Chapter 109: Putting On a Show

He couldn't afford to fall out with Raylee, so he had to put on a show for her today. Consequently, Mindy was the perfect scapegoat.

Harriet replied, “When Ray-Ray had just been released from prison, she worked at a bar. Wavy accidentally fell down the stairs, but Mindy lied, wrongfully accusing Ray-Ray of pushing Wavy. To maintain her license, she even bribed the bar manager to delete the surveillance footage.”

The underlying message was clear—all the blame was being placed on Mindy, as if Waverly had nothing to do with it at all. Alaric wore a furious expression.

“Something like that actually happened? Why wasn’t I informed? It’s one thing not to tell me, but not standing up for Ray-Ray is simply outrageous!”

After he spoke, he put on a show of angrily scolding Mindy.

“How could a woman as malicious as you ever deserve to be Wavy’s best friend? How dare you lay a hand on Ray-Ray? You got off easy with just a slash from her. Get out of here now! The Goodridge family doesn’t welcome you!”

Mindy, hand covering her injured face, looked at Waverly with a sense of injustice.

“Wavy, I have to go now,” she said. “You must stay strong. Protect yourself, and don’t let this woman bully you anymore. Also, whatever you do, don’t do anything foolish again. If anything comes up, call me.”

With tears in her eyes, Waverly nodded.

“Hold on!” Raylee stared sternly at Mindy. “After all that you have done to me, do you really think you can just walk away like that?”

Confused, Mindy looked at her, gritting her teeth as she spoke. “You’ve already ruined my face, what more do you want from—”

Raylee responded with a heavy snort. “Four years ago, you falsely accused me of stealing a necklace, which led to my unjust imprisonment for four years. You surely don’t think I would let this matter rest, do you?”

“Ray-Ray, why are you still holding onto something that happened so long ago?” Harriet attempted to defuse the situation.

“Forgiving others is also forgiving yourself. If you’re always hung up on this, how can you start anew in life?”

“Heh…” Raylee turned to look at Harriet, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “May I ask, Mrs. Goodridge, if it were your precious daughter, Waverly, who was falsely accused and imprisoned for four years, would you still be able to say such magnanimous words?”

Samuel interjected, “Don’t misconstrue Mom’s words. She wants you to let go of the past and start anew, leading a better life. Don’t let your own malice cloud your judgment of others’ good intentions. It only makes everyone involved unhappy.”

“So, Mr. Goodridge, am I the only one who’s allowed to be upset, while everyone else has to be happy?” Raylee asked sarcastically, staring at him.

Samuel flew into a rage. “I really can’t communicate with you. Every time we talk, you have to lose your temper. You’re so stubborn and just refuse to listen.”

Raylee retorted, “Don’t judge me until you’ve walked in my shoes. You’re not the one who has suffered, so do you know what it feels like? If you don’t, then shut up!”

Raylee openly addressed the unjust imprisonment that had occurred four years ago, utterly unsettling Waverly. The latter threatened to take her own life that day, but it was clear she was actually aiming to punish Raylee.

3:04 PM

Chapter 109: Putting On a Show

Mindy was clearly my ally, so how did she suddenly become the target of the attack? Tears welled in Waverly’s eyes as she tightly clutched her sleeves.

“Raylee, I apologize for what happened four years ago. If you feel the need to blame someone, then blame me?”

“Do you really think you can escape? Don’t worry, your turn will come.” Raylee stared at her with a dark, ominous gaze.

When Waverly met Raylee’s stern and authoritative gaze, she felt as if she was dealt a devastating blow. A niggling feeling began to spread throughout her body. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

After much consideration, Alaric spoke solemnly.

“Ray-Ray, this matter has nothing to do with Wavy. Four years ago, we were misled by Mindy, leading us to wrongly assume that you had stolen the necklace. I agree that you should hold her accountable and will also cooperate with you in reporting her to the police so that she can be punished.”

Upon hearing that they were going to have her arrested, Mindy panicked. She immediately grabbed Waverly’s hand, expressing her fear.

“Wavy, you have to help me. I don’t want to go to jail.”

“No, don’t! Please don’t call the police. Dad, I was the one who stole the necklace—”

Before Waverly could finish, Alaric interrupted her firmly. “Wavy, how many times have I told you to watch what you say? You didn’t steal the necklace. There’s no evidence to prove you did!”

Waverly nodded. “Dad, I’m sorry. I won’t speak recklessly anymore.”

With a single sentence, Alaric’s stance couldn’t be any clearer. He would risk his life to protect Waverly.

Hence, Raylee knew that the only person she could exact her revenge on that day was Mindy. Waverly was the apple of the Goodridge family’s eye, so she could never lay a finger on her.