Chapter 329

"I didn’t!" I shot back, raising my voice—yet I still couldn't bring myself to look at the old man’s face. "Oh really? Then go ahead, call Xander Lewis right now. What's stopping you? If you’re so innocent, why were you freaking out just now and cutting me off?" Vera Clark pressed harder, her tone sharp enough to force me into a dead corner. I stood there, tongue-tied, not daring to call Xander and not knowing how to explain why I’d gotten so worked up earlier. Vera looked so smug standing under the sunlight, so damn pleased with herself, it made me want to rip that fake sweet smile right off her face. Just when I felt like I was about to snap, the old man walked over and gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. He didn’t look like he fully understood what was going on, but he didn’t judge or scold me either. Calmly, he said, "Don’t panic," then turned to Vera with a firm gaze. "I’m not sure where you picked up those ridiculous rumors, but wise people don’t spread nonsense. Be careful what y