Chapter 484: Chapter 484: Sent Flying with a Slap (4)
Mrs. Xavier’s eyes reddened when she heard Vera’s words, but she said, "The Preston family isn’t doing well right now either. You should keep this money for your tuition. I’ve heard that college is expensive these days, and I don’t want you to have to be so frugal that your classmates make fun of you!"
Vera gave a small laugh. "You don’t have to worry about that, Mom. I can cover my tuition and living expenses with scholarships and a work-study job once I’m in college. Besides, with grades as good as mine, who would dare to make fun of me?"
A pang went through Mrs. Xavier’s heart as she looked at how sensible her daughter was. Vera continued, "I just happened to be there for Chloe’s incident today. I don’t want anything like that to happen again. So, no matter what, Chloe and Drew need to study hard, finish school, and get into college. You don’t have to worry too much about their tuition, Mom. I’ll figure something out."
Mrs. Xavier thought about what would have happened if Vera hadn’t returned in time. The consequences would have been unimaginable. ’What mother doesn’t love her own children? But this is just too much of a burden for Vera.’
Vera seemed to read her mind and said with a small laugh, "Mom, in my heart, you will always be my mother. Chloe and Drew are my real sister and brother. I’m their big sister; taking care of them is my responsibility."
"Don’t be silly!" Mrs. Xavier shot her a look. "There’s no ’responsibility’ about it. The fact that you’re willing to help them out is their good fortune. This just means they’ll have to work twice as hard from now on."
A small smile touched Vera’s lips. Mrs. Xavier looked at the money in her hand and said, "I’ll keep one thousand of this. You keep the rest! I’ll write you an IOU for this thousand, along with the two thousand I just paid back to Archer the Butcher."
Vera knew Mrs. Xavier’s principles and understood that there was no use in arguing, so she just smiled and nodded in agreement.
By this time, Chloe and Drew had already killed and cleaned the chicken.
While Vera and Mrs. Xavier were talking in the room, the two siblings were whispering to each other outside.
Drew asked Chloe, "Don’t you think our big sister is different from how she used to be?"
Chloe nodded. "I heard that after she went back to the Preston family, her birth mother didn’t treat her well. And that Cara Preston, our biological sister, bullies her a lot too. That’s why she had to become strong."
"I don’t consider Cara Preston my sister," Drew said with a pout. "You can tell she’s no good just by looking at her. Back then, she hated how poor we were and refused to come back no matter what. It’s obvious she’s a cold, materialistic person who looks down on the poor to curry favor with the rich. She doesn’t deserve to be my sister. In my heart, Vera is my only true sister."
Chloe agreed. She said in a low voice, "This time, if Vera hadn’t come back right when she did, I..."
"Don’t be scared. It’s all over now. From now on, no one is going to bully our family!" Drew said, gritting his teeth. "Our big sister is right. When someone bullies you, you have to fight back. I’ll protect you guys from now on."
Chloe shot him a look. "You? Yeah, right!"
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Drew retorted defensively. "I’m a grown-up now, a real man! Just you wait. I’m going to become the provincial top scorer too, and I’ll shove our success right in the faces of everyone who looks down on us!"
Chloe mused, "The provincial top scorer? Interesting! Our sister is this year’s top scorer, so I’ll be next year’s. You can skip a grade and be the top scorer the year after that. That way, our family will have a monopoly on the title for three years straight!"
"Great idea," Drew said seriously. "We can totally do that!"
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