Chapter 2596


    Mara just gave a cold smirk. “What’s so tiring about it? No amount of hardship canpare to what


    you and Victoria have to endure. She’s got to juggle the choir and look after me, and I’m just dead


    weight. You and Victoria bear the brunt of it, that’s for sure.”


    Victoria’s face soured. “If you’ve got an issue, we can talk in private. There’s no need for these snide


    remarks.”


    “Oh? I was just saying you and Dad are working hard, that’s all. Can’t I even say that? You sure like to


    butt in, don’t you? I already told you I won’t be your responsibility anymore. Can’t I even vent a little?”


    Her fork listlessly poked at the food on her te, and Elton, seeing this, tapped her te sharply.


    “Eat properly when you’re at the table. What’s with the attitude? Is there some beef between you two


    sisters? If there’s something to say, spit it out. No need for the passive-aggressiveness.”


    With that said, the two girls fell silent once more.


    On the way to school, they didn’t exchange a single nce, as if they were sworn enemies all of a


    sudden.


    Elton sighed, increasingly baffled by the minds of his daughters.


    Peace in the family leads to prosperity in all things. It is such a simple truth, yet why is it so hard to


    achieve?


    From that day on, Mara never initiated a conversation with Victoria.


    Days passed, and Victoria began to feel restless.


    It was Mara who was at fault, yet she didn’t apologize. Didn’t she have any feelings at all?


    Carrying her emotions with her, Victoria went to school for rehearsal. Distracted by Mar actions, she


    made mistake after mistake.


    The teacher may not have said it outright, but her looks were bing decidedly less friendly.


    During the break, Balfour approached her unexpectedly. “If you don’t want to rehearse, just say so to


    the teacher. Don’t let your personal issues hold back everyone else.”


    Victoria was already simmering with frustration, and Balfour’s condescending advice only made her feel


    more aggrieved. “The teacher hasn’t said anything to me, so why are you lecturing me?”


    Balfour frowned. “The teacher might not have spoken, but aren’t her res obvious enough? We’re all


    pressed for time here, and we can’t afford to waste it because of you.


    Nobody wants the whole batch ruined by one bad apple.”


    “Are you calling me the bad apple?” Victoria asked incredulously, pointing at herself as Balfour


    remained silent.


    “If you keep up this attitude, the oue is clear. Remember, you hold an important role in our ss.”


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Just because your family’s well-off, you think you can lecture people? If it weren’t for your parents’


    hard work, you’d just be an average student. What right do you have to act so high and mighty?”


    Victoria had a hunch that Mara’s hostility had something to do with Balfour. The thought of past events


    infuriated her even more.


    As Victoria spoke, Balfour’s expression grew colder. He hated when people brought up his family,


    especially his parents.


    “Victoria, you like to y innocent, but without your parents, would you even be attending the same


    school as me?”


    In that school, nobody came from an average background. One couldn’t get in on good grades alone,


    and Victoria had no reason to act so self-righteous.


    “I’m just giving you a heads-up. Take it seriously or not, it’s up to you.” Balfour swept out of the room


    after finishing his words, leaving Victoria stamping her foot in dyed frustration.