Chapter 1330
Rosa paused, but Gloria's face remained impassive, leaving Rosa unsure of her thoughts. An unsettling feeling crept over Rosa, making her feel as though her innermost thoughts were laid bare before Gloria. However, that anxiety quickly subsided. Rosa reassured herself that even if her thoughts were transparent, it didn't matter; she was merely protecting her interests.
“I’ve looked online, and I was shocked to find how similar they look. But that doesn’t mean Ned and Joe have any connection. I would like to ask you to talk to Ms. Sullivan. She has been pursuing my fiancé repeatedly, and it’s becoming quite distressing. Her actions infringe upon my rights. Ned and I are about to get married, and I really don’t want Ms. Sullivan to interfere. I understand your feelings about Joe’s passing; it’s tragic. But just because two people look alike doesn’t mean they are the same.”
After speaking, Rosa studied Gloria, but the older woman remained stone-faced, revealing nothing. There was no sign of emotion, no clue to her thoughts. It was similar to Joe—enigmatic and unreadable. His silence always gave him an air of mystery, as if he could see right through Rosa's thoughts and feelings.
In this tense atmosphere, Rosa felt as though she was talking to herself. She tried to restrain herself from speaking further but couldn't.
“Please, Mrs. Martin Senior, consider how difficult this is for me. I need your help. I don’t want Ms. Sullivan to continue pursuing my fiancé. If this persists, I may have no choice but to report her for harassment. That would only make things worse for everyone, and I would hate for that to reflect poorly on you.”
Having spoken so clearly, Rosa was sure Gloria understood. Yet, the ensuing silence made her heart race. It felt as if her thoughts were completely exposed.
“Are you feeling guilty?” Gloria suddenly asked.
Rosa froze, then raised an eyebrow in disbelief. She stood abruptly. “What do I have to feel guilty about? Are you really going to defend Skylar? She keeps pursuing my fiancé. You should keep an eye on her; she’s the one who should feel guilty, not me. She has no business obsessing over someone else’s fiancé.”
“Joe to Ned. If you don’t want to end up with nothing, it’s time to face the truth. I promise you a life free from financial worries,” Gloria said calmly, her voice steady.
Rosa stared in disbelief, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt wash over her. She couldn’t meet Gloria’s piercing gaze.
“I’ll say this again. You’ve got it all wrong. He is Ned, and he can only be Ned. He’s not your grandson and has nothing to do with you. I came to talk to you and Ms. Sullivan today to reason with you politely. It seems you don’t believe me. I understand how deeply you feel about the loss of your grandson, and I empathize with you. But that doesn’t give you the right to transfer your pain onto me. I’m completely innocent in this matter.”
Nearby, Veronica, who had observed enough manipulative behavior in television and novels, spoke up. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re saying you’re not guilty, but actually are? You know exactly who your fiancé is. You keep insisting Ned isn’t Joe, but isn’t that just because you know he is? Nobody goes out of their way like this without a reason. You’re only here to convince Mrs. Martin Senior because you know the truth yourself. If you hadn’t come, we might still have our doubts. But now, it seems there’s no reason for that anymore.”
Veronica, who spent her free time reading with Gloria and watching shows, recognized Rosa’s “innocent” act. Gloria felt a twinge of amusement. Her mood, initially soured by Rosa's arrival, lightened. Indeed, Rosa's visit was merely to deliver the truth.