novelraw Chapter 391: The Truth Hurts Too Much (3)_1
Chapter 391: The Truth Hurts Too Much (3)_1
Orlando Evans’s complexion had grown even more haggard, perhaps from being locked up overnight. Maybe she had finally come to reflect upon her own faults. At this moment, seeing Adele Horne, a hint of apology flickered in her eyes.
After all, from the very beginning, she had only used Adele—never once treating her as a friend.
Seeing Orlando Evans looking like this, Adele’s heart, once filled with resentment, suddenly found it impossible to harbor that hate anymore.
She too began to reflect on all she had done to Orlando.
The two of them looked at each other.
Two minutes later, Adele, unable to hide the agitation in her voice, asked, "Orlando, the reason I came here today is to ask you just one thing. All these years, have you despised me like everyone else, hated my nasty temper, never once seeing me as a friend?"
Orlando looked at her but didn’t immediately answer.
"Say it. Go on, tell me the truth. Am I really so detestable? How could you bear me for ten years? Tell me!" Adele grew more agitated at the lack of response, almost standing up to shake Orlando into answering.
Orlando laughed, but it was a cold, mocking laugh. She stared unblinkingly at Adele, replying word by word, "Yes, you’re absolutely detestable. Your temper is terrible, and you put on airs of superiority. Relying on the Horne family’s wealth, you look down on everyone and respect no one. Back when we were in school, all the students disliked you; they didn’t want to get close to you. Why would I want to get close to you? Because I found out you were the Horne family’s young lady, so I thought to befriend you, a rich miss, to reap some benefits. Over the years, I indeed gained quite a bit from you, totaling perhaps over ten million. Your temper was atrocious, but you were generous. By enduring your bad temper, I could get designer clothes and brand-name makeup from you. Wherever I wanted to go, I just had to flatter you a bit, and you would cover all the expenses, taking me there and fulfilling my wishes."
With every word, like a dagger, Orlando ruthlessly gouged at Adele’s heart, her face slowly turning ashen.
"Deep down, I hated you to death, wished I could slap you a dozen times a day, turn your face into a pig’s head. Someone like you—stupid and clumsy, knowing nothing, indulging only in food and pleasure, and utterly conceited—yet you’re protected by fate, born into the lofty Horne family, with endless luxury and riches. No matter how much we, the Evans family, compared, we couldn’t match you. I hated it! I was clearly better than you, so why couldn’t I have a better background than yours! That’s why I used you, especially when you took me to your home. The moment I saw your elder brother for the first time, I fell in love with him. To marry into the Horne family and get more chances to be closer to your brother, I was extra careful around you, pampering you, like a dog at your side, coming and going at your beck and call. What I wanted was to use you to become your brother’s wife, to become the esteemed lady of the Horne family. Adele, if not for these reasons, do you think I would have been your friend for ten years? Let me tell you, if it weren’t for your family’s money, I wouldn’t even want to be by your side for an hour!"
As Orlando spoke, hatred brimmed in her eyes, without a trace of friendship.
"But your brother only had eyes for the Bluen sisters, and no other woman could catch his attention. I was furious and resentful, feeling that after spending ten years with you, my hopes had still come to nothing. I couldn’t accept it, so I still thought of milking money off you, even wanted to use Othiel Evans to woo you. If I couldn’t marry into the Horne family, I at least wanted Othiel to marry you, so that our Evans family could benefit as well. I didn’t expect..." Towards the end, Orlando began to cry again.
She thought of her home, shattered overnight, thought of her true origins, and how Othiel Evans had forced himself on her. All of it stemmed from her getting close to Adele.
With tears of hatred in her eyes, she glared at Adele. Adele’s face had turned as pale as a sheet of paper, her lips clenched, tears swirling in her eyes. "Adele, I never once considered you a friend! Do you understand? I’ve always been using you! Using you, do you get that? But you really are so stupid, stupid like a pig. For ten years, you never realized I was using you. You were really an idiot. For my sake, you took my words as gospel, treated your sister-in-law the way I told you to. Heh, you angered your elder brother, didn’t you? You deserve it, and I suffered because of it too... I wanted to take revenge on you, to destroy you..."
Adele stood up and ran towards the outside.
She couldn’t listen anymore.
The truth she had so wanted to know was so incredibly hurtful.
What she had perceived as a ten-year friendship was built on money and status.
Without money and status, Orlando wouldn’t even stay with her for an hour!
She had even considered Orlando Evans to be her best friend, pouring her heart out to her, willing to anger her elder brother and even frame her sister-in-law just for Orlando’s sake. But in the end, the result was exploitation.
"Adele."
Julia Bluen glared fiercely at Orlando Evans and said coldly, "Orlando, the predicament you face today is all of your own making, all due to your greed. If you weren’t greedy, if you didn’t try to climb the social ladder through Adele, you wouldn’t have ended up like this. Although Adele has a nasty temper, her nature isn’t bad. If you had truly regarded her as a friend and not instigated her, Glades would not have treated you this way. The Evans Family wouldn’t have collapsed, and your family of three wouldn’t be meeting in a prison cell. People need to be self-aware, to be content with what they have. Fantasizing about obtaining what doesn’t belong to you will only lead you to destroy yourself. Love is supposed to be mutual; a melon forced off its vine is never sweet. Glades has no feelings for you, and even if you did end up marrying him, do you think you would be happy? A marriage without a husband’s love, care, and respect—do you think all that can be offset by money and status? Reflect on this yourself. And just so you know, the harm you’ve caused Adele will come at a price."
Having said this, Julia turned and hurried after Adele Horne.
Though Orlando’s words were hurtful, they were a blessing in disguise for her young sister-in-law.
But, having understood everything, both parties had paid a heavy price.
After running out of the Police Station, Adele got into Julia’s car, leaned on the back of the seat, and began to cry with grief.
Orlando had been using her all along!
She had never truly been considered a friend!
Orlando was only interested in her status as a daughter of the Horne Family, only in their immense wealth.
No wonder so many classmates refused to be with her, while Orlando took the initiative to be by her side, enduring her bad temper. It turned out Orlando was after her money.
Reflecting on the past ten years and all the moments shared between her and Orlando, she still found it unbearable to accept this harsh truth.
Orlando had always been so good to her, as caring as a mother, staying with her in her loneliness—happy when she was happy, sad when she was sad. They were like sisters, no, even closer than sisters. How could Orlando have been using her?
But Orlando’s recent words kept echoing in her ears, ridiculing her poor judgment in character and friendships.
And when she thought of her own disgrace, Adele felt as if millions of needles were piercing her relentlessly from the inside out, a pain she could hardly bear.
Was she really that detestable?
Was she really so hateful?
Detested and loathed to the point of being ruined!
A gentle hand turned her, guiding her into an embrace, allowing her head to rest on shoulders that, though not broad, could endure storms. Julia’s comforting words came, "Adele, cry, just cry. Let out all your grievances, all your sadness. Your sister-in-law’s shoulders are here for you to lean on."