Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 201 Oh, come on, it’s just a bit of doublespeak. After hanging around Wallis Lott for so long, I’ve definitely got this. Hearing this, Cecilia, with her face flushing and then going pale, struggled for a bit before finally coming out with, “Xaviera, are you teasing me on purpose?” I looked at Cecilia, feeling puzzled, not sure why she’d come out with such a weird accusation; then I heard her say, “Yes, I’m not as clever as you, Xaviera. I don’t know how to charm the auntie, but that shouldn’t be a reason for you to mock me, right?” By the end of her sentence, her voice was quivering, and her eyes were even starting to redden. I was taken aback by this sudden shift in mood, and the next second, Hogan’s stern and serious voice rang in my ear. “What’s going on here?” As I turned, I saw Hogan standing a couple of steps away. What’s weird is that it was just him – Hilary and Sibyl were nowhere to be seen. With a stern face, the man walked briskly over and glanced at Cecilia, who was looking down; then he shot a questioning look at me, “What did you say to her?” “It’s nothing, Hogan,” Cecilia piped up before I could speak; clutching Hogan’s shirt with her delicate little hands, she hurriedly explained, “I was just asking Xaviera for some tips on how to get along with the elders, that’s all.” Her repeated “that’s all” sounded so rushed and flustered that it was like she was admitting there was something to hide without actually hiding it. Glancing at Cecilia and then at me, Hogan said, “Why ask her? Her tricks and schemes aren’t worth learning.” Those words “tricks and schemes” got under my skin. I admit that I did play some tricks when it came to dealing with Hilary, but that was all for a harmonious mother–in–law and daughter–in–law relationship. But now, things were totally different. “Hogan, how can you say that about Xaviera,” Cecilia’s soft voice sounded again; she gave me a quick glance before continuing. “Just now, I even heard that the Yearwood family elders invited Xaviera over to their place for music. It seems that the Yearwood family elders must really value Xaviera.” From such a distance, she must have really strained her ears to listen so intently. What was she trying to emphasize in front of Hogan? Mr. Zade’s heart has always been with Chapter 201 her, so much so that he hasn’t even laid a finger on her to this day, so why bother making an extra fuss? Thinking this, I curved my lips into a smile and said, “Mr. Zade is absolutely right. There’s nothing on me worth being consulted by Director Irwin, after all.” I paused and calmly stated the fact, “My taste in men is, as everyone knows, notoriously short–sighted and myopic.” Both of them changed their expressions after hearing my two descriptors. Especially Hogan, whose displeasure was almost spilling out of his eyes, and he fixed his eyes on my face unblinkingly. Like there was a silent accusation. But I’ve been holding back all day; even if I’m usually patient, I couldn’t take it anymore. So, I pretended not to notice it and casually glanced at my watch before I said, “Sorry, Professor Yearwood is waiting for me. I’ll have to excuse myself.” Without waiting for Hogan and Cecilia to respond, I turned on my heel and left. In the distance, I vaguely heard Cecilia say, “Hogan, look, Professor Yearwood really does weigh a lot in Xaviera’s heart, doesn’t he?”