Chapter 178
I raised my eyebrows without a word.
She had casually labeled me as petty and aloof through that.
“Mom, it’s nothing like that. Don’t talk nonsense,” Matthew said in a low voice while gripping my shoulder.
Brenda glared at Matthew before saying with a smile, “What are you embarrassed about? Who doesn’t know about this? You can’t ignore Helly just because you have someone you like. Let me remind you that Helly is my goddaughter.
“No matter who you marry in the future, she’ll still be your responsibility. Thus, you’re not allowed to neglect her at any time.”
The other women praised Brenda for remembering old friendships and being broad- minded, especially Helen’s mother. She looked satisfied given how big her smile was.
Helen was a decent woman, but her mother lacked the dignity a woman from a prestigious family should have. She was too narrow–minded and lacked grandeur.
As slow as I was, I understood what was happening right now.
Brenda was telling me that the daughter–in–law she had chosen was Helen. She was warning me that there was no way Matthew could ignore her even if he married me.
In other words, Helen would have an indelible presence between Matthew and me.
Brenda was doing this to make me give up.
After all, no woman could accept a third party in their relationship.
Considering his feelings for me over the years, Matthew might fight with his parents if things didn’t go as he expected. This might tarnish the Loxley family’s reputation.
Every affluent family hoped to maintain a facade of harmony to the outside world. Thus, they would never allow a normal woman like me to disrupt their lives.
Their presumed good manners prevented them from directly asking me to leave. But they could pull tricks like this to subtly hint me to leave.
To me, it was a blatant humiliation to be driven away.
I wanted to stand up a few times, but Matthew pulled me back forcefully. He begged his
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mother to stop talking while explaining to me he was only childhood friends with Helen and nothing else.
There was no way I could leave at this point.
I wasn’t rich, I didn’t have a good social standing, and I wasn’t a socialite. However, I was a daughter of a respectable family. I was raised with strict values by my parents, and I had my dignity and pride.
The education I had didn’t allow me to be trampled by them.
11
I flung away Matthew’s hand and ignored his hurtful gaze. Then, I replied with a smile, Mrs. Loxley, you’re right. Helen is definitely an impressive woman. I like her a lot. I noticed she seems to be injured. Would it be possible for me to visit her? I’m her roommate, so I’d like to know how she is.”
“Are you also taking your master’s at Jesselton College?” Georgina Johnson asked in shock.
From her look of surprise, it seemed as if she thought it was unthinkable for me to be taking my master’s at Jesselton College. Perhaps I was just a plaything for the wealthy in her eyes. I was supposed to be ignorant and obedient so that I could make them look good.
There were so many people taking their master’s at Jesselton College. Surely, she wouldn’t think all of them weren’t qualified to be there.
Or perhaps she thought deep down that her daughter was the only one qualified to study there. As for the others, they could only look up to her in awe.