Chapter 1048
Chapter 1048
Chapter 1048 Stepmother Abusing Stepson
Bill choked, trembling all over with anger as he glared at Justin with widened eyes.
He's not wrong to absolve himself in this way. Since their status is not recognized by law, they're
naturally not husband and wife.
However, he simply couldn't stand Justin constantly bullying his daughter time and time again.
His exceptional daughter had become one of the most influential medical scientists internationally at a
young age. She could have any talented young man she wanted, yet she fell for Justin, which Bill felt
was a shame for her.
Thump, thump, thump.
As the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs, both of them simultaneously turned to look toward
the spiral staircase.
Seeing Veronique hastily coming down, Bill couldn't help but scold, “You useless girl, he hurts you so
much, yet you eagerly rush into his arms.”
With a cheeky grin, Justin quickly stepped forward. “Vero, I knew you wouldn't be mad at me, hic.”
Veronique glared at him and swatted away the hand he had extended toward her.
“Stop messing around. Something serious is about to happen.”
Justin's eyes were hazy with intoxication. It was clear he didn't quite grasp her meaning.
Without wasting any more words on him, Veronique strode over to the coffee table. She picked up the
half-drunk cup of coffee that belonged to Bill and abruptly splashed it onto Justin's face.
Bill snorted coldly. “Serves him right. Ah, that's my girl. If you've been wronged, you should vent it out.
It feels terrible to keep it bottled up inside.”
Ignoring him, Veronique looked at Justin, whose face was covered in coffee. She asked with a frown,
“Are you sober now?”
Shaking his head, Justin felt the drunkenness gradually recede and his vision becoming clear once
again.
“Vero...”
Seeing his eyes brighten, Veronique got to the point. “Just now, Bay called me, saying that Scarlett has
left the Xuereb residence and is heading over here. Your mother has also bribed quite a few journalists,
asking them to gather there in half an hour. She told them that she has some juicy news to share.
Justin, do you understand the consequences of me being exposed to the world? Do you think I can
withstand all the idle gossip?”
Justin sobered up completely, looking at Veronique with a cool expression. He gritted his teeth and
asked, “Are you sure?”
Veronique said angrily, “Ever since Scarlett found out I was still alive, Bailey has had her under
surveillance. Any slight movement on her end will not go unnoticed by Bailey. Now, if you're doubting
the truth of the matter, wouldn't you be questioning Bailey's integrity? Perhaps in your eyes, Scarlett is
someone selfless and saintlike, incapable of such despicable actions?”
Justin rubbed his forehead, sighing. “That's not what I meant. Let's not talk about this now. I'll have
someone escort you out. You can't show yourself yet.”
Having said that, he turned around and walked outside.
Veronique said to his retreating figure, “Zephyr and I are going abroad. You don't need to follow us.
Once Scarlett is dealt with, we'll then discuss our affairs.”
Justin abruptly halted, turning to look at her. With a furrowed brow, he asked, “You're leaving the
country?”
“What choice do I have? Am I to wait here and be slaughtered by your mother and wife?”
“But...”
Before Justin could finish, Bill abruptly stood up from the sofa. “It's settled then. I will send my daughter
and grandson abroad tonight.”
With a smile, Yvonne said to Justin, “To the outside world, Vero is already considered dead. But now,
news of her being alive has reached Scarlett. To ruin Vero, she will definitely do everything possible to
expose this matter to the outside world. Vero staying in the country would bring nothing but harm.
Respect her decision. Also, with her out of the country, you can go all out to deal with Ms. Fletcher. Do
you understand?”
Naturally, Justin understood. Her analysis was thorough and logical. However...
“But...”
“Alright, enough with the stammering. If we don't leave soon, we'll be swarmed by reporters. If word
gets out that Vero is still alive and you're showing up here in the middle of the night, how do you think
people will perceive her?”
With a heavy heart, Justin strode out of the living room.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
With a smile, Yvonne said to Veronique, “Come with me to the royal palace. When the time comes, I
will announce to the world that you didn't die but went to the royal palace for secret treatment. You are
truly blessed and fortunate, having conquered cancer and survived. In doing so, you've made this lie
come true.”
With tears in her eyes, Veronique looked at Yvonne and said in a choked voice, “Thank you, Yvonne.”
Half an hour later, Scarlett arrived at the villa.
Originally, she planned to wait outside and storm in together with the reporters when they arrived, but
no sooner had she parked her car by the roadside than a few men in black rushed toward her.
When she wanted to scream, everything went black before her eyes, and she passed out immediately.
When she woke up again, she found herself lying in the living room of the villa, surrounded by people.
Countless flashes of light were going off inside the room.
When she saw herself lying disheveled on the ground, with two bodyguards around her, she was taken
aback.
“What's going on? What happened?”
The journalists in the crowd discussed among themselves.
“We received an anonymous tip-off, claiming there was a juicy scandal in this mansion. Tsk, tsk, it
really is a scandal indeed.”
“I've heard that this villa belonged to Mr. Xuereb's ex-wife, Ms. Veronique. After her death, she left it to
her son who often stays here.”
“Now, Mr. Xuereb's newlywed wife came here to fill around with a bodyguard. What a melodramatic
spectacle this is.”
“This is indeed a shocking bombshell, unbelievably intense and thrilling.”
Scarlett widened her eyes, looking incredulously at the surrounding reporters.
I came here intending to catch Veronique flirting with my husband, so why am I the one who ended up
in a mess? What on earth happened? What is going on?
Zephyr walked in from the outside, his face was pale and his body had bandages wrapped in several
places.
All eyes turned toward him in unison.
“He's the young master of the Xuereb family, Veronique's son.”
“Mr. Zephyr, may I ask what happened here?”
“Mr. Zephyr, may I ask who sent us the message that led us here?”
“Mr. Zephyr, may I ask how you got these injuries? Who caused them?”
Zephyr stood at the doorway, his cold gaze falling on Scarlett.
As Scarlett stared into his chilling gaze, a sudden sense of foreboding rose within her.
Her intuition told her that there was no escape for her that night.
Scarlett forced a smile, asking warmly, “Z-Zephyr, what brings you here?”
Zephyr withdrew his gaze, looking down at the bandages on his body. The words he uttered were
shocking. “She abused me. All the injuries on my body were inflicted by her.”
Boom!
The revelation blew everyone's mind. Looks of horror appeared on everyone's faces.
Stepmother abuses stepson?
Holy crap!
Ignoring everyone's reactions, Zephyr continued, “My father couldn't forget my mother, drowning his
sorrows in drink all day. He didn't even come home on his wedding night. This woman, consumed by
jealousy, vented all her hatred for my mother and anger toward my father on me.
All these wounds on my body were inflicted by her. To take revenge on my father, she and these
bodyguards even... My grandmother doesn't dare to offend her because she is a daughter of the
Fletcher family. Left with no other choice, my grandmother sent messages to all of you, luring you here
to reveal her true colors. She's truly ruthless.”