Chapter 17 The Heart Still Aches
If she claimed it happened as Saira said, the Lin couple would surely think she was lying.
That's the brilliance of a fake sweet girl.
Tell the truth, and no one believes you. Lie, and it's an indirect confession. There's no escape.
But...
"Just like she said, she fell because she was careless."
Seeing Aaron and Dalia's rising anger, a smug glint flashed in Saira's eyes. She wasn't satisfied.
"Mom, Dad, look, I told you the truth. My sister didn't push me; I fell by accident. Please don't be angry with her."
Aaron commanded, "Apologize to your sister."
Dalia was not satisfied and added, "And no dinner for you tonight. Going hungry might clear your head and help you understand what you should and shouldn't do."
"Apologizing is necessary, but it's she who should apologize to me."
Just as the couple was about to get angry, Zuri raised her hand to interrupt, "Don't rush to scold."
"What else do you have to say?" Dalia didn't believe that this troublesome girl could make a convincing argument.
Zuri pointed to a maid, "Come here."
The maid walked up hesitantly, and as she reached Zuri, Zuri suddenly pushed her forcefully, causing the maid to fall heavily to the ground.
Everyone around was shocked, especially the maid who looked at Zuri in disbelief.
Zuri turned to Aaron, "Did you see that?"
Aaron wasn't as oblivious as Dalia and quickly understood, casting a stern look at Saira.
Saira, intimidated by his gaze, stammered, "Dad, I..."
Was she to blame?
No, she couldn't be blamed, because she had said it was her own fault, but they didn't believe her.
Aaron looked at Dalia, "Don't jump to conclusions without understanding the whole story."
Dalia was taken aback, "Honey, what do you mean? Are you actually believing her? Saira is the one injured, and you're taking her side. Didn't you see what she just did, pushing the maid? Look how skilled she is at it."
Aaron didn't want to argue with someone so foolish.
Zuri smiled, "Madam didn't see clearly, understandable. Don't be angry." The last sentence was directed at Aaron.
"What do you mean?"
Neither the maids around them nor Saira understood.
Zuri pointed at the fallen maid and said word by word, "Look at the direction she fell. If I pushed her, according to the laws of inertia, she would fall backward. But look at the posture of your beloved daughter earlier; she fell forward. How could I have pushed her from behind if I was in front?"
Dalia was stunned but quickly reacted, "Saira, did she push you from behind?"
Saira was startled by Dalia's words; she hadn't considered this, but Dalia's question brought her back, nearly letting this little wretch escape unscathed.
"Mom, my sister didn't push me from behind." Speaking, she winced in pain, making Dalia even more distressed, and her discontent toward Zuri grew.
Saira's slightly lowered eyes flashed with triumph.
Now let's see how you defend yourself.
Zuri rested her chin on one hand, her large eyes blinking as she said slowly, "Oh dear, this is troublesome.
Everyone has their own point. But... the injuries from a push from behind and from the front are different.
Especially considering where she fell, the person pushing her from behind must have stood on the stairs.
The injuries from falling down stairs are different from those on flat ground, easily checked. "
"Dear sister, please show us your injured arm and leg."
Saira was internally anxious but saw Zuri's confident demeanor and felt unsure, her eyes flickering when facing Zuri.
"Saira, let mommy take a look." Dalia spoke gently.
"Mom, I really fell by myself, why don't you believe me?" Saira said somewhat angrily.
Aaron wasn't like Mrs. Lin; seeing Saira's change in attitude, he understood what was going on. Seeing Saira's pained, pale face, his displeasure vanished.
"Alright, let's have dinner. Later, have Dr. Hong take a look." Aaron made the final decision.
As for Saira's false accusation, the couple said nothing, not even mentioning punishing her or scolding her.
These were her biological parents; they only saw Saira's injuries, not her grievances.
Zuri watched their departing backs, a cold smile on her lips.
But...
She placed her hand gently on her chest. Why did it still hurt here, so much and so painfully?
She clearly didn't care anymore, so why did it still hurt?
Arianwen looked at the solitary Zuri and sighed softly, speaking gently, "Miss, let's eat. In time, it will get better."
Will it?
No, as long as Saira was there, it never would.
Zuri looked at the maid she had pushed down and said, "Give me your account number or your payment code."
The maid didn't understand her intention but obediently showed her the payment code on her phone.
After Zuri transferred the money, she said nothing and left directly.
After she left, the maid exclaimed in surprise, her face full of joy.
A nearby maid peeked and looked envious.
Earlier, everyone thought she was unlucky, suffering a disaster without reason and thinking Miss Zuri was too domineering. But seeing the two thousand yuan transfer, everyone wished they had been the one pushed.
"Alright, stop standing around, get back to work," Arianwen said.
She had been thinking of speaking up for Miss Zuri, but it seemed unnecessary now. Miss Zuri was clear-minded, more thoughtful than she was.
To these young girls, an apology wasn't as sincere as real money, and it was more appreciated.
At the dining table, Saira occasionally glanced at Zuri, hoping to see her angry or upset, but found nothing.
How resilient!
"Zuri, next week you and Saira will enroll at Windsor School together. If you have any questions, you can ask Saira." Then he turned to Saira, "Take care of your sister at school."
"Sure, Dad," Saira answered sweetly.
Zuri responded indifferently, "Mm."
As the phone rang, Naya's name flashed on the screen.
"Naya," Saira answered, her voice still sweet and gentle.
"Why did you lie to us?" Naya angrily demanded.
"Naya, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"What exactly is Zuri's identity?" Naya asked sternly.
Saira's heart skipped a beat, feeling an ominous premonition. "Did... did someone tell you something?"
Hearing the slight sob in Saira's voice, Naya, who was fuming on the other end, felt a pang of guilt.
"See for yourself online. Probably everyone in Oceanic City knows about your Lin family's scandal by now."
After hanging up, Saira hurriedly checked the latest news.
When she saw the overwhelming coverage on Weibo and major media about the true and false heiresses of the Lin family, her heart sank to the bottom.
Shame washed over her, making her wish she could burrow into the ground to escape the mocking and pitying gazes of others.
Everyone in the upper circles of Oceanic City must know by now. Surely, those at school would also be aware. The thought of facing the various looks from others made Saira want to die from embarrassment.
Zuri, why did you come back? Why did you have to steal her identity, her belongings?
It's all her fault, she thought, for putting her in this humiliating situation.
"Zuri!" Saira's face twisted with anger, her eyes filled with venom.
The next day, Zuri learned from the servants that Saira was sick with a high fever, which had greatly worried Dalia. After the family doctor visited, Dalia stayed by Saira's side, not leaving her for a moment.
Arianwen suggested, "Miss, should we go see the eldest Miss?"
Zuri, who had presumably already seen the news online, nodded. "Yes, after breakfast."
Arianwen smiled, relieved that Zuri had listened to her suggestion.
Dalia, after a sleepless night, walked into the dining room to see Zuri calmly eating, which ignited her fury. She rushed forward, grabbed the bowl from Zuri's hands, and smashed it to the ground, spilling hot porridge all over Zuri.
"Have you no conscience? Saira is sick, and you can sit here peacefully eating breakfast?" Dalia scolded angrily.
Conscience?
Zuri's lips curved into a smile, a hint of sadness in her eyes. She remembered her past life, being mocked by Saira's admirers, pushed into a lotus pond, falling ill with a high fever. And where was Dalia then? Accompanying Saira on a shopping trip.
She still remembered standing by the window, watching them return hand in hand, laughing and chatting.
Did they ever think of her lying sick in bed back then?
Did they care about her feelings?
Lowering her eyes, the pain from the scalding porridge was nothing compared to the coldness and hurt in her heart.
When she looked up, all emotion had vanished from her face. Her cold gaze met Dalia's. "She's sick, so should I be sick too? Should I die if she does?"
When Arianwen and the others arrived, they saw the mess and the standoff between mother and daughter, and they fell silent.
"How can you be so vicious, cursing your sister to die? Do you wish her dead?" Dalia grew angrier, her eyes full of disdain for Zuri.