Chapter 270: Confronting Raylee
The three were feeling elated, basking in the attention and praise. Only Raylee, after a fleeting glance, showed no reaction, continuing to pick up trash from the ground. Waverly had noticed her some time ago. Seeing Raylee plainly dressed while cleaning, she was first surprised, then utterly astonished. Isn’t she chauffeured around in a limited-edition luxury car? Isn’t she being kept by an older, married man? Why is she working as a cleaner here?
Casimir had also spotted Raylee. In an instant, he was captivated. He stared intently, as if he wished to embed his eyeballs on her face. At that moment, the allure of a first crush took tangible form.
“Isn’t that Raylee? She works here? It seems she’s a janitor? Who would have thought the adopted daughter of the Goodridge family had fallen so low? What’s going on with your family? After raising a daughter for over a decade, are you just giving up on her?” Margaret said, her face contorted in distaste.
Waverly hastily explained, “Please don’t misunderstand, Mom. Raylee had a falling out with the family. She insisted on leaving home, even signing a declaration of disownment to sever all connections. My parents and brother wanted her to come back, but she was stubborn, which upset them. Casimir is aware of this too. Besides, Raylee had been missing for five months and only recently returned. There were rumors on campus that she was being kept by a married older man, so I have no idea why she’s working as a janitor here now.”
Once she finished speaking, she turned to Casimir, hoping he would also utter disparaging words about Raylee. Upon seeing his lingering gaze on Raylee, a surge of anger and jealousy filled her heart. Just yesterday, she had quarreled with Casimir on campus. Today, after much difficulty, they had reconciled. Using her future mother-in-law’s upcoming birthday as an excuse, she convinced Casimir to accompany her in choosing engagement rings and a birthday gift. She never guessed Raylee would be here, too. Why won’t that despicable woman just disappear?
Upon hearing Waverly’s words, Margaret immediately discerned the reason and said, “Why else? She must have been abandoned by the older man! That’s why she’s working as a janitor now! This is an upscale shopping mall, frequented by the rich and powerful. By positioning herself here, she could quickly identify a new sugar daddy. She couldn’t possibly let such a golden opportunity slip! She’s such a clever girl. It’s a shame her cleverness is misplaced!”
Waverly complained indignantly, “No, Mom, you don’t understand. The truth is, Raylee’s new target is Casimir! When Raylee was on campus, she would intentionally flirt with him. She must have found out we were coming here to buy jewelry, so she started her job early to have a chance encounter with Casimir!”
At this point, all the grievances in Waverly’s heart magnified, and her eyes welled up with tears.
“What? She’s that manipulative?” Unable to contain her anger, Margaret exclaimed, “As long as I’m here, she can forget about meddling in your marriage with Caz!”
Margaret used to be quite fond of Raylee. She thought Raylee’s straightforward personality and status as a cherished daughter of the Goodridge family made her a suitable match for her son. Later, when she found out Raylee was a fake heiress, she was instantly repulsed.