Chapter 153: Are You Even Human?
“If you’ve got the guts, come take my life. Feel free to call the cops too, and have me, a murderer, arrested. Otherwise, if I can survive and return from Musmeynia, I will undoubtedly take her life.”
“You!” Harriet was unable to contain her fury. “You are utterly wicked! How could I have raised a daughter like you? I wish I could open up your heart to see if it’s as black as your actions.”
“That’s right. I can’t believe I treated someone like you as my sister. If I had known, I would have raised a dog instead. At least a dog knows how to be grateful. You’re just heartless and ungrateful!” A deep fury roiled in Samuel’s eyes as he shot his mouth off.
“Are you done?” Casimir glared at the chaotic scene before him, yelling out in fury. “You all are quick to condemn Raylee, but have you ever considered that Waverly was the one who started it all?”
Shanice also stepped up to defend Raylee. “Casimir is right. If she hadn’t threatened to take her own life, Ray—Ray wouldn’t have even bothered with her. You all are so biased, always siding with this pretentious woman and never giving Ray-Ray the time of day.”
Harriet and Samuel were left utterly speechless.
Casimir shifted his stern gaze onto Waverly. “Waverly, I’ve always seen you as a sensible, gentle, and understanding girl. I never expected you to be so stubborn, even childish!”
Tears streaming down her face, Waverly retorted, “Casimir, if I were sensible, I would lose you. Do I not know what kind of place Musmeynia is? If you were to go and never return, what would you have me do? I really love you so much. I don’t want Raylee to take you to that kind of place, so I did what I had to. Was I wrong to do so? I didn’t really want to die. I just wanted to scare you. Raylee suggested that I risk my life to bet on whether you would stay or not, so she pushed me.”
With a deep voice, Casimir patiently clarified, “It wasn’t Raylee who insisted I go to Musmeynia, but my own decision. She has nothing to do with it. Blame me if you wish. Why blame her? What’s the point of you pressuring her with your life? Also, Mrs. Goodridge and Samuel, you both chastised Raylee without even knowing the whole story. Is that fair to her? Mr. Goodridge, I respect you as my elder, but elders should act their age, shouldn’t they? You shouldn’t set a bad example for your children, right?”
This statement left the members of the Goodridge family at a loss for words. Kaylee looked at Casimir in surprise. This was the first time he had reprimanded the entire Goodridge family in front of her. She had never expected him, always mature, reserved, and composed, to dare to scold his elders. For a moment, something within her heart stirred. The man she once loved deeply, who had left her utterly disappointed, was now forcing his way back into her heart. But why must he be so late, so much so that he’s already someone else’s fiancé, so much so that I’ll be facing my imminent demise at Musmeynia?
Kaylee turned her gaze, a wave of melancholy spreading from the depths of her eyes.
“Casimir, who do you think you are? I can tolerate your insults toward me, but how dare you insult my parents? Apologize immediately!” Samuel angrily yelled at him.
Casimir scoffed. He didn’t believe he had done anything wrong. “I’ve done nothing wrong, so why should I apologize?” Waverly pleaded through her tears, “Casimir, it was my fault. I was the one who upset you. I can apologize to Raylee, but I beg you please don’t involve my parents. They merely have my best interest in their hearts.”
With a stiff face, Casimir rebuked, “For your best interest, does that justify hurting Raylee so brazenly? You may not have any affection for Kaylee, but Mr. and Mrs. Goodridge, you’ve raised Raylee for eighteen years. Can you really say you don’t have any affection for her? Could you really harm your defenseless adopted daughter without any guilt? Have you no conscience?”
Just as Samuel was about to retort, he was interrupted by Alaric, who said, “That’s enough. Let’s not discuss this any further. What happened today is in the past, and I don’t want anyone bringing it up again.”
“Going to let her get away with it?”
“How do you plan to handle this?” asked Alaric.
Samuel unabashedly voiced his idea. “In my opinion, we should just call the police and have her arrested. It’s only fair for Wavy, and it would save her from making that perilous trip to Musmeynia. The four years she spent in jail wasn’t enough. She should go back in and take some more time to reflect on her actions.”
In a fit of anger, Alaric strode forward, delivering a forceful slap right on Samuel’s forehead. The resounding smack echoed, clearly indicating the strength he had put into it.
Samuel, having been hit so hard he almost saw stars, grumpily asked, “Dad, why did you hit me? Doesn’t what I said make sense?”
Alaric was unable to contain his anger as he listed out Samuel’s errors. “Firstly, she’s your sister. If you’re willing to send your own sister to jail, are you even human?”