Chapter 83
Matthew was immediately displeased. Jeremy, how can you scold her like that? Look at Jessica. She’s just a girl, and you’ve made her cry!”
Jessica’s eyes reddened, her expression complex, tears welled up in her eyes.
Jeremy sneered coldly, retorting sharply to Matthew, “You feel sorry for Jessica because she’s a girl, and don’t let me scold her, but what about the way you scolded Ashley just now?”
Matthew was suddenly at a loss for words.
But he didn’t think he was wrong.
He thought to himself, Jessica is my dearest sister. Of course, I'll defend her. ‘Besides, how could Ashley even compare to Jessica? She’s not worth it!”
After Jeremy lashed out at Matthew, he turned his cold gaze to Jessica. “Stop pretending. | just mentioned you in one sentence, and you cry like this. When you took credit for Ashley’s achievements, why didn’t you. cry? Now you're shedding crocodile tears!”
Jessica’s trembling stopped abruptly. She hadn't expected Jeremy to criticize her so publicly without sparing her feelings.
With tears in her eyes, Jessica said, “Jeremy, it was my fault for taking credit for Ashley’s work, and | won't deny it. | hope Ashley can forgive me, and I’m willing to do anything you ask!”
However, Jeremy remained unmoved, scolding with disgust.
“Enough, stop pretending! | feel sick seeing this pretense! If you truly feel. sorry for Ashley, then do something about it. Don’t just talk.
“Start now. Look at Ashley and apologize! Admit that you framed her and took her credit! Do you dare?” Jessica’s expression froze.
She thought, Jeremy actually wants me to apologize sincerely to Ashley?
‘How could | want to do that!
‘But | just boasted that I’d do anything if Ashley forgave me.
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‘If | now show I’m unwilling to apologize sincerely, wouldn’t | be contradicting myself? It will be a slap in the face.”
Bryce and Joseph, who had been worried that the Ramos family would bully Ashley, stood quietly by her side, never expecting to witness such a dramatic scene of an internal dispute in the Ramos family.
Ashley, protected by them, felt somewhat speechless.
She thought, I’m really not that fragile.
Jessica, biting her lower lip, glanced at Jeremy, whose face was unpleasant, even expressionless.
She wanted to change Jeremy’s view of her, to have his favor returned to her, so she took the plunge.
She was extremely reluctant, but Jessica suddenly stepped forward, approached Ashley, and burst into tears. “Ashley, Jeremy is right. | owe you an apology!
“| was too young and foolish before, taking your credit and even falsely. accusing you of abandoning Jeremy and running away. Ashley, | truly realize my mistake, and | sincerely apologize, begging for your forgiveness!”
Ashley looked down at the apologetic Jessica, her beautiful face. emotionless.
Bryce and Joseph looked on as if watching a drama.
They thought, ‘Forgive Jessica?”
Deep down, they hoped Ashley would never forgive the Ramos family.
At that moment, Jeremy earnestly said, “Ashley, let's ignore her. Jessica. definitely isn’t truly remorseful!”
Jessica, who was crying her eyes out, stopped at his words, her face unable to maintain its repentant expression. She shouted in disbelief, “Jeremy!”
She thought, ‘It was Jeremy who asked me to apologize sincerely to Ashley.
‘Now it’s Jeremy telling Ashley to ignore me.
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Chapter RT
‘How can he do this? Is he playing with me?’
When Ashley heard Jeremy’s words, she glanced at him lightly, her tone cold. “What did you say? Us?” Jeremy felt a sharp pain and overwhelming sorrow.
He thought, Ashley still refuses to forgive me, even taking issue with my saying ‘us!
‘| deserve this. No matter how sad | feel, | have to bear it myself.”
However, upon hearing Jessica’s piercing cry of “Jeremy,” Jeremy looked over with a cold sneer. “Why aren’t you acting like a sweet and obedient. girl now? Why are you suddenly shouting my name so loudly? Can’t keep up the act, right? | saw right through you from the day | learned the truth!”
At his words, Jessica suddenly clenched her fist with a gloomy and embarrassed look.
Matthew couldn’t stand it any longer. He pulled the tearful Jessica. towards him and glared at Jeremy with uncontrollable anger. “Jeremy, how can you bully Jessica like this for Ashley, that double-dealer? I...”
Before he could finish, there was a loud thump. Jeremy had thrown a punch right at Matthew!
Jeremy’s expression was cold, a hint of ruthlessness in his voice. “I told you before. If you dare say one more bad word about Ashley, don’t blame me for being rude!”
Matthew, struck by the punch, stood there stunned as if struck by lightning.
He thought to himself, Jeremy actually hit me.
‘He hit me over Ashley.
Joseph clicked his tongue in disbelief and thought, ‘Now you stand up for Ashley. Where were you earlier?” Ashley didn’t want to watch this farce anymore and turned to leave.
Jeremy quickly followed her. “Ashley, did we disturb you just now?”
Meanwhile, Matthew watched Ashley’s lonely look when she walked
09:32
away without a word. He was suddenly struck by a memory.
It was Ashley's first meal with the Ramos family, and in an attempt to defend Jessica, he had been rudely shouting that he didn’t want to see someone disgusting at the table, as it spoiled his appetite.
The disgusting person he referred to was Ashley.
During that meal, everyone in the Ramos family watched as if it was a drama, with no one standing up for Ashley. As he hurled insults, Ashley stood up, looked down, and silently left the table.
It was her first meal with the Ramos family, and she was driven away from the table by his relentless insults.
Then, on his birthday, when the whole family went to the shooting. range, Ashley scored higher than Jessica, who curled her lips unhappily, and he lashed out at Ashley.
When it was time to cut the cake in the evening, he deliberately cut one piece less. Everyone in the Ramos family got a slice except for Ashley, who was left with an empty plate.
He said with contempt, “Disgusting people don’t deserve to eat my birthday cake.” Ashley, who had just wished him a happy birthday with a sweet smile, looked down sadly the next second.
While the rest of the Ramos family enjoyed their cake and laughter, only Ashley stood with her head down, looking at the empty plate in front of her, and quietly left the living room.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
These memories flooded back to him. The image of Ashley's forlorn departure figure from the past overlapped with the figure in front of him. A bitter feeling rose in Matthew’s heart. Without thinking, he ran in front of Ashley.
“Ashley, | know Jessica took credit for your work, and that was her fault. How about we make a bet? | know you can shoot, and if you can beat me, I'll agree to let you return to the Ramos family. Moreover, I'll never hit you or yell at you again. I'll treat you like | treat anyone else!
“How about it? Do you dare to bet with me? If you win in shooting, I’ll agree to let you come back to the Ramos family!” The moment he finished speaking, Ashley looked at him in
astonishment.
Joseph was stunned.
Bryce was confused.
They thought, ‘What on earth is Matthew thinking? How dare he say something like that?
‘What kind of ridiculous bet is this? Is he saying that if Ashley wins in shooting, he'll agree to let her come back to the Ramos family?”