Chapter 203: Being Manipulated
Alaric, feeling as if he’d been handed a hot potato, glared at the housekeeper before tossing his whip aside. He dared not show any disrespect toward his own mother. He let out a heavy sigh, breaking the silence. “Mom, you probably have no idea what’s happened, do you? Do you know why I’m so angry today? Do you know why I want to punish Raylee? It’s simply because she has crossed the line.”
Upon glancing at the whip, Vera was seething with frustration. She returned to her seat on the couch and roared, “Tell me, then. How has Raylee crossed the line? Is she so outrageous that you have to resort to violence? I’m all ears!”
With a stiff expression, Samuel listed out all of Raylee’s wrongdoings one by one. “She orchestrated a scheme that lured Wavy to Tiffany’s birthday party, nearly causing Wavy to encounter a mishap. Wavy was also on the brink of being taken away by the Lorimer family,” Samuel said.
“Isn’t she just standing here perfectly fine? She even has the energy to attempt suicide by ramming into a wall. I don’t think she’s suffered much!” Vera stared at Waverly sternly. “You’re all grown up and yet, can’t you use your brain a bit? Attending a simple birthday party and somehow managing to cause such a huge mess? Aren’t you capable?”
“Raylee deceived me and—”
Waverly was in the midst of tearfully explaining herself when she was abruptly interrupted by Vera. “I already know what happened at the birthday party!” Vera yelled. “Don’t use Raylee as a scapegoat. Knocking over the cake and hurting people in public, weren’t all those foolish actions done by you? Always blaming someone else, huh? Do you think Raylee can possess your soul and make you do foolish things?”
Waverly was left dumbfounded by the scolding. She leaned weakly against Harriet, continuously blaming herself and saying, “Could it really be that I’m in the wrong? Grandma is right. All the foolish mistakes are mine to bear. Every single one of them, without exception… It’s all my fault… Mom, I messed up… I’ve caused trouble for the Goodridge family…”
“Wavy, don’t let Grandma manipulate you,” Samuel comforted Waverly with a hint of heartache. “It’s clear she’s favoring Raylee. We’re not deaf!”
Harriet also continually comforted Waverly, fearing her precious child might feel wronged.
Alaric then said in frustration, “Ask yourself honestly, then. Has Raylee done nothing wrong at all? Mom, you might not have heard it earlier, but she admitted it herself. She bribed Casimir’s assistant to set up a trap and lure Wavy to the banquet. Had it not been for the desperate protection from Samuel and Casimir at the scene, Wavy would have already been taken to Lorimer Estate! You have no idea just how dangerous the situation was at that time—”
Vera ruthlessly cut him off mid-sentence, saying, “Isn’t this history repeating itself? Didn’t Raylee go through something like this back then? If Raylee could endure it, why can’t she? Four years ago, you all wrongfully accused Raylee. However, she endured it all and even managed to get out of prison. Were your hearts broken back then? If you guys don’t feel heartbroken, that’s one thing. However, you’ve never even sought accountability from the culprit! Waverly hasn’t even encountered any trouble yet, and you’re all rushing to show concern and place blame? Is it too much to ask for a bit of decency? How can you relentlessly bully a young girl without feeling a shred of guilt?”
Alaric was left speechless after being reprimanded.
Samuel furrowed his brows and watched Waverly sob intensely in Harriet’s arms. An inexplicable irritation suddenly welled up within him. Grandma’s words are blunt but true. Raylee has suffered such a great injustice, but she has never cried like this before. Even before anything has happened to Wavy, she’s already acting as if her life is hanging by a thread… Despite enduring four years of imprisonment and countless torments, Raylee still manages to survive with unwavering strength… Without comparison, there’s no heartbreak. Upon comparison, it’s evident that Raylee truly possesses a strong inner will.
“And you, brat! You and Casimir risked it all to protect Waverly today, didn’t you?” Once again, Vera set her sights on Samuel. “Back then, when Raylee found herself in trouble, you remained silent, didn’t you? You just stood by and let the Lorimer family bully her as they pleased, right? Hey! She treated you as her elder brother for eighteen years! Is your heart made of stone? How can you not show any consideration at all?”
A hint of shame flickered in Samuel’s eyes as he was lost in thought. “I…”
After a long while, he let out a deep sigh and said, “Grandma, the situation back then wasn’t as straightforward as it is tonight. I was left with no other choice.”
Alaric pinched the bridge of his nose, saying helplessly, “Mom, there’s no point in lecturing anymore. What happened in the past is over, and dwelling on it won’t change anything. We can’t exactly have Wavy serving a four-year sentence too, right? Also, about what happened tonight, Raylee indeed made a mistake. No matter what, she has to face the consequences. Plotting against Wavy is no small matter. If we don’t impose strict punishment as a warning, her attitude will only worsen.”