Chapter 697: Father and Daughter’s First Meeting (3)
Chapter 697: Chapter 697: Father and Daughter’s First Meeting (3)
But deep down, Vera couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. The fatherly love Julian Caldwell showed toward Susan Caldwell should have been hers.
The Julian Caldwell of this life was much younger than the man she’d met in her past one. He wore a well-fitting jacket that gave him a somewhat casual air. His back was perfectly straight, giving him a tall, upright posture. He carried himself with such a refined elegance that anyone who didn’t know his identity would likely mistake him for a university professor.
Vera glanced at him once before turning to leave. After all, they were strangers now.
But she had barely taken a step when Julian Caldwell called out to her. "Excuse me, miss. Do you know the way to the women’s dormitory for freshmen at the Veridian College of Liberal Arts?"
It was his first time at Veridia University, and he wasn’t familiar with the campus.
Vera turned to face him. He froze for a second when he saw her. She looked so much like his mother, Mrs. Caldwell, in her youth—the same fair skin and delicate features, the same eyes that sparkled like brilliant stars.
The only difference was her aura; she lacked Mrs. Caldwell’s dignified, gentle grace, possessing instead a free-spirited and casual air.
Vera smiled faintly and pointed toward the main road running through the campus. "Follow this road all the way to the end, then turn left. Go up the small hill, and it’s the building next to the wall covered in trumpet vines."
"Thank you!" Julian Caldwell said with a gentle smile. Then he asked, "Are you from Veridia?"
"No, I’m from out of town," Vera said with a small smile. "If there’s nothing else, I should get going."
Julian Caldwell gave a slight nod, his expression thoughtful as he watched her walk away.
He knew that striking up a conversation with a beautiful young student on the street might attract unwanted gossip. But he couldn’t help his curiosity. ’Who is this girl? How can she look so much like my mother?’
He knew that with the fall of The Pure Dynasty, the imperial family had declined. In the ensuing turmoil, his mother had been the sole survivor among her siblings. Therefore, the chances of this girl being a blood relative were virtually zero.
So he figured it was probably just a coincidence. After all, the world was full of people who bore a striking resemblance to one another.
He gave his head a slight shake and walked onto the Veridia University campus.
When Vera reached the street corner, she couldn’t resist looking back one last time. He was already gone; she couldn’t see him anymore. A wave of melancholy washed over her. The classic drama of a father and daughter meeting as strangers was once again playing out in her life.
’Fate really has a twisted sense of humor!’
She took a deep breath and then slowly let it out.
She knew Julian Caldwell had come to Veridia University to see Susan Caldwell. Given Susan’s personality, she would undoubtedly badmouth Vera to him. And since Julian doted on Susan, he would certainly believe whatever she said.
She knew that in Julian Caldwell’s mind, she was probably already the villain of the story.
She didn’t know where things would end up between her and her father, Julian Caldwell, but she was certain that for a long time to come, he wouldn’t have a single positive feeling toward her.
Just as she’d predicted, Julian Caldwell was indeed there to see Susan Caldwell. He still believed that Winter Sullivan’s injury was an accident and that Winter’s animosity toward Susan was merely the result of Vera’s instigation.
He had actually wanted to meet this Vera Xavier today, but given his standing, he couldn’t bring himself to do something that looked like he was throwing his weight around. So, for the time being, he had to let it go.