Chapter 177: Chapter 177: A Stirring of the Heart

More importantly, Master Nathan truly wasn’t lacking for money.

Vera Xavier felt that being the Nathan Family’s granddaughter-in-law wasn’t so easy.

Her distraction caught the attention of her deskmate, Shane Caldwell. “What are you thinking about? You’ve been out of it all day. Acting like this, and you still want to get into Veridia University? You’re dreaming!”

Vera Xavier rolled her eyes at him. Since they had become deskmates, their relationship had improved a bit, even though they didn’t usually talk much.

The last time Vera Xavier ran out of scratch paper, he had generously lent her a notebook. And even though she eventually bought a new one to give back to him, their relationship had genuinely improved because of it.

They still bickered, but at least their words no longer carried the same sharp, sarcastic edge as before.

“None of your business,” Vera Xavier snapped. She was already feeling annoyed.

Shane Caldwell turned to look at Cara Preston, who was sitting behind them. Cara also looked troubled today. He asked, “Cara Preston was telling everyone this morning that she was sick yesterday. She said you didn’t take her to the hospital or even get her a glass of water when she asked. She called you heartless. You’re not distracted because of that, are you?”

Vera Xavier gave him a sidelong glance. “I never knew boys could be such gossips.”

“She was saying it so loud it was hard not to hear,” Shane Caldwell said. “And Elise Langdon has been grinding her teeth at you all morning. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice?”

Vera Xavier shrugged. “Her grinding her teeth has nothing to do with me. If she’s got the guts, let her grind them all down to nubs!”

Shane Caldwell’s mouth twitched. He used to think she was just some country bumpkin with bad grades. But after becoming her deskmate, he discovered her worldliness was far beyond that of the other girls in class, who only cared about comparing clothes and food. He also realized she was someone who really knew her own mind.

Just yesterday, a girl in class had turned deathly pale and nearly fainted. It was Vera who figured out it was due to low blood sugar. She’d gotten a piece of rock candy from Juliana Taylor for the girl to suck on before calling the school nurse.

She always seemed so calm and composed, no matter the situation, though she wasn’t particularly friendly toward him. Because of all this, his impression of her had completely changed, and he’d begun to harbor a secret crush, the kind only a young man could have.

However, he felt there was no rush to reveal his feelings. He would wait until after the college entrance exams to let her know. In his heart, he had already started to dream of them getting into Veridia University together.

Shane Caldwell looked at her and asked, “You and your sister don’t seem to get along at all, do you?”

Vera Xavier glanced at him. “What’s it to you?”

Shane Caldwell wasn’t angry at being shut down. He just gave a slight purse of his lips and thought to himself, ’It’ll be my business when you’re my girlfriend.’

If Vera Xavier had known he was already thinking of her that way, she probably would have freaked out. But right then, she was still stressing over what birthday gift to get for Master Nathan.

After school that afternoon, Vera Xavier decided to head to Antique Row to try her luck again. After winding through the streets, she ended up back on Cobble Street and entered the same stone shop she had visited before.

The shop owner recognized her, since girls her age rarely browsed there. As soon as he saw her, he smiled and asked, “Young lady, back to buy more stones? We just got a new shipment in. Want to take a look?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep