The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Sadie pretended to be magnanimous and considerate, which only disgusted Rita further.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

"I'm only going to say it once: I didn't do it. Even if you and your mother want to falsely accuse me, I didn't do it. I don't know how you managed to retrieve this surveillance footage, but Dad, I'm telling you, I didn't do it. If you want to suspect your own daughter, then I guess nothing I say can ever change your mind," said Rita.

She looked squarely at Vince, giving her father one last chance.

Since Rita had said so, Vince had no choice but to brush the matter aside quickly. After all, there were so many people watching their family's drama.

"Alright, maybe you accidentally misplaced the bangle somewhere? Maybe it got knocked under the table accidentally? Quickly have the servants search for it. Everyone, there's no need to stay here. This is just a joke between my wife and daughter. Goodbye, now."

He could not wait to send the guests away. After all, if they lingered any longer, who knew how much gossip would arise in their next day's idle chatter?

However, Karen was not going to let the matter go that easily.

"Vince, I'm not asking for much. I just want Rita to apologize. Is that so hard? I know I'm her stepmother, and no matter how much I do for her, others will only say I'm just a stepmother. But haven't I been good to her? Why does she treat me like this? Since I married you, I've been enduring one grievance after another. Even my daughter has no choice but to swallow her pride like me. I've endured everything until now, so are you really going to force me to swallow the loss of my mother's heirlooms?"

Karen cried pitifully in Vince's embrace. Any man in his place would be moved. Not to mention one who was getting on in age like him. The older he got, the more he needed to feel like he was needed. "Rita, your stepmom is right! Come over and apologize to her right away. As for the rest, we'll discuss it later," said Vince.

Gina was simply stunned, thinking, 'Is this how this man usually handles things at home?' She could not imagine just how much Rita had suffered over the years.

"Vince, aren't you being a little

unreasonable? How can you force Rita to apologize just because your wife throws a tantrum? It hasn't even been confirmed whether Rita really did steal the necklace, and you're forcing her to apologize? Isn't that a bit too much?" Gina, with her affluent background and long-standing acquaintance with them, spoke bluntly, but Vince was somewhat unable to bear being embarrassed in front of so many people.

"That's enough, Gina. This is a family matter, so butt out," Vince said, his face slightly flushed.

Karen, nestled in Vince's embrace, flashed a smug smile.

Gina wanted to offer a few more words of defense, but Rita grabbed her arm and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Miss Gina. You don't need to speak for me. I know you care about me." However, when Rita looked at the seemingly 'loving' couple, her expression darkened.

"Karen, I may not be as good at

y

acting as you, able to shed tears so

effortlessly in front of so many people. But I am not someone who would fake it. I'll never admit to something I haven't done, no matter how much others try to force me."

After saying this, Rita ignored her father's displeased expression, turned to the other guests, and offered some comforting words with a smile I'm sorry for making everyone witness such a farce. We'll handle the rest ourselves. It's getting late, so everyone should hurry home. Go back to your husbands, or have them come pick you up."