Chapter 680 Seeds of Resentment
Tate knew Karen had issues with her and didn't want to see her, but living together made it hard to avoid each other.
Tate opened the door with a cold expression. "What do you want?"
Karen held up a jewelry box. "It's your first time back home, so I got you a bracelet. Dad gave it to me for my eighteenth birthday. It's worth a hundred grand. Bet you've never seen anything this nice, huh?"
Karen opened the box, revealing a bracelet with red gemstones. To Tate, it looked cheap. The necklace she casually gave to Warmie was worth way more.
Karen's words had a hint of boasting, and she looked down on Tate, thinking she was inexperienced and poor.
Tate replied indifferently, "No thanks, I don't like wearing stuff like that."
She had no use for it since she'd be going back to prison in a few days.
Karen didn't know about Tate's imprisonment. The whole family kept it a secret, thinking it unnecessary and not wanting to reopen Tate's wounds.
"This is my token of goodwill. You have to accept it. Don't be shy, I have plenty more jewelry and bags I don't even use. Dad, Mom, and Raymond all value you so much. As soon as you came back, I had to give up my room for you. What's a bracelet compared to that?"
Karen said sarcastically, "The whole family favors you. I can't be the one causing trouble, or else Mom and Dad will scold me again."
Tate understood that Karen was unhappy with Barbara and Eugene focusing their attention on her.
"No need, take it away," Tate said, her tone cold. "I need to rest now. I know you don't like me, and I don't like you either. Don't provoke me, and I won't bother you."
Tate made it clear she didn't want to act in front of Karen.
Since they couldn't be close like sisters, there was no need to pretend.
With the truth out, Karen dropped the act and her expression changed. "Mom and Dad are only treating you well because they feel guilty. I can give up the room, but I won't give up Caspian."
"Give up?" Tate sneered. "If I give up the room, would you dare to stay in it? If I give up Caspian, would he choose you?"
Tate was speaking the truth. She could step aside, but she had to warn Karen that it wasn't Karen who was giving up anything. These things never belonged to Karen in the first place, and she couldn't handle them.
If Tate gave up the room, Karen wouldn't dare stay in it for fear of angering Barbara and Eugene.
Caspian had made it clear he didn't like Karen.
Karen's face twisted with anger. "I knew it. You came back to compete with me."
Tate shut the door in Karen's face, the wind from the door hitting Karen sharply.
Tate didn't want to waste words with Karen. Making her stance clear was enough.
She hadn't wanted to think about Caspian, but Karen's words reminded her of seeing him at the cemetery.
She remembered Caspian's eyes and his words.
Tate curled up, appearing cold and aloof on the outside, but in reality, she was a coward.
After hitting a wall with Tate, Karen stormed back to her bedroom, plotting how to drive Tate out, make Barbara and Eugene dislike her, and make Tate fall from grace. As she passed Barbara and Eugene's room, she overheard Barbara saying, "I feel so bad knowing Tay has to go back to prison in a few days."
‘Prison?’
‘Why does Tate have to go back to prison?’ Karen was confused.
She stopped in her tracks, sneaking closer to Barbara and Eugene's room to eavesdrop.
Eugene said, "It's already a blessing that Tay gets five days to visit home. Time will fly by. With her sentence reduced, she might be out next year, and then our family can be together forever. When Tay gets out, we'll throw a homecoming party so all our friends and family know our daughter is back."
"The homecoming party must be grand," Barbara said. "By the way, we can't let anyone know about Tay's imprisonment, which would make it hard for her to find a partner."
"Of course, we won't say anything. Only you, me, and Raymond know. Outsiders won't find out. I have it all under control."
Outside, Karen felt a surge of jealousy. She didn't believe her father regarded her as an outsider, and Tate was now the one considered family by Barbara and Eugene!
Karen felt a deep resentment. Barbara and Eugene used to dote on her, but now that Tate was back, everything had changed.
With this in mind, Karen stormed back to her bedroom. She was determined to ruin Tate's reputation. She wouldn't acknowledge Tate and would make sure Tate couldn't hold her head up in their social circle.
Barbara and Eugene had no idea their conversation had been overheard by Karen. Barbara, thinking about Karen's reaction earlier, said, "Let's not tell Karen either. She has issues with Tay. I bought Karen a shop to make up for her giving up the room. She can't stand any loss."
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