Harper took some pictures and posted them on Instagram.
Feeling her cheeks warmed by the sun, she said. “Maddie, this sunrise is actually quite beautiful. But hiking up shook her head.
They stayed at the
peak for two hours, and as they made their way down, most people had left.
phere was way too exhausting She
Madeline didn’t want to fight through the crowd on the way back.
Rubbing her knees, Harper suddenly exclaimed. “Hey. Matthew!”
Matthew turned around, smiling when he saw her. “Harper, Maddie, you’re still on the mountain too?
“Don’t even ask. Maddie had a fever and a cold yesterday. She was in bed all day,” Harper said and began chatting with him.
Madeline trailed behind as the group strolled leisurely.
Suddenly, Matthew pointed toward the chapel. “We’ll be heading down tomorrow morning. How about we listen to some prayers while we’re here? We’ve come all this way, after all
Harper nodded. “Sounds good. I also want to buy some souvenirs and light candles”
She linked arms with Madeline and asked, “Maddie, what do you think!”
Madeline pressed her lips together. “Sure, I’m up for anything.”
At that very moment, outside the chapel Thomas and his wife were with Vanessa, who had also come to light candles.
Vanessa, acting like a princess, complained about everything. “It’s freezing here! If it weren’t for my dad telling me to come and bond with you wo I’d never set foot in a place like this
She snorted, “You’re coming back to Japrium with me this month, so you’d better start packing soon. I’m already bored to death here in Acocester.”
Thomas pursed his lips, choosing to stay silent.
Layla, however, smiled warmly. “You are right, Vanessa. Compared to Japrium, Accester is indeed underdeveloped. We’ll pack up as soon as we get home and head to Japrium with you shortly!”
Vanessa snorted as she thought, ‘Dad has called Uncle Thomas multiple times, but he kept refusing, so Dad sent me to invite them back. What makes them deserving of my invitation Bur considering their status, if Dad and Mom had come in person, it would have been overwhelming for Uncle Thomas’s family. Sending me is the most appropriate choice!
With a sigh, she said, “I’m hungry. Go find some food. I’m exhausted”
Layla nodded with a smile and quickly pulled Thomas along.
Vanessa wandered around the chapel alone, taking selfies with her phone at various spots.
After a few steps, Thomas shook Layla’s hand off. “Are you out of your mind! I already said we’re not going back to Japrium. Why did you agree. behind my back?”
“You’re the one who’s lost it!” Layla snapped back. The family’s barely getting by as it is. Our sons are all suffering because of it. If we don’t go back Japrium, how do you expect them to manage in the future? Have you even thought about that?”
Layla, used to living a life of luxury, had struggled tremendously in this short period.
If they could return to Japrium and reclaim their place in the Lanon family, she was willing to overlook the grievances she had suffered there and swallow her pride.
“I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for our family,” she added.
Thomas snorted. I’ve told you before–tiey’re just trying to win us over because of Maddie.”
“So what?” Layla said dismissively. “If we move to Japrism and live comfortably, Madeline can enjoy a good life with us too!
Thomas was about to say something more, but Layla, growing more emotional, barked, “This is rightfully ours! Conner’s share of the family wealth
is it really only his! You know better than anyone! Since they’re offering, why not take what’s oury Who cares what their reason is?”
Layla had long harbored resentment toward the Larson family.
Chapter 229
Hearing this, Thomas silent
He had once been ambitious and eager to return to Japrium, but he had never thought of relying on the Larson family’s charity offered with uperiority
Seeing the tears welling up in his wife’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to argue further.
This is something we’ll have to discuss with the whole family, he finally said.
Lovide the chapel, there were two large trees adorned with red ribbons, creating a beautiful view. As the wind blew, it felt incredibly romantic. Vanessa, seated under the trees, pulled out a compact mirror to touch up her
her makeup.
She wore earbuds, her large eyes accentuated by meticulously drawn eyeliner. But the cold had caused her foundation to streak across her nose.
As she carefully touched up her makeup, she caught sight of a group of priests emerging from the chapel’s main hall out of the corner of her eye in
the mirror.
Among them was a striking figure,
e, tall a
and lean, wearing a face mask. Despite his simple robe, he carried a regal bearing
Vanessa couldn’t help but turn her head to look at the man.
Jas then, his mask shifted slightly, revealing his incredibly chiseled jawline and profile.
Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t help but think, Who is this stunningly handsome man?”
Unable to resist, she followed after him, hoping to add him on WhatsApp. But as she rounded a corner, she collided head–on with someone else. She stumbled back a few steps and almost landed flat on her backside.
Furious, she looked up at the person who had bumped into her and snapped, “Are you blind? Is that how you walk? If you’re not going to use your eyes, why not donate them to someone who needs them!
“You’re the one who bumped into me, and now you’ve got the nerve to blame me?” Harper huffed, eyes wide and hands on her hips. It was the first time she’d encountered someone so unreasonable.
She thought, I’ve truly had my horizons broadened today, witnessing the full spectrum of humanity’s absurdities,
She added, “Do you want to check the security footage! See whose fault it really is
Vanessa had no interest in arguing about who was right. She sneered, “I don’t care whose fault it is. You can into me, so you’re in the wrong. Apologice
“In your dreams,” Harper scoffed, rolling her eyes.
She tried to walk away, but Vanessa grabbed her arm.
Harper’s anger flared. “Let go of me Who do you think you are, some spoiled princess? This is a chapel, not your palace!”
Madeline emerged from the restroom and, after a few steps, noticed Harper was nowhere to be seen.
“Matthew, have you seen Harper?” she asked, puzzled.
“No,”
Matthew replied, equally confused. “Didn’t she just go to the restroom with you? She left first? It doesn’t make sense?
As they were talking, they heard a commotion from under the pillar at the corner ahead.
A small crowd had gathered, murmuring among themselves.
“What a
a disgrace, fighting in a chapel. Young girls lack manners these days.
Someone red, “Allihat good karma built up over ie
ten years is gone because of this fight
“Stop fighting if you w
want to fight, take it outside”
Oh dear, young ladies why bother with all this fuse? Whatever the quarrel is just
Some watdied coldly, others p
poimed fingers, and a few kind souls tried to mediate
it out. Why resort to fighting?
Amidst the chaos, Harper scolded with a tearful voice, “She hit me first Why shouldn’t I fight back”
