious talk with you today. How could you say those things about your sister in front of Mr. Nathan?"
"I didn’t say anything!" Cara Preston said, sounding aggrieved. "I was just worried sothing might happen to Mr. Nathan, and that the Nathan Family would cause trouble for my sister, so I..."
Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke. "Dad, you’ve changed. Ever since you found out I’m not your biological daughter, you’ve been so cold to . Even if we’re not related by blood, I grew up with you! Don’t you know what kind of person I am?"
Cara Preston had always given Zachary Preston the impression that she was kind and well-behaved. Although she occasionally threw a small tantrum, it was always harmless.
He sighed softly. "In my heart, I treat you and Vera the sa. It’s just that, Cara, you really went too far today!"
"Dad, I know I was wrong," Cara Preston said softly. She admitted her mistake out loud, but inwardly, she was cursing Zachary Preston. ’What a complete asshole! Helping Vera like that instead of !’
Since she seed so sincere in her apology, Zachary Preston decided to let the matter go. He spoke earnestly, "Cara, I know you’ve always been smarter than most girls your age. That’s why you should understand just how important your studies are. The college entrance exams are coming up soon, yet your grades have been slipping badly. If this keeps up, you’re going to destroy your own future, do you understand?"
Cara Preston bit her lip. "I understand."
Zachary Preston said softly, "Then you need to study hard. Only an exceptional woman can marry an even more exceptional man. I’ve never believed that marriage is the way to change your destiny. The only way to secure a better future is to beco exceptional yourself."
His words struck her like the sudden beat of a massive drum, sending her heart into a frantic rhythm. ’Did he say that because he’s discovered sothing?’ she wondered.
Zachary Preston looked at her and said, "Cara, rember what your father is telling you. Your destiny is in your own hands."
Cara Preston gave a slight nod. Just then, Vera Xavier walked in, ending their conversation.
Cara Preston, however, took Zachary’s words to heart. ’That’s right, my destiny is in my own hands. That’s why I don’t mind using Vera Xavier as a stepping stone. I’ll use any ans necessary to marry Nathaniel Nathan and secure a more brilliant future for myself!’
In the end, Zachary Preston didn’t listen to Cara’s advice to go and bring Rona Langdon ho. Rona, for her part, was getting incredibly restless staying with the Langdon Family. She had assud Zachary would be angry for a day at most before coming to get her; after all, it had happened before.
But to her surprise, she had been at her parents’ house for three days without the slightest sign of Zachary coming to get her. He hadn’t even called. To make matters worse, her mother, Patricia Thompson, complained constantly about expenses. She’d nag about how this was expensive and that cost money, even asking Rona for cash to buy groceries. Her young niece would pester her for candy money, her young nephew for toy money, and on top of it all, she couldn’t sleep well at night.
After a few days of this, Rona Langdon was getting antsy.
But the thought of going back on her own was too humiliating, which left her feeling even more conflicted.
On Thursday afternoon, Rona wasn’t the only one who was getting antsy. Cara Preston couldn’t take it anymore either and went straight to the Langdon Family ho to find her. "Mom, you have to co back! If you don’t, Vera Xavier is going to take over the house!"
Rona Langdon was shocked and demanded to know what was going on. Cara then told her all about how Master Nathan had invited Vera Xavier to his ho to be his personal companion.
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