Chapter 17
Nelson’s gaze turned even more unfathomable as he watched her go upstairs.
Just then, his phone rang.
He averted his gaze, walked to the sofa, sat down, and answered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Are you home yet, Nelson?” Patricia’s voice tinged with concern came through. “Paula isn’t a little girl anymore. Don’t be mean to her just because of what I said, alright? She may not say anything, but she’ll get upset with you deep down.”
Nelson thought, “Deep down?
“She couldn’t be any clearer about it.”
With a snort, he said, his voice deep, “I didn’t scold her.”
Patricia clenched her fists immediately.
She thought, “Seriously? After I cried and complained so hard?”
Suppressing her emotions, she asked, “Is Paula OK?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
As Nelson thought of the bag in Paulette’s hand, his gaze turned icier. “If she’s ever rude to you again, don’t hold back just because she’s a grown–up
now. Go ahead and reprimand her.”
“That’s not appropriate, is it?”
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“Don’t overthink it. She’s always been stubborn. The more you indulge her, the worse she’ll behave.”
Patricia comforted Nelson a little while longer while feigning concern before hanging up.
She was still in a terrible mood, thinking, “I know Nelson only said that to placate me.
“He didn’t blame Paulette at all.
‘It seems she’s no longer just his stepdaughter to him.
“No way. I gotta think of something to make sure she stays away from him. forever.”
***
Paulette slept soundly that night. The next morning, her phone rang, which jolted her awake.
It was a call from her university. Apparently, she had attracted a lot of attention internationally after participating in a jewelry design competition, and a media outlet was hoping she’d agree to an in–depth interview.
“The prize money is five–figure. Paulette, at least we can grant them this small request, don’t you think?”
Nelson hated seeing her put herself in the public eye, and she would never have joined without the university’s guarantee of anonymity.
But now…
After pondering for a while, she said, “Can I not show my face?”
The university representative was overjoyed. “Of course! I’m sure they
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won’t have a problem with that.”
After scheduling a time, she got up and washed up.
She was surprised to see Nelson when she walked downstairs.
He usually wore suits, and the light gray sweater he had on today added a touch of gentleness to his demeanor. Sitting at the table, he looked up at her when he heard the sound. “Come here and eat.”
Paulette paused slightly before walking over obediently.
The soup was tasty. She ate it quietly.
“Are you going out?” he asked.
“Yes. I need to go to school.”
He nodded before asking, “Have you done packing up?”
“Almost.”
She answered his every question obediently.
But Nelson knew her too well to know this was her way of protesting. He clenched his teeth, and the anger that he had barely suppressed flared up again.
He said, his voice deep, “Enough is enough.
“You were so rude to Tricia, insulting her even. Did I say anything? Not a word. And here you are, giving me attitude.”
“Tricia defended you. You didn’t know that, did you? Paulette, when will you grow up?”
Being reprimanded, Paulette suddenly found the soup so tasteless.
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She thought, “Yeah, I am immature.
“But you took Patricia’s words for it and accused me just like this without even hearing my side of the story?
“Don’t you think you’re the same immature, Nelson?”
She put down the spoon and wiped her mouth with a tissue.
“Dad, I did run into Ms. Carver yesterday, but I didn’t insult her. I’m not some shrew.
“She asked me when I would leave you, and I said ‘As soon as possible‘. That’s all.”
