Chapter 247

“Thomas, even you’re picking on me,” Monica said, a hint of grievance in her eyes.

Thomas pressed his lips tightly together, slowly replying, “Monica, no one is forcing you. It was your own claim that you wanted to come and apologize.

“…” Monica was at a loss for words.

She couldn’t very well admit that she never intended to apologize, that her actual plan was to catch someone in the act, could she?

With no other choice, Monica clenched her teeth and raised her voice. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

There, are you satisfied now?”

“Who said that?” Theresa said, “Didn’t you bring the dishes? I think Susan likes them. How about you feed her yourself.”

Monica was speechless.

She whirled to look at Theresa. “I am the esteemed daughter of the Lynn family!”

“Unwilling, are you? Oh, that really makes us question your sincerity,” Theresa said coolly.

“You…” Monica was shaking with anger.

Susan, at first, didn’t feel like eating.

But seeing Monica in such a state piqued her interest.

“It’s been ages since anyone’s fed me. I think this idea isn’t half bad,” Susan said, a smile playing on her lips.

Monica turned to Ben for support. “Ben…”

Ben didn’t even glance her way, his gaze filled with affection for Susan. “As long as you’re happy.”

“Now, we’re just waiting on Ms. Lynn.” Theresa thrust the fork into Monica’s hand.

Someone quick–witted had already set the table with dishes.

Then, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Monica.

This level of humiliation… it was unbearable!

Monica felt an urge to throw the fork right there and then.

But glancing at Ben’s expressionless face, she didn’t dare to.

Gritting her teeth and with a face full of misery, Monica moved forward.

She occasionally cast pitiable glances at the others, hoping someone would speak up for her.

But as she moved, a minute or two passing, not a single voice rose to her aid.

Seeing her dawdle, people began to urge her to pick up the pace.

Monica had no choice but to grit her teeth, picked up a piece of vegetable with her fork, and brought it to Susan’s mouth.

Susan wasn’t really interested in eating.

But she was quite interested in watching Monica’s expressions.

So, Susan, ignoring Monica’s sour face, eagerly took a bite.

Then, she pointed to another dish and said, ‘T’d like a taste of the roast ribs too.”

“You, Susan…” Monica got irritated.

cimply raised Ben simply raised an eyebrow indifferently.

Monica clenched her teeth again and, steeling herself, picked up another piece with her fork.

Susan continued to eat with delight and then said, “I’d like some soup now.

Monica was becoming numb.

She ladled out a bowl of soup and fed Susan, spoon by spoon.

At this point, she couldn’t be more embarrassed than she already was.

Let Susan have her moment of triumph today!

Sooner or later, Monica would have her revenge.

Monica managed to keep her face composed, but Susan lost interest.

“Enough, I’m done. You can go now,” Susan said calmly.

Monica quickly put down the bowl and fork. “You said you didn’t want anymore. This means you’ve accepted my apology, and we can let bygones be bygones.

Susan couldn’t help but find it amusing. “I only said you could leave. I didn’t say I accepted your apology.”

“What else do you want?” Monica snapped.

dd MM Susan replied coolly, “I don’t want anything else. Whether to apologize is up to you, whether to forgive is up to me. No one has decreed that an apology must be accepted just because it’s offered. I’ve received your apology, but I’ve decided not to forgive you. Now, you can go.”

“You.” Monica was trembling with fury.

“Please leave. I don’t want to see you right now,” Susan stated.

That feeling of humiliation.

That feeling of humiliation.

Monica shook all over, burning with the desire for revenge, yet she knew this wasn’t the time.

Monica forced herself to take several deep breaths.

She would remember everything about today, etched firmly in her mind. One day, Monica vowed, she would make Susan pay a price a thousand times more agonizing than what she endured today!

Gritting her teeth, Monica turned around and left without hesitation.

Since Susan had made her stance crystal clear, there was no point in Monica staying any longer, enduring more humiliation.

With Monica’s departure, the others gradually trickled out. Theresa followed suit with the crowd.

Thomas didn’t leave immediately. He stayed behind.

Thomas’s mood was a little complicated. “I’m sorry, about today, I…”

Ben could guess that Thomas had likely been manipulated by Monica again today.

He rubbed his temples. “Thomas, one of these days, she’s going to be the end of you.”

