Chapter 14
“Why?” Paulette put down the glass and looked at her.
“Patricia, if you wanna be with Nelson, go ahead. Stop treating me like some kind of imaginary rival because I’m not.”
When saying this, she thought, “I’m not stupid.
“Patricia’s probed repeatedly because she wants to be sure there’s nothing going on between me and Nelson.
“How ridiculous.
“What else does she want? Nelson’s been utmost clear that he’s not
interested in me.”
Finally, Patricia couldn’t maintain her friendly facade anymore. She said through gritted teeth, “Don’t tell me you don’t have any feelings for Nelson.”
“I had,” Paulette said truthfully, not intending to hide anything. “But not anymore. You don’t like me, and the feeling is mutual. From now on, we’ll just stay out of each other’s way. Don’t bother pretending.”
Patricia had prepared a lecture, but Paulette’s words left her speechless, and she actually didn’t know what to say.
After quite a while, she sneered, “Yeah, right. Say whatever you want. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re still living with your stepdad though you’re an adult now. Have some shame!”
Paulette had suggested moving out during college, but Nelson wouldn’t agree, saying she couldn’t take care of herself.
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Now, it had become Patricia’s excuse to accuse her.
Paulette clenched her fists. “I’ll move out.”
Patricia pressed on, saying sternly, “When?”
Before she could answer, suddenly, someone else chimed in, “My, my. Ms. Carver, does Mr. Chapman know you’re bullying Paulette like this?“”
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Annabelle walked out while crossing her hands over her chest. Standing to Paulette, she said, clearly defending Paulette, “Ms. Carver, you’re about to reach thirty, right? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, bullying a girl almost ten years younger than you?”
Patricia’s face flamed red. “Ms. Patel, this is none of your business.”
“I beg to differ.” Annabelle looked at her with a half–smile.
“Paulette is like a sister to me. I won’t let anyone bully her.”
After saying this, she turned around, blinked at Paulette, and said meaningfully, “If she gets picked on here, someone will go after me.”
Blinded by rage, Patricia couldn’t think straight and failed to react.
She said coldly, “I’m just stating the fact. Nelson isn’t related to Paulette by blood. If they get too close, others will talk. Tell me if I’m wrong.
Annabelle retorted, “He’s her stepfather. Who are you? Who gives you the right to reprimand her?”
Patricia parted her lips but didn’t know how to refute.
Realizing she was no match for Annabelle, she said “I don’t have to waste my time with you” before storming out.
Annabelle rolled her eyes at Patricia’s back. Then she said to Paulette, “If
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you ever cross paths with that shameless bitch, go ahead and tell her off. No need to hold back. If she cared about your feelings at all, she’d have never said those things to you.”
Paulette thought. “No matter what, Nelson’s going out with Patricia.
“If they get married in the future, she’ll be my stepmom.
“I’ll put Elnora, Maxine, and Monty in a dilemma if things between met and Patricia get really nasty.
“But Anna’s right..
“Patricia has no decency at all. Then why would I take it lying down?”
Seeing the expression on Paulette’s face, Annabelle smiled with satisfaction, knowing her suggestion had hit home. She linked arms with Paulette and said, “Let’s get inside. Jeremiah made it so clear that I gotta give you a perfect massage, or he’ll deal with me…”
Paulette felt a bit shy and warm at the same time.
For the first time, she had realized that when someone truly cared about her, distance wasn’t the problem.
She and Jeremiah had known each other since little. However, they didn’t start as friends. If anything, their relationship pretty tense at first.
was
She was eight that year, and Nelson was seventeen.
He was busy with school and could only let her stay at the Chapman’s
mansion.
