Vera Xavier knew exactly what was going through Susan Caldwell’s mind. She knew that the more enigmatic she appeared, the more hesitant Susan would be to make a rash move.
A cold smile touched Vera Xavier’s lips. "What did your friend do to ? Didn’t she tell you?"
Susan Caldwell glanced over at Skylar Crowe. Skylar had, of course, given her a rough account of what happened, but she’d conveniently left out the important details, focusing only on how Vera had hit her. And to be fair, Skylar’s injuries did look horrifying.
Skylar felt an inexplicable pang of guilt under Susan’s gaze, but she still pointed a finger at Vera and said, "Susan, it doesn’t matter what led up to it. She laid a hand on , which is a slap in your face!"
Back in Veridia, she had stuck her neck out for Susan plenty of tis because they were so close. Now that she was the one at a disadvantage, it was only right for Susan to back her up.
Susan Caldwell sized Vera up again. She really couldn’t get a read on her.
Vera’s aura was powerful—coolly detached yet dignified. It was the kind of presence she had only ever seen on her own mother, Mrs. Caldwell, and it was startlingly potent.
Furthermore, Vera wore no accessories, and her clothes were from a well-known dostic brand—not sothing the average person could afford. She was flanked by two n in their early twenties; one looked like a street punk, the other like a rich young master from a wealthy family.
The trio was a strange combination, no matter how you looked at it. They didn’t look like colleagues, and they didn’t look like bodyguards.
Her sharp eyes also spotted several other n standing behind a curtain to the left. Though she couldn’t make out their faces, she could tell their presence was just as imposing.
Susan Caldwell might have a ruthless side, but she only ever acted when she was certain of the outco. This was the very reason she had gotten away with so many underhanded dealings without ever being exposed.
She ignored Skylar, turning to Vera instead. "My friend told her version of events, of course," she said, "but we’re all far from ho. It’s always better to be amicable. I don’t believe I know where you’re from. How about we beco friends?"
Susan’s words were a clear offer to let bygones be bygones. Skylar panicked at the suggestion. But she had always been utterly obedient to Susan, so even in her distress, all she could do was tug on her sleeve and cry, "Susan!"
Susan shot her a warning glance. Skylar, looking utterly aggrieved, pouted and dared not say another word.
Susan turned back to Vera, a smile playing on her lips. "Well, I suppose this is one way of getting acquainted. I’m Susan Caldwell."
With that, she extended her hand to Vera, her posture dignified and magnanimous. Though her words were pleasant and suggested a desire to resolve their differences, she still perfectly projected the air of a pampered heiress, with an unmistakable hint of condescension.
Vera watched this performance, her eyes narrowing slightly. ’I certainly wasn’t treated this well when I first t her in my past life,’ she thought. ’Back then, Susan was high and mighty, and her eyes held nothing but disdain and contempt for .’
In fact, she had seen this version of Susan in her past life as well. ’This is her standard operating procedure when she encounters a powerful opponent she can’t quite size up.’
The act was both familiar and sickening to Vera, and her reply was devoid of any pleasantries. "You blindly take your friend’s side without bothering to distinguish right from wrong. You pretend to be gentle and polite, but there’s absolutely no sincerity behind it. Soone like you isn’t fit to be my friend, nor are you worthy of knowing my na."
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