A Night with Her Cruel Mate novel Chapter 12

Jean looked around the rented house. It was as dirty as a garbage dump

Afraid that Jean would get angry, Mandy smiled to give her some reassurance. "Please don't mind the mess. It will be very tidy after thorough cleaning."

Mandy walked towards Jean and tried to hold her hand. Her eyebrows furrowed when she spotted the injury on her hand. Hastily, she asked, "What happened?"

"It doesn't matter." Jean dodged the question.

Mandy smiled bitterly in response and looked at her empty hand. She couldn't help but say, "Jean, why didn't you tell me that you came back? I could have cleaned the house in advance."

"Come on!" Jean sneered. "I would be more than happy if you wouldn't gamble anymore."

"What else can I do?" Mandy narrowed her eyes at Jean. "I am already old enough. My children are no longer around. Even Aron has left me, and I really don't know what else I can do."

While she was saying this, she tried to squeeze out a few tears, but failed in her attempt.

Jean rolled her eyes in contempt. She could see through Mandy's obvious trick. "Stop acting in front of me. Do you think I'm as idiotic as Julia? While Dad was still alive, you were gambling every single day. If I hadn't covered up for you, then you would've been caught a long time ago."

Only Julia was foolish enough to think that Mandy was so affected by her husband's death that she used gambling to numb herself.

In fact, Mandy was just an innate gambler.

A tinge of embarrassment flashed across Mandy's face. She looked at the girl in front of her and was reminded of herself when she was Jean's age. "Jean, how long are you planning to stay?" she asked.

"I am not leaving," Jean answered.

"If you don't go, then he—" Her eyes widened at Jean, shocked that she almost blurted out a secret.

Fortunately, Jean interrupted her. "Shut up. I already know what I should be doing. You don't need to worry about me."

"Look, as your mother, I still care about you..." Mandy replied with a wry smile.

Ignoring Mandy, Jean raised her wrist to look at her watch. "It's already lunch time, why don't we go out to eat?"

"No, we don't have to do that. There is still food left in the fridge. It's been a while since you last tasted my cooking. How about—"

"No, thanks," Jean interrupted impatiently. She looked at Mandy with a frown. "I've already reserved seats for us."

Jean was unwilling to eat in Mandy's messy house.

Hearing Jean's impatience and annoyance, Mandy didn't protest anymore. Silently, she followed Jean into the restaurant.