SWNOVELS Chapter 48
Chapter 48
“You are not allowed to play here!”
Joyce looked down at Ruben and Jeanne with an air of arrogance, her expression screaming. This is my turf. Now get out of here.”
Jeanne was displeased, but she still made a concession to avoid unnecessary conflict.
She took Ruben’s hand and said, “Let’s go take pictures by the pool.”
Jeanne pondered, ‘It’s perfect since the pool is undergoing maintenance and disinfection today. No one will be there.
Seeing their reaction, Joyce’s frustration grew as she felt like her efforts were ineffective.
She thought angrily. ‘How dare they ignore me?!”
Joyce chased after them and eyed Jeanne’s camera. “Hey! What are you holding?”
Then, Joyce deliberately muttered, “It wasn’t stolen, was it?”
Jeanne had never done anything wrong in her life and hated being falsely accused.
She stopped abruptly and turned around, replying. “This is mine, not stolen. Why do you think so badly of others? Have you ever stolen something?”
Jeanne always remembered her mother’s words.
“Only those who have done bad things think others are as bad as them.”
Joyce clenched her fists, rushed forward, and knocked Jeanne’s camera to the ground, spitefully saying, “I have never! My parents educated me well, unlike you, a child without a father who is more likely to do bad things.”
“My camera!” Jeanne cried out in shock, ignoring Joyce’s taunts, and hurriedly picked. up the camera to check it.
Jeanne pondered worriedly. “This was issued by the school, and I have to return it next week.
Seeing Jeanne’s reaction, Joyce looked even more smug.
She looked down at Jeanne, who was crouched on the ground. “It’s just a camera. My dad has bought me many, and I can tell yours looks like the cheapest one.”
Seeing his sister being bullied, Ruben immediately stood before her.
17.26 Thu, 22 Feb G
Chapter 48
His gaze was dark as he stared at Joyce. Though he didn’t speak, his strong presence intimidated her.
Joyce instinctively stepped back.
She had only felt this kind of presence from her father.
For a moment, Joyce thought the person standing in front of her was Gideon.
She shook her head, dismissing this strange thought.
Joyce pondered, ‘How can he be anything like my powerful dad? It must be the dim lights playing tricks on my eyes.
Joyce taunted. “You want to stand up for your sister, little mute? Go learn to speak first!”
With tears welling up in her eyes, Jeanne stood up to defend Ruben. “I won’t let you about Ruben like that!”
She thought, ‘He just doesn’t like to talk because he’s sick. He’s not a mute!‘
No matter the situation, Jeanne always remembered to protect Ruben.
talk
Seeing the siblings support each other, Joyce felt envious but still maintained a bully’s demeanor.
She pondered arrogantly, I’m not envious at all! My family is much better than theirs.
Joyce declared, “This is my territory, and I forbid you from being here. My dad bought this area for me to play in. And remember, don’t you dare tell my parents about what happened today!”
Jeanne felt both angry and speechless.
She thought angrily, ‘Daring to do wrong but too cowardly to let her parents know! Having endured enough insults, even Jeanne’s good nature reached its limit,
She retorted, “If your dad cared about you, he wouldn’t leave you and your mom here and go live in a bigger villa himself!”
Jeanne had seen Gideon’s private residence on TV, which was larger than three of their villas combined.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Joyce, struck by a sensitive nerve, shrieked and attempted to push Jeanne but was blocked by Ruben.
Chapter 48
Joyce’s plan backfired, and she stumbled backward, landing on her backside on the
lawn.
Seeing onlookers gathering and fearing the situation might escalate, Jeanne quickly pulled Ruben away.
They stopped to catch their breath only when they reached the poolside.
Jeanne, painting heavily, said with concern, “Ruben, don’t take what she said to heart. You’re not a mute. You’re my best, smartest, and most unique brother!”
Ruben shook his head, obviously not letting the words of an unrelated person bother
him.
He pointed to the camera, indicating they should continue taking photos.
The area was quiet, and Joyce wouldn’t likely come after them for the time being.
Just as Jeanne was about to take a picture, she discovered the camera was broken and wouldn’t turn on.
Distraught and crying, Jeanne said distressedly, “Wah, Ruben, the camera is broken. What should we do? The teacher is definitely going to be angry…
Jeanne had confidently assured her teacher earlier that day that she would take good care of the camera, but now it was broken in just less than a day.
She thought worriedly, The teacher will definitely think I’m a bad, unreliable child.
The more Jeanne thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, crying with a choked voice.
She mused, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong. Why does Joyce always bully me!”
Ruben attempted to speak to comfort Jeanne but felt a lump in his throat, making it difficult.
Every time he saw his sister cry, his heart ached too.
Edith had said that this was the telepathy between twins.
Ruben took out a tissue, clumsily yet carefully wiping Jeanne’s tears, his voice raspy as he said, “I’ll…fix it.”
“Huh?” Hearing his voice, Jeanne instantly forgot to cry and looked at him with wide,
teary eyes.
Ruben took the camera and sat on the poolside steps, patiently tinkering with it.
Chapter 48
hu, 22 Feb
“Can it really be fixed?” Jeanne sat down beside him, curiously watching.
Ruben nodded. He then took out a thin wire and began fixing the camera meticulously. completely focused.
Seeing this, Jeanne didn’t dare to disturb him, only quietly watching him with her cheek. propped on her hand.
“Beep beep.”
With two faint beeps, the camera turned on again.
Jeanne exclaimed in admiration, “Wow, Ruben, you are amazing! You are so impressive!”
She thought proudly, ‘He can even fix a camera. What can’t he do?”
Ruben, seeing his sister’s smile, also smiled happily.
He thought contentedly, As long as you’re happy!”
They sat by the pool, grinning at the fixed camera, blissfully unaware of the danger approaching from behind.
Jeanne stood up, patting the dust off her behind, and urged, “Ruben, let’s continue taking pictures!”
The next second, she felt a push from behind, and before she could react, she fell into the newly filled pool.
The sound of bubbling water filled the air as Jeanne plunged in.
The cold, sharp water rushed into Jeanne’s nose and mouth, causing her to cough violently.
Her arms flailed in the water as she screamed for help in panic.
Jeanne, surrounded by water, was overwhelmed by immense fear, and her lungs ached from the water she had inhaled.
Meanwhile, the instigator stood triumphantly on the edge of the pool.
Realizing what happened, Ruben tried to reach Jeanne, but she was too far away for him to grab.
He thought anxiously, ‘What do I do?! What do I do?!”
Ruben paced frantically by the poolside.
17:26 Thu, 22 Feb GG
Chapter 48
3723
He looked around desperately. Although people occasionally passed by, none noticed
them.
Ruben pondered, ‘It will be too late to go back and call for Mom. The only way now is to shout for help and get the attention of passersby.
Ruben felt something breaking through his chest. Before his brain could process it, he had already begun to scream.
“Help my sister!”
After his first successful shout, Ruben called out more vigorously.
“Someone, come quickly! Someone’s fallen in the water! Please help my sister!”
Ruben’s cries finally caught the attention of passersby.
Then, a loud splash echoed!
A dark figure leaped into the water, heading straight for Jeanne.
126 Thu LE THI