Chapter 179: The Misunderstanding
Back in her room, Vanessa forced herself to stop thinking about all that nonsense.
Soon her thoughts broke free and she fell asleep without realising it. When she woke up again, it was dark and she sat up with a start. Thinking of Mercedes, who was next door, she hurriedly washed herself and went out.
When he saw the front door, his footsteps stopped and he went out again as if nothing had happened.
It turned out that Mercedes had also fallen asleep and was sitting on the balcony looking out when she heard the doorbell ring. She got up and opened the door to let Vanessa in.
-Mum, are you hungry? Let’s go to dinner and take a walk along the road. There are flowers along the path and the air must be nice.
-OK,” said Mercedes with a smile as the two of them packed up and headed out the door.
Vanessa was cautious at first, worried about running into Dylan, and when she didn’t see anyone until she returned to the hotel after an exhausting meal and a walk, Vanessa assumed he had left.
“Yes, it’s Dylan, and it’s a miracle he put his face down and chased me here. How could he accept my complaints with equanimity and not walk away or stay here to be ashamed of himself?”
Vanessa was relieved and there was a vague hint of loss in her heart that she did not notice.
The next day Vanessa took Mercedes to stay at the local hostel, which had a lot of character, with lots of nice plants and flowers, a nice swing and a terrace overlooking the landscape.
Mercedes loved the place and the whole atmosphere changed.
“This time Dylan is definitely out of the game.”
Vanessa looked at the exquisite landscape and suddenly thought of Dylan.
-Vanessa, when are we going to the Exotic Flower and Plant Show? I can’t wait to think of all the beautiful flowers I will be able to see.
It was a rare occasion when Mercedes was happy as a child and Vanessa followed her.
-If you want to go, we can go now, that exhibition lasts a week.
-Let’s go now, then.This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
-Well, let’s go.
Seeing Mercedes’ excitement, Vanessa said yes. She had rented a car here and it didn’t take long to take Mercedes to the exhibition. The exhibition was an annual event, so it was not too crowded.
After finding a parking space, Vanessa bought the tickets with Mercedes and entered the venue.
-It’s so beautiful.
As soon as she entered, Mercedes was so taken by the flowers that she could not help but marvel at them.
-Let’s take our time and read if we want to, and we’ll come again tomorrow.
Vanessa took Mercedes’ hand and walked her through the exhibition. When you get tired, there are tables and chairs inside to rest and free floral tea is served.
-Mum, let’s rest for a while and have some tea.
-I can smell the floral tea too.
Mercedes couldn’t wait to go there and Vanessa went with her. Seeing Dylan sitting alone with a cup of tea, Vanessa froze for a moment and unconsciously tried to push Mercedes away, but it was too late.
-Vanessa, look, isn’t that Mr Dylan?
Vanessa’s heart stuttered, followed by uncontrollable anger.
She had made it so clear yesterday, what the hell was Dylan trying to do? To come to the exhibition specifically and strut in front of his mother.
“Doesn’t he know my concerns? Or is he just doing it on purpose?
“This was a way of warning me that if I didn’t follow his agreement, he would show up again and again and threaten me with the people I cared most about and feared most. That’s the man’s usual style, isn’t it?”
Vanessa thought mockingly, trembling with indignation.
“I can’t lose my cool in front of Mum.”
Vanessa mentally admonished herself over and over again, barely suppressing her anger.
But, unbeknownst to Vanessa, he misunderstood Dylan, checked her whereabouts, followed her to Dorencia for real, but the meeting at the exhibition was actually a chance encounter; Dylan was distracted and found out about the exhibition, so he came to visit her.
Flowers and plants always improve the mood, and I never expected to be surprised by the unexpected.
He stood up and walked towards the two men with a smile on his face.
-Aunt, Vanessa, what a coincidence that we should meet here,” Dylan said, looking at Vanessa and catching the intense anger in her eyes, and froze for a moment.
-What a coincidence that Mr Dylan has come to see this exhibition of exotic flowers and plants.
-If you don’t mind, let’s sit together. The flower tea here tastes good, you should try it.
-It’s fate that we meet, come on.
Mercedes sat with Dylan, and Vanessa, of course, had to follow.
After sitting down, Vanessa realised that Dylan knew a lot. Whether it was the exotic flowers or the teas in bloom, he could talk about them all. There were many things Vanessa knew nothing about.
Mercedes clearly enjoyed Dylan’s erudition and had a good conversation with him.
Vanessa’s heart was choked with emotion at what clearly looked like a happy scene.
She decided that Dylan was doing it on purpose, his closeness, his enthusiasm, everything seemed to be demonstrative. Telling her with his words and gestures that he could easily control those around her if he wanted to.
This made Vanessa angry and depressed.
She held back for a long time, but finally could not resist making an excuse to leave.
When she came out of the bathroom, Vanessa’s emotions were slightly subdued.
Worried that Dylan might say the wrong thing while she was out, she hurried back, only to turn and bump into an embrace whose scent was familiar. The cologne, which she could recognise with her eyes closed, distracted her further and she took a few steps back, staring coldly at Dylan.
-What the hell are you trying to do? Is this your way of threatening to warn me because I jumped out of your manipulation and didn’t do what you wanted? Dylan, you deliberately introduced yourself in front of my mother when you knew she was the person who mattered most to me right now! Are you also like Orlando or Melina, threatening me with my mother?
Suppressing the rage that burned in her chest, Vanessa’s eyes were red with accusation.
Dylan stopped the smile in his eyes and stood in front of her as indifferent as ice.
-Do you think this encounter here was intentional on my part?
-Isn’t that right? -asked Vanessa rhetorically with disdain and mockery in her eyes.
-Heh,” Dylan scoffed, looking convincing. Since you said I did it on purpose, so be it. So, are my threats working for you, and do you still want to free yourself from my clutches and clear your mind of me?
-You… have no shame!
Surprisingly, it is true.
Dylan’s own admissions, not his own conjecture.
Vanessa looked at him with resentment, as if waiting for him to disappear. That resentful look made Dylan feel for the first time as if his heart had been cut to pieces and his sanity had been burned away….
He looked at her and laughed angrily.
-Yes, I am shameless. So, Vanessa, you won’t get rid of me.