Chapter 12 It’s Thrown Away

“You knew about this?” Aiden pointed out calmly. A frowning Angelina answered, “So what if I do?” “I already kept the vase away in my room. Was it still a hindrance to you?” he said, sounding angry. The way he spoke to her also infuriated her as she scoffed, “Yeah, I know. So what? Do you want to beat me, too?” Finally, he released his clenched fists and said dispassionately, “No, I wouldn’t.” Then, he went upstairs directly and didn’t say anything when he walked by Angelina. This was the first time he treated her in this manner, and she wondered, Is this a silent confrontation? A deep sense of loneliness emanated from Aiden’s back, and she felt inexplicably upset for him, but she remained silent and didn’t take it to heart. Although she knew that it was Linda’s fault, she couldn’t set her pride aside to apologize to him. Besides, she was still mad over the fact that he had bought some useless junk back home. On the other hand, Aiden wasn’t upset because of the vase itself but mainly due to Angelina’s attitude toward him. He wasn’t even upset when he saved William and was only met with further misunderstandings. However, he didn’t expect that he didn’t even have the right to purchase something he liked in the Gray household. The night passed by without another word until the following day. Angelina frowned as she scanned the deserted kitchen. Regardless, Linda had no such qualms about maintaining any composure as she started cursing at the second floor. “You useless bum! How dare you throw a tantrum just because I threw out your worthless vase! Who do you think you are? Do you even have the right to throw a tantrum? You’re just a piece of shit! I already threw it out. So, don’t come downstairs all day if you have the guts!” Yet, Aiden didn’t react to her cursing, and Angelina thought it was a little odd. He should at least show his face, she thought, marching angrily to Aiden’s room upstairs. After she opened the door, she saw that he was nowhere in the room, and the sheets were neatly done as though it was unused. Did he already go out last night? That can’t be! she thought. While she was shocked by the sight, Aiden walked through the doors. When he saw Linda yelling at him before he even entered, he was a little surprised. Then, his gaze traveled upward to replace Angelina standing at the top of the staircase. “I went out to buy breakfast and just came home,” he announced with a smile. Angelina sighed inwardly as she saw the breakfast in his hands. It’s just as I thought. He’s still that useless bum who doesn’t have the guts to rebel against Mom, and everything last night was just for show! After breakfast, Angelina was ready for work, but she heard the doorbell ringing just when she was about to head out. “Who could it be so early in the morning?” she wondered out loud, utterly baffled. When she opened the door, she found a young man dressed in a tailored suit, smiling brightly at her, and she asked, “May I know who you are looking for?” “Hello, miss. May I ask if your family bought a porcelain vase yesterday?” the young man asked politely, but there was a trace of impatience in his voice. The first thought she had upon hearing that question was, So, Aiden didn’t buy that vase but stole it from someone’s house! She instantly became furious as she twisted her head toward the house and shouted, “Aiden, someone is looking for you!” When Aiden came over and saw the young man at the door, he was also slightly bewildered. I don’t know this guy. Why is he looking for me? “Oh, it’s really you, sir! May I ask if you’ll sell the porcelain vase that you bought from Antiquities City yesterday? Just name the price!” The moment the young man saw Aiden, he lit up in delight. That’s the same guy from the photo. I’ve finally found him! He’s the one I’m looking for! “You said a porcelain vase?” Aiden asked with furrowed brows. “Yes, that porcelain replica which looks a little chipped,” the young man said earnestly. When Angelina overheard their conversation, she realized that she had misunderstood Aiden, thinking, It looks like my prejudice toward him is too deep. I can’t believe that my first thought was that I was harboring a thief! Linda joined them at the door when she heard the voices and asked suspiciously, “Who’s this?” Unfortunately, the young man didn’t bother answering her as he continued pleading with Aiden, “Sir, please name me a price. I really need the vase and will appreciate your help!” Alas, Aiden merely shook his head without a word. “Sir, I really need that vase. Please help me out! I’ll pay whatever amount you name!” the young man begged. When Aiden saw that the young man wasn’t going to budge, he finally intoned helplessly, “It’s not about the money. If the vase is with me and you really need it, you can take it even if you don’t offer me any money, but the problem now is that someone has thrown away the vase.” “I-It’s gone?” The young man muttered, utterly dumbstruck, “Why did you throw it out?” Aiden nodded resolutely. “Yes, it’s gone.” The young man’s face turned stony, and he tried his best to swallow the anger in his tone as he gritted through his teeth, demanding, “Where did you throw it?” “I don’t know because I’m not the one who threw it away!” Aiden said calmly, unaffected by the frustration in the young man’s voice. When the young man heard his answer, he immediately pressed coldly, “Not you? Then, who did it?” “That will be her,” Aiden answered, pointing to Linda. “Are you the one who threw away the vase?” the young man asked her with an unfriendly face. Only then did Linda realize that this man was here to look for that porcelain vase, but seeing that he was alone, the shrew in her acted up again. “Yeah, I threw it. Why? Do you have a problem with me taking out the trash from my house? Who are you? What are you doing at our house? Get lost! If you don’t, I’m going to call the police!” she yelled rudely. Yet, in her mind, she was thinking, Is that vase so valuable that this man is willing to repurchase it regardless of the price? At the same time, she was also entrenched in regret, wishing that she hadn’t thrown it out in the first place! The young man sneered, “Very well. I’m Zachary Thatcher, and this is the first time someone has the guts to yell at me to get lost.” Then, he reiterated his question one final time, “Where did you throw it?” “I’ll let you hear it once more—get lost! Right now! I threw it wherever I like, and I’m not telling you!” Linda shrieked at the top of her lungs. “Out with it! Where did you throw it?” the young man snarled, barely suppressing his rage. It had taken him a great deal of effort to replace Aiden from the surveillance footage, but who would have thought that this woman with a wretched mouth had thrown it away? How could he not be furious? Meanwhile, Aiden observed everything nonchalantly, but Angelina was stunned because the one who showed up was none other than the young master of the Thatcher Family, Zachary Thatcher! “Y-You…” Zachary barely managed to hiss. At this point, he was so angered that he couldn’t even articulate himself. Then, he shut his eyes and inhaled deeply as he pointed a finger at Linda. Perhaps due to his good upbringing, he couldn’t bring himself to start a screaming fest with this unreasonable harpy. So, he whisked out his cell phone, dialed a number, and instructed icily, “Bring some men and come to me upstairs!”