Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Climbing the Window at Midnight

“Have you eaten?” Zachary Preston asked again.

“I ate at a classmate’s house,” Cara Preston replied. She had always been sharp, and the moment she stepped inside, she could tell the atmosphere at home was off.

Usually, Rona Langdon would be in the kitchen washing dishes at this time, but today, she was nowhere to be seen.

More importantly, the house was covered in bright red stains and looked like a complete mess.

Zachary Preston nodded. “The college entrance exams are in a little over a month. Study hard, but don’t wear yourself out. Make sure to balance work and rest.”

Cara Preston acknowledged him and went upstairs with her schoolbag.

She thought for a moment, and after putting her schoolbag down in her room, she went straight into Vera Xavier’s room without knocking. “Sis, what happened at home today?”

Vera Xavier’s study time had been cut short today because of the incident with Rona Langdon. At this moment, she had no desire to deal with a gossipy Cara Preston. “Go ask Mom. I need to study.”

“Did Mom hit you again?” Not much ever happened in the Preston family, and since Cara Preston was so sharp, it only took her a moment’s thought to figure out the gist of what had occurred.

Vera Xavier’s eyes reddened as she said softly, “I used a little too much oil when I was cooking today, and Mom…”

After speaking, she glanced outside with a frightened look and added in a low voice, “It was my fault, after all. That’s why Mom hit me. Just don’t ask any more about it.”

Cara Preston’s heart leaped with joy. She was happy as long as something bad happened to Vera Xavier. On the surface, however, she feigned concern. “Are you okay, then?”

Vera Xavier bit her lip, sniffled, and gave a slight shake of her head. Cara Preston saw the iodine and safflower oil on her desk and said with false sympathy, “Well, get some rest. And try not to make Mom mad again in the future.”

Vera Xavier nodded. After Cara Preston left, she immediately locked the door from the inside. Her time was precious these next few days; she had none to spare for Cara Preston.

Hearing the bolt slide, Cara Preston assumed Vera Xavier was hiding in her room to cry where no one could see her. The corners of her mouth lifted into a slight smile.

’Tsk, tsk. Why didn’t Rona Langdon beat Vera Xavier to death today? If she had, that would have been perfect!’

As Vera Xavier was reading, she saw the notes in the book. A small smile touched her lips, and a faint glimmer of amusement appeared in her eyes. ’Nathaniel Nathan really is thoughtful.’

The notes in the book were thorough and meticulous. It was all his handwriting, but there were slight variations. It was clear that the penmanship in some places was more mature and the notes more detailed, obviously added later on.

’Could it be that after hearing her say she was going to study hard, he stayed up all night to dig out his old high school textbooks, find all the key exam topics and knowledge points, and then revise the annotations?’

Vera Xavier wasn’t entirely sure, but a warmth spread through her heart.

She glanced at the outfit he had given her, which she had only worn once before it got covered in ketchup. A wave of regret washed over her. ’If I had known Rona Langdon would lose her temper like that, I wouldn’t have worn new clothes today. What a waste.’

While she was still lamenting, she heard a faint tapping on the window. She froze for a second, then, as if realizing something, she turned and opened the small window.

Before she could react, a pair of hands reached in. She gasped in shock and was about to cry out instinctively when a large hand clamped over her mouth. A low voice said, “It’s me.”

Vera Xavier jumped, startled by the voice. Then she saw Nathaniel Nathan’s face—ice-cold and so handsome it was infuriating.

’What the heck, how did he get here? It’s just a bare wall outside. How did he climb up?’

P.S. I’m seriously going crazy. I had to format and reinstall my entire system, and any writing software I use crashes within ten minutes. I’ve lost my draft again and again. I feel like dying!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep