Chapter 188: You Have Backers
After all, Tiffany couldn’t possibly kill someone in public. He was probably too anxious about Waverly, which likely led to his impulsive decision to confront Kaylee. Reflecting on how he had rushed to reproach Raylee without fully understanding the situation, Samuel couldn’t help but feel a surge of self-reproach. Raylee was also right about his prejudice against her; he seemed to have subconsciously concluded that she was the one who had done wrong. Back then, she was once significant to his heart. Even though she was unruly and loved stirring up trouble, in his heart, she was still his most cherished little sister. From being the beloved of the past to becoming the villain of the present, the rift between the two grew increasingly larger.
Samuel let out a deep sigh, his tone significantly softer. “I heard you attended the funeral alone, with all the Lorimer family there, including Tiffany. Weren’t you scared? Why didn’t you tell me? At least I could have gone with you. If anything happened… I would have been there to protect you.”
“You? Protect me? Really?” Raylee responded with a hint of sarcasm. “Mr. Goodridge, how are you able to keep a straight face when you say that?”
“Ray-Ray, I don’t want to argue with you, but could you possibly speak without being harsh? Can’t we have a calm conversation?” Samuel said, his face stiff with tension. “On this matter, you truly can’t compare to Wavy. She knows when to back down and isn’t afraid to admit her mistakes and make amends. I was genuinely worried about you, concerned that you might be mistreated by the Lorimer family. After all, Jeremiah’s death is somewhat related to you. Being all alone, your appearance at the funeral was in itself a risky act.”
“You’ve said it yourself. I’m all alone with no one to rely on. What should I fear?” Raylee let out a scoff. “Worst-case scenario, if I offend Ms. Tiffany, I guess I’ll just have to spend another four years in jail. Anyway, I’m already used to prison food!”
“I won’t allow you to belittle yourself like this,” Samuel said, his face filled with concern. “You have backers; you have the Goodridge family, and you have me. We are all your strongest shield. We indeed wronged you four years ago. If you’d allow me the chance, I promise to make it up to you. Ray-Ray, can we reconcile?”
“Enough with the pretense!” Raylee retorted, stepping back in anger. Her eyes were filled with a profound sense of estrangement. “What the hell have you been up to since I got out of jail? I was nearly drowned when I was pushed into the pool, and I almost lost my life when I was sold off to the red-light district. Make it up to me, you say? I think you’ve just been trying to see how tough I am. I’m not worthy of you making it up to me!”
“Ray-Ray,” Samuel’s voice was filled with panic and urgency. “I know my actions caused you harm, but I truly didn’t mean to. My original intent was to protect you. It’s just that, due to an unfortunate twist of fate, things didn’t go as planned. I promise it will not happen again in the future—”
Kaylee interjected, “Stop explaining. Your actions have hurt me. You were wrong, and that’s that. Any attempt to justify it will only make me feel sick!” She emphasized the last two words. Even from a few steps away, Samuel could feel her unabashed disdain for him. One’s gaze was something that couldn’t be concealed. He even felt that if Raylee had a knife in her hand, she wouldn’t hesitate to stab him. He clenched his fists, his inner pride not allowing him to continue lowering his stance. He then changed the subject, shifting the focus onto Jeremiah.
“Regardless, now that Jeremiali is dead, I don’t need to worry excessively about you anymore. All I ask is that you be careful from now on and not align yourself with dangerous individuals out of spite. Don’t be blinded by vanity, trying to…”
“I won’t allow you to talk about him like that! Compared to him, you’re the real threat!” Raylee roared in anger.
“How am I a threat? I’ve always been honest and never engaged in any criminal activities. However, Jeremiah ran illegal businesses in the East Aplothian region, causing countless deaths. He was nothing but a thorough villain.”
“Shut up! If you dare to insult him again, I’ll fight you!” Raylee was seething with anger, her whole body trembling in rage. Filled with resentment, Samuel disregarded her anger and vented his frustration, saying, “Isn’t what I’m telling the truth? His death is a blessing for you and for everyone. A man who was utterly wicked, he should’ve been in the deepest pits of hell a long time ago! In my opinion, you shouldn’t have gone to rescue him in Musmeynia a while back. Even if you could save him, it would all be for nothing!”
As his words fell silent, Samuel felt a throbbing pain in his head. He clutched the back of his head in agony. Turning around, he saw Vera, holding her cane aloft, saying in annoyance, “Brat! Don’t you see that Ray-Ray is upset? Instead of comforting her, you argue with her. Are you trying to upset my darling granddaughter to death?”