Vanya's POV
Cliff looked at me, rubbing his temple wearily.
I could almost read his thoughts, probably regretting not leaving me by the roadside.
With reluctance, he got out of the car, picked up five or six bags, and I silently followed him.
As soon as we pushed open the door, Cliff stood still as if under a spell.
Blocked from entering, I asked in confusion, "Hey! Cliff! Could you move inside?"
Following Cliff into the house, his face was as dark as the sky before a storm, extremely unpleasant.
I could distinctly feel his body tense like a rigid stick, every muscle radiating resistance.
I squeezed past him and saw under the dim, yellowish light, the living room had been magically set up with an exquisite candlelight dinner.
My heart sank the moment this scene came into view.
Undoubtedly, this was Veronica's idea.
No wonder she insisted Cliff take me home after the mall. She had this waiting for me.
It was a meticulously designed trap.
"Vanya, you really have your ways," Cliff's voice was as cold as an ice blade, with undisguised sarcasm and contempt, stabbing straight at me.
"It's not me. Why do you automatically assume I'm up to something?"
My anger flared up, my voice involuntarily raising several decibels, eyes glaring at him in fury.
I'm not the same Vanya who would meekly endure everything. I won't bear his accusations without reason.
But Cliff didn't give me a chance to explain. His face turned red with anger.
He angrily threw the things in his hand on the ground, the loud "bang" like a cry of my own grievances and rage.
Then, he turned and left the Packhouse like a whirlwind.
As soon as he stepped out the door, he found the car had been driven away by the driver, clearly part of Veronica's cunning plan.
Seeing this, I cursed her in my heart and fully understood her intentions.
If Cliff and I didn't spend the night under the same roof tonight, she would not let me off easily and would make sure I wouldn't have peace.
"Humph, don't waste your effort," I shouted at Cliff's retreating figure, "Tonight, you sleep in the living room, and I'll sleep in the bedroom. But don't think I'll give in so easily. It's all because of your dear grandmother."
I thought to myself, I used to endure silently, but not anymore.
'I want to fight for even a bit of dignity.'
Cliff stopped, turned his head, and looked at me coldly, his eyes as if looking at repulsive garbage. He warned through gritted teeth, "I warn you, Vanya. Don't try any tricks in front of me. I won't fall for them."
After saying that, he strode back into the house.
Looking at his disgust for me, I smiled bitterly in my heart. 'Is this the price I pay for becoming his mate?'
No matter how selflessly I helped him in the past, in his eyes, I was now just a woman who played despicable tricks.
I never thought I would be so worthless, so insignificant in his heart.
I walked up to the dining table, looking at the sumptuous dinner, feeling a mix of emotions.
Even if Cliff had no appetite due to prejudice, I had been shopping with Veronica all day. My feet were as heavy as if filled with lead, my body extremely exhausted, and my stomach growled with hunger, indeed needing some food to replenish my energy.
"Aren't you going to eat?" I asked, deliberately looking at him with a provocative gaze.
"Not hungry," Cliff lazily sat on the sofa, picked up a newspaper, and started flipping through it.
I was just being polite by asking, and seeing his arrogant attitude, I didn't hesitate to start eating on my own.
After eating for a while, I noticed Cliff looked up, his gaze seemingly lingering on me for a moment.
I could feel he noticed a difference in me from before, but I didn't care what he thought.
I raised my voice and asked, "Changed your mind now?"
"No," he hurriedly averted his gaze, looking as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
I thought to myself, 'It has changed, probably making him even more disgusted.'
'But so what, I don't care.'
I glanced at the time on my phone, remembering I had a necessary appointment with Theodore that day, which I couldn't keep due to Veronica's nonsense.
I was hoping Cliff would leave soon so I could explain the situation to Theodore and discuss the matters concerning Jasper and the obsidian rough.
I had many questions waiting to be clarified with Theodore.
I needed to get a grip on these matters and not be led around by them anymore.
At that moment, Cliff's phone suddenly rang.
From a distance, I vaguely saw the screen display the contact name, Melinda.
"Hello?" Cliff answered the phone, his voice instantly becoming soft and gentle as if he were a different person, the tender tone making me feel a wave of aversion.
Subconsciously, I held my breath, pricking up my ears, trying to catch their conversation.
"Alpha Cliff, I want to go to the hospital..." Melinda's voice came from the other end of the phone, weak and nauseatingly sweet.
"Hospital? Has your ankle injury gotten worse?"
"Yes... it hurts a bit."