The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 136: Nice try, though.

Chapter 136: Nice try, though.

It was no secret that Fil’s grandfather and Vincent’s grandfather were great friends. Despite the differences between a simple local farmer in a remote rural town and an excellent businessman in the city, they maintained a great friendship. Even until the day her grandfather died, the chairman grieved with the family.

In other words, Fil has known the chairman since she was a child and used to be very fond of him. After all, she would often come with her grandfather to visit the chairman. It was how she met Vincent. Her relationship with him, or rather, her view toward him, only turned sour ever since she started feeling how the chairman seemed to forget his friendship with her grandfather.

The birthday invitations were probably one of the factors. Not that she was bitter about it, but it still left a sting. But now, the chairman was telling her it was she who had never accepted his invitations.

"Child." The chairman held her shoulder, looking at her sincerely. "I am very proud of you. When I heard that you’d be leading the Solana Project, I was overjoyed. Your grandfather would be very proud. After all, he had always dreamed of becoming an engineer."

Fil pursed her lips into a thin line, not expecting such a simple revelation today. Just when she thought she already figured Vincent, she was wrong. The cheating and manipulation were only one of the many things Vincent did.

"Thank you, chairman," she expressed soothingly, shifting her eyes to Vincent. The latter gulped nervously. "But that’s strange."

As soon as Fil uttered those words, she heard the door slide open. Even without looking, she could see Rosalind’s big figure from the corner of her eyes.

"Chairman, I was never invited to your parties," she revealed, almost hearing Rosalind choke in her own breath. She couldn’t see Vincent’s expression, but she was certain he didn’t see that coming. "I am only invited this year, but I hadn’t agreed because Vincent and I had broken up."

The bright smile on the chairman’s face slowly faded, looking at her in confusion.

"Oh..." Fil faintly gasped, studying the chairman’s expression. "He... hadn’t told you yet?"

"It seemed someone forgot." The chairman let out a repressed snort, forcing a smile. "Or perhaps it’s just my old age that I forget to send out the invitations properly. Apologies, child."

Fil pursed her lips while the chairman rubbed the end of the armrest. His chest was moving in and out heavily, casting Rosalind a look and then Vincent.

"That is embarrassing," said the chairman as he looked back at Fil. "Haha!"

The chairman pushed himself up, almost staggering back when he did. Fil intuitively jumped from her seat to give him support.

"I’m alright, child," reassured the chairman, offering her a kind smile. "Now that I think about it, I forgot that I had something else to do. Do you want to ride with me?"

"I’m alright."

"Since you two had broken up, you do not have to be in here," he nodded at her encouragingly. "I’ll take you home, child."

"Chairman." Fil squeezed his arm mildly, smiling. "I’ll stay here. I’ll be fine, but I’m more worried about you."

"I am alright." The chairman tapped her shoulder once again. "It’s just that I’m old and need more rest."

The chairman moved his cane and released her arm. The forced smile stayed on his face before he turned. Using his cane, he pointed it at Rosalind.

"You, come with me." His tone was low with a tinge of suppressed anger.

Distress shone in Rosalind’s eyes. "Yes, Dad."

With that being said, Rosalind escorted her father out of the ward while Fil stood still. She kept her eyes on them, catching the secret glare Rosalind gave her before closing the door.

’Lying to me is not a surprise,’ Fil thought. ’But lying to the person who gave them all these privileges and a good life... what a bunch. If not for today, I would forget that the chairman was once the person my grandpa calls his brother.’

"Fil." After some time, Vincent’s hoarse voice caressed her ears. "Why did you — you told me you’d give me a chance. Why did you have to tell my grandpa about our current problems?"

Her eyelids drooped a little as they sharpened. When her sharp gaze landed on him, Vincent almost flinched.

"Is that what you’re so concerned about?" Her voice was cold, making the air chilly. "Or wouldn’t you want to address how you lied to me and your grandfather? If I were you, I would come up with the most realistic excuse. Otherwise, you just blew off the last bridge that still connects me and you."

"I can explain," he sighed, pushing himself to sit up with great difficulty. "It’s not what you think it is."

"What is it?"

"Fil, come on," he expressed, studying that look on her face. There wasn’t even a trace of sympathy from her despite his condition. Knowing he couldn’t use his injuries, Vincent tossed his hand in the air.

"Fine, I lied," he confessed. "But it’s not because I don’t want you to be there!"

She arched her brow, waiting for more lies.

"In the past years, mom was the person in charge of the preparation for Grandpa’s birthdays," he explained, hoping that would be enough for her. But alas, he immediately figured it wasn’t enough.

"Fil, you got to understand that I’m their only son," he explained in distress. "Obviously, my mom thinks you’re taking her son away from her. So, she — she didn’t invite you even though Grandpa has you on the priority list."

"And you backed her up by lying to me?"

"I just can’t rat out my mother!"

"And what was I in your life? Vincent, you’ve been lying to me for years. Even now, you are. Did you think I’d feel sorry for you and soften up just because you are admitted to a hospital?" She scoffed in disbelief, assessing him from up and down. "Goodness. I can’t believe this is your plan of winning me back."

Fil shook her head. "I’m really disappointed in you, Vincent." She then took a step to leave him alone.

"Fil," he called, watching her walk away. "This is not a show — Fil!"

Seeing that she would seriously leave him, Vincent forcibly flung his legs out of the bed. He channeled his energy into his hand, pushing himself away from the bed. But alas, instead of standing, he only fell on his knees.

The loud thud his fall produced made her stop. Fil looked back, catching him trembling as he pushed himself to look up.

"Please," he breathed out, his eyes were swirling with emotions. "Don’t leave. Let’s talk, please."

Fil stared at him quietly. "Vincent, we’ve known each other almost all our lives. I know when you’re in real pain and right now, I know you are not. Nice try, though."

"Fil!" Vincent yelled, but this time, she didn’t stop or look back. The moment she shut the door, he pushed himself and sat up as if he wasn’t just in pain moments ago.

"Damn it!" He ruffled his hair in irritation. "Damn!"

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