Chapter 16 Stirring Up Trouble
Just as I was hesitating, my finger accidentally unlocked the phone, and Daniel's voice came through loud and clear.
"Jane, open the door." His voice was the same as always—arrogant and commanding.
I used to admire Daniel and didn't mind his tone. I thought he deserved to be aloof. But now, hearing him again made me uncomfortable.
"What do you want?" I snapped, not hiding my dislike.
"I'm here to check on you. I've tried several times, but Helen wouldn't let me in. I saw your mom leave, so let me in!"
"My wound hurts, I can't get up." I lied. I was right by the door, watching his impatient face through the peephole.
I thought, 'If you're so impatient, just leave. I didn't ask you to come.'
"Take your time. I'll wait at the door. Whenever you open it, I'll come in."
Why was he suddenly so concerned? Is someone putting him up to this? Daniel was so persistent that avoiding him wouldn't work. I decided to let him in.
I slowly opened the door and immediately regretted it.
I thought Daniel was alone, but Zoe was with him, hugging his waist and blinking at me.
She looked delicate, but her eyes made me uncomfortable. Her gaze wasn't purely hostile or jealous; it was just confusing.
I'm straightforward. If I don't understand, I don't bother. I didn't want to be friends with Zoe, so I didn't need to understand her.
Seeing them holding hands made my head spin. I cursed myself for opening the door.
Regretful but unable to turn them away, I said, "Come in."
Daniel quickly glanced at me, holding Zoe's hand, and squeezed past me into the house, sitting boldly on the sofa.
Zoe sat close to him, like conjoined twins.
I was speechless. 'I know you're in love, but do you have to show it off? It's so hot, aren't you afraid of getting sweaty?'
I only dared to grumble in my head. Outwardly, I politely went to the kitchen to cut some fruit.
"Jane, I found out late about your fall and didn't get there in time to save you. I'm sorry."
I sneered, "It's not your responsibility. Why apologize?"
"I knew you wouldn't be mad at me, but mom insisted I come. She said if I didn't get your forgiveness, she wouldn't want me as her son. I had no choice."
I smiled wryly, "I really don't blame you. I can tell Mrs. Pitt myself."
It wasn't that I was magnanimous; I just knew my place in his heart. When you have no expectations, nothing they do can hurt you.
"Jane, your house is beautiful." Zoe, visiting for the first time, looked around curiously.
"It's all my mom's doing. She's an interior designer, quite famous. “I probably got my painting talent from her."
I brought out a fruit platter, placed it on the table, picked up a small fork, handed a piece to Zoe, and took one for myself.
Eating chilled fruit in the summer was refreshing. Daniel looked at me, making the fruit in my mouth lose its sweetness.
"What are you looking at?" I asked, puzzled.
"Where's my fruit, Jane? Is this how you treat your childhood friend?"
I was speechless. 'Don't you have hands? Can't you get it yourself? Do you still expect me to feed you like before? Sorry, since you insulted me, that kind of treatment is gone forever.'
"Help yourself. You know where my family keeps the bank cards, so don't act like a guest."
I swear, I had no ulterior motives. I was just chatting.
But Zoe's face quickly changed, looking a bit angry, a bit unwilling, and mostly jealous. "Jane, is your family rich? Aren't you afraid of something happening if you tell others where your bank cards are?"
I shrugged indifferently. I was just showing how familiar Daniel was with my home. As for where our bank cards were, I didn't even know, so Daniel couldn't possibly know.
But Zoe's question was intriguing. While she was concerned about whether my family had money, she was also indirectly questioning Daniel's character.
I was impressed that this girl really had a strange way of thinking.
"My dad is a high school teacher, and my mom is a designer. Our family's conditions are relatively good, but not rich. As my mom says, we're not as well-off as wealthy families, but we're definitely not poor."
I was telling the truth, just chatting.
Zoe's face looked even worse. She pinched Daniel's arm, still looking delicate, and said softly, "Actually, not having money is pretty good. I've heard that families with better conditions are never happy. Either siblings fight over inheritance, or couples have marital problems and end up getting divorced."
'Zoe, are you implying that my parents will eventually divorce?' I was not happy to hear that. 'Wasn't she blatantly cursing my family? Zoe was indeed as Lillian said, very hypocritical and quite annoying.'
Daniel also felt her words were inappropriate and squeezed her hand. "Zoe, don't say that. Mr. and Mrs. Hanks are very good."
Zoe rolled her eyes at him, didn't let go of his hand, but instead turned halfway to lean into Daniel's arms, turning her head to look at me provocatively. "That's not what I meant, Daniel. Don't get me wrong."
Zoe's voice was soft and sweet, her delicate body actively leaning into Daniel's embrace, earning a tender look from Daniel. He planted a doting kiss on her lips, "Good girl."
Watching them act out their little drama, I really wanted to find a broom to sweep them out the door.
I thought, 'If you want to kiss, go home and close the door. Kiss all you want, no one will care. Why come to my house?'
Zoe's words had a deep meaning. Even someone as simple as me could understand, so Daniel definitely could. He was just pretending to be confused to protect Zoe.
I thought, 'So, Zoe knew that with Daniel around, I couldn't do anything to her, and she came to my house to stir up trouble. I might not talk much these past two years, mainly because I was too lazy to speak up. But that didn't mean I could be bullied. It was impossible for me to just stand there and take it. In the past, I couldn't do anything when Daniel bullied me because I had a foolish crush on him. But who do you think you are, Zoe? Who gave you the right to come to my house and show off? Do you really think Daniel is your knight in shining armor, protecting you from all harm? I, Jane, never start trouble, but I'm not afraid of it either. If you come to my house to bully me, don't blame me for not being polite.'
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