chapter 27 deny

At this time, Vanessa should have been in school attending classes. However, Vanessa skipped class, so Clarence had no choice but to first visit Vanessa's home. In a slum area to the south of the city, where a bout of autumn rain had just passed, leaving the ground pitted and muddy. Clarence's combat boots treaded through the mud to arrive at the doorstep of a household. Looking at the dilapidated door and the low brick wall, Clarence's brows slightly furrowed. He hadn't expected that Vanessa and April's living conditions would be so poor. Decco and Maxine did not follow directly behind Clarence, but they were nearby. With a single command from Clarence, they could appear at any moment. Clarence knocked on the worn wooden door, and soon after, the door creaked open, and a girl came out from inside. Vanessa had just turned eighteen, and her figure was already quite impressive, with curves in all the right places, wearing a ponytail that revealed a delicate face. It seems that when she grows up, she will indeed be a great beauty. However, at this moment, Vanessa seemed to carry a hint of weariness, her complexion somewhat pale. Despite looking as cute as a doll, she seemed to suffer from long-term malnutrition. Clarence couldn't help but feel a bit heartache when he saw her eyes, and his heart even skipped a beat. Girls her age should be naive and lively, but in Vanessa's eyes, Clarence only read precocity and indifference. What had Vanessa experienced over these years, for a girl in the bloom of youth to have such indifferent eyes? "Who are you, and who are you looking for?" Vanessa's gaze turned more vigilant, even casting a look behind Clarence. Clarence didn't hide his identity, "My name is Clarence, I am from the Van family of Zensea. By seniority, I should be your brother." Upon hearing that he was from the Van family, Vanessa's expression suddenly changed. "People from the Van family, what are you doing here? Get lost." A flicker of hatred and anger sparkled in Vanessa's eyes, her teeth grinding loudly. Clarence could understand her reaction, so he didn't get angry. "I came to understand your situation." "I don't need any concern from the Van family. I can manage on my own!" "Although I still carry the Van surname, my mother and I have long severed all ties with the Van family. Also, please, this so-called brother, don't disturb my life in the future!" Clarence calmly said, "I know the Van family owes you and your mother a lot over these years. I came back this time to compensate you two." "Compensate?" Vanessa's voice rose an octave, with a mocking laugh, she said, "Forget it. You rich people just want to show off your superiority, right? Do you enjoy the thrill of giving charity?" "My mother raised me all by herself, what were you doing then? My mother's legs were broken, where were you?" "Now putting on a face of pity, huh, all you rich people have such disgusting faces!" Clarence was slightly taken aback, not expecting the girl to harbor such deep resentment towards the Van family. After a moment of silence, Clarence said, "Vanessa, I'm not here to give charity, nor am I overflowing with sympathy. I'm here to offer you a good learning environment, to allow you to rely on your own efforts to excel in school and stand out." Vanessa was momentarily taken aback, but then she just scoffed coldly. "It's funny, what does it matter to you whether I have prospects or can get into university?" "Because you are a member of the Van family, and you are the only descendant left. The Van family will need you to take over in the future," Clarence said, emphasizing each word. Just as Vanessa was about to say something, she suddenly realized there was a deeper meaning to Clarence's words. "What do you mean, the only descendant?" "Indeed, the Van family was destroyed a month ago." Vanessa's eyes widened in shock, after all, as a high school student, she wouldn't know about the happenings in the upper echelons of Zensea. But looking at Clarence's expression, it didn't seem like he was joking. Clarence looked at Vanessa seriously and said, "If you are willing, from today onwards, no one can bully you again. I can make you a princess adored by thousands, with wealth and splendor at your fingertips." Clarence's words were overwhelmingly assertive, as if all of this was easy for him. For a moment, she actually believed him, but then, her expression turned cold again. "Big brother, you really have a sense of humor. The Van family is gone, and you still want me to become a princess?" Just as Clarence was about to speak, a voice called out from inside the house, "Vanessa, why haven't you come in yet? Are those people here again?" As the voice spoke, a curtain lifted, and a weak middle-aged woman, pushing a wheelchair, came out. "You are…" Clarence was taken aback and said, "Hello, my name is Clarence. You must be Vanessa's mother, I am Vanessa's…" "Ah, he, he is my teacher!" Vanessa quickly took over the conversation, then turned around and gave Clarence a threatening look. "So you are Vanessa's teacher. Why haven't I seen you before? The teacher who visited our home before was Mr. Wang." Vanessa hurriedly explained, "He, he's new. Mom, you should go back inside. Mr. Van will be leaving soon." April's expression turned stern and said, "Vanessa, it's not easy for a teacher to visit. How can we let him leave just like that? Teacher, please come inside, it's cold outside." Although April had been bedridden for years, her manner of speaking was polite and refined, indicating that she must have been a well-educated woman before. Clarence agreed to enter, just as he was about to bring in the gifts. However, Vanessa stopped him, glanced in April's direction, and whispered, "I warn you, don't you dare tell my mom about the Van family's affairs, or she won't be able to handle it, understand?" "This time it's okay, but if you come to my house again, I'll have to kick you out. Our home is chaotic enough as it is." Although Clarence didn't know what had happened to their family, it seemed the mother and daughter were somewhat paranoid, as if they were afraid of seeing someone. Inside the room, Clarence and April started to talk, and he wanted to understand how the mother and daughter had been living these years. At that moment, a series of noisy sounds came from outside the courtyard, Vanessa was startled, "Mom, I'm going to see what happened." Saying this, the young girl ran out quickly. "Aunt Hunk, what's happening?" Vanessa stopped a middle-aged woman carrying a vegetable basket at the doorstep. "Those guys are back again, you better hide. Oh, it's such a sin." Aunt Hunk hurried back to her own home after speaking. Then, a car stopped at the corner, and a man with a slick back hairstyle walked in, followed by several burly men in suits. Vanessa's eyes narrowed, and she fixed a sharp gaze on the man. It was him!