CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51: ENVY

However, as her father, Jared Sullivan stood up for his daughter openly and justly.

Yet he was not recognized, so he couldn’t do anything about it.

Paige Sterling wasn’t quite sure how things ended up being settled, as Jared Sullivan directly took her home.

But Paige knew that Jared surely wouldn’t let Blondie’s family off the hook.

After getting in the car, Paige mentioned the staff who called the police to Jared.

Jared said: "Don’t worry, I have everything under control."

Meanwhile, Yvette Hughes was out at a club with Skylar Hughes and several wealthy ladies, chatting while getting beauty treatments.

Skylar went outside to take a phone call, returning with a troubled expression.

"Mom, something happened to my sister."

Yvette was startled, "What happened to your sister?"

Skylar hesitated.

The wealthy ladies glanced at each other, sensing some gossip in the air.

They all knew that the sister Skylar referred to was surely Jared Sullivan’s biological daughter.

Jared’s biological daughter had seldom appeared in public since she was young, though recently, they’d often heard people say she seemed to be starting some business.

The wealthy ladies saw Skylar looking hesitant and quickly said, "Oh, Skylar, we’re all friends here, share what’s going on. We won’t spread it around, and if something has really happened, maybe we can help you figure something out?"

"Yeah, just tell us."

Skylar acted oblivious to the eager curiosity in the wealthy ladies’ eyes and said, "Auntie, can you really help?"

"Of course, we’ll help as much as we can."

And if we can’t help, we naturally won’t.

Skylar then said, "My sister seems to have gotten into trouble and was taken to the police station."

Yvette sensed something was wrong and wanted to stop Skylar from speaking, but it was already too late.

Sure enough, after Skylar spoke, the wealthy ladies weren’t interested in helping, instead, they eagerly whipped out their phones to spread the news.

Yvette pulled Skylar aside.

"Skylar, how could you mention such things in front of so many people? If it gets out, it’ll harm Paige, and your dad won’t be happy hearing about this."

Skylar was furious, "Mom, I didn’t mean to, I didn’t think about it much, I thought they’d really help."

Yvette was worried, "I have to go and check this out myself."

Skylar smirked and followed Yvette home.

Soon enough, everyone in this circle will know that Paige Sterling had a run-in with the law.

So what if Paige has a wealthy father? What prestigious family would want a daughter-in-law with a criminal record?

As Yvette hurried to the police station, she called Jared Sullivan.

Since Jared didn’t answer, she was unaware that he had already taken Paige home.

When she arrived at the precinct, the officers were incredibly enthusiastic upon hearing she was Paige’s mom, there looking for Paige.

"Oh, you’re Miss Sterling’s mom, Mrs. Sterling? You really raised such an outstanding daughter."

Yvette was dumbfounded, not understanding a word the officer said.

"Wasn’t my daughter arrested?"

"There wasn’t much, she’s already been released. Mr. Sterling took her away, but Mrs. Sterling, your daughter fights quite well, she single-handedly took down seven or eight people without losing a strand of hair."

Yvette, "...?"

Did Paige really hit people? But why is the officer still acting so gleeful, and yet let her go?

Yvette dared not inquire further, opting instead to hastily return to the Sterling Family.

Sure enough, Jared and Paige were home already.

Skylar sneered internally, having a father who shields wrongdoings is truly Paige’s blessing; even after getting tangled in legal issues, he can whisk her out of the precinct.

Thinking this, Skylar portrayed a truly concerned expression.

"Paige, we heard you got into trouble and went to the precinct for you, why didn’t you let us know Dad took you home, making us run in vain?"

Paige took the hot milk handed over by the servant, took a sip.

"Where did you hear I got into trouble? Who told you that?"

Paige’s gaze was ambiguously amused, making Skylar’s heart jump.

"Just a friend of mine you don’t know."

Paige acknowledged, "Dad, I’ll go rest now."

Jared looked at her lovingly, "Go ahead, rest well, don’t overthink it."

Paige responded and went upstairs.

Skylar saw how Jared didn’t blame Paige and only pampered her further, feeling jealousy bubbling inside.

An outstanding daughter standing right in front of him, yet he remains oblivious, instead keeping a troublemaker who constantly embarrasses him at his side; is Jared’s sight really that blind?

Unable to hold back, Skylar spoke up.

"Dad, I truly feel you shouldn’t continue indulging Sis like this. Today she hit someone and you settled it, tomorrow who knows what trouble she’ll stir? Maternal indulgence spoils children, Dad you..."

"Shut your mouth.", Jared, still angered by the day’s events, wasn’t bothered to be tactful in considering others’ feelings, "How I raise my daughter doesn’t need advice from someone junior like you."

Skylar’s face went stiff, "Dad, I’m just thinking of Sis’s well-being..."

"For her well-being, talking nonsense without knowing anything? Do you even know what she faced today? If she couldn’t fight, she’d be done for!"

Jared’s face showed his fury, "She’s not your real sister, I don’t expect genuine feelings from you, but don’t gloat on others’ misfortune!"

Skylar had never seen Jared so angry and was truly frightened by his demeanor.

"Dad, I didn’t, I really didn’t..."

She was clearly only looking out for the family, why can’t anyone understand her?

Yvette saw Skylar about to say more, aggravating Jared further, and hurriedly restrained Skylar.

"Don’t upset your dad anymore! Get back to your room!"

She practically shoved Skylar into a room, before cautiously approaching Jared Sullivan.

But she refrained from speaking, worried about irritating him.

She herself felt Jared had treated Skylar quite well, never daring to expect more.

Yet she couldn’t control her daughter’s fanciful thoughts.

Skylar’s words were indeed too much today, Paige’s incident wasn’t even fully interpreted, and she claimed Paige broke the law — who wouldn’t be angry?

Furthermore, if Jared learned Skylar had spread the incident, it’s unclear how his anger might manifest.

Yvette felt like a piece of sandwich, pressured from all sides, being forced into no man’s land.

She sometimes wondered why Skylar couldn’t be a bit more sensible like Paige.

At least over the years, Paige remained compliant and considerate, never impolite to her stepparent, even if it’s all for Jared’s sake, Yvette was content.

Sometimes, she envied Jared, having such a caring daughter.