Thomas gave a wry smile. “There won’t be a next time.”

He had truly seen the light this time.

“I hope so,” Ben said, glancing at him with a noncommittal expression.

No one knew better than he did how fixated Thomas had been on that girl from the past.

The feeling that she was the only light in his darkness was far too deep; forgetting her wasn’t easy.

“Thomas,” Susan said, looking at him with an inexplicably pitying gaze, “Some people are out of reach, while others are right before your eyes. You chase distant dreams at the expense of what’s near, and sooner or later, you’ll pay the price.”

Susan’s words seemed to hold a deeper meaning.

It was as if Thomas understood everything and yet understood nothing at all.

After a moment of silence, he left, seemingly lost in thought.

Some people were far away, while others were close at hand.

The one in the distance was once the bright moon in his heart.

But now, that bright moon had fallen into the mire and was no longer the figure he held in his mind.

And the one close at hand… who could that be?

Theresa’s face inexplicably surfaced in Thomas’s mind.

In the next instant, Theresa’s image merged with Rose’s.

In the end, the two slowly merged into one.

Thomas let out a wry smile.

He could no longer deceive himself.

In fact, Rose had to be Theresa.

There was a lot of evidence pointing to this, and the similarities between the two were not just a little bit. But he seemed to have lost his mind before and didn’t think in this direction at all.

Perhaps it wasn’t that Thomas had lost his wits. Rather, he had subconsciously ignored the possibility.

He didn’t dare to think too much about it.

Why did he come all the way here to look for Theresa?

He didn’t dare to think too much about it.

Why did he keep moving closer to her even though he said that he didn’t like her.

In fact, he should have realized on the second day of their meeting that Rose might actually be Theresa.

He would rather bicker and linger around her than pierce that thin veil.

Because he knew once it was pierced, Theresa might no longer interact with him in such a natural manner.

He kept procrastinating until today.

ntil today.

dd MM Thomas thought about Theresa’s indifferent expression when she saw him with Monica, and a shiver went through his heart.

He realized his own feelings.

But was everything already too late?

For the first time, Thomas understood the taste of utter panic.

The room fell silent again.

Eason frowned and said, “I noticed Monica’s expression when she left. It was off. She might stir up trouble again. Ben, if you can’t bring yourself to deal with her decisively, let me do it.”

Ben snorted coldly. “Don’t worry, she won’t have another chance.”

He had been ready to put an end to Monica’s delusions once and for all when she and Mr. Lynn had been relentlessly self–destructive.

However, his plan had been missing a key person and couldn’t be executed until now.

What a coincidence.

He had found that key person.

With this person involved, Monica wouldn’t be able to cause any more chaos.

As for her ultimate fate, it would be up to her own destiny.

Ben’s expression remained indifferent, but there was an undertone of ruthlessness in his eyes.

“Are you sure?” Eason furrowed his brow. “If you really can’t handle it, making someone disappear suddenly is, in fact, quite easy for me.”

Eason was speaking the truth.

The world may seem bright, but there’s never a shortage of darkness beneath the surface.

And with his status as the primary heir of the Tonico, making someone as insignificant as Monica vanish would b a piece of cake.

Susan was startled.

What kind of ruthless Eason’s words were this?

Eason, a businessman, talking so casually about making people disappear. It wasn’t that a bit too harsh?

Moreover, although Susan didn’t like Monica, she didn’t think the situation had reached such a dire level.

Susan was about to say something.

Ben spoke up in a detached tone, “Making a person disappear is the most useless form of punishment.

Monica will pay the price she deserves.”

He gently patted Susan’s head. “Don’t worry, I have it under control.”

Susan let out a sigh of relief.

“But…” Eason started to say something more.

Suddenly, Ben gave him a,meaningful look. “You don’t need to worry about Monica. Eason, it’s getting late. Do you plan to continue playing cards, or is it time to leave?”

Eason’s voice halted, and panic visibly took over his expression.

Susan glanced at Eason and then at Ben, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

She always felt there was something being kept from her between Ben and Eason.

Previously, when Ben invited Eason over to play cards, Susan found it strange.

Now, that feeling of strangeness climbed to its peak.

She had a premonition.

Her questions, she thought, would probably be answered tonight.