Chapter 477
As the car pulled into Lockridge Manor, Theresa had just stepped out when she saw Jason rushing out of the house, carrying something in his arms.
As he hurried past her, Theresa saw that it was a small puppy.
The puppy was clearly badly injured; there was blood on its fur, and the shocking sight made her heart lurch.
“Jason, you can’t save it. Just give up.”
Victor’s voice followed as he emerged from the house right behind him.
Compared to Jason, his expression was indifferent as he sauntered out as if on a leisurely stroll.
Jason ignored him, striding quickly toward the parking area within the manor grounds.
He had a magnetic quality that made Theresa want to watch him, but the thought of Victor, the thought that it was wrong, made her pull her gaze away.
Just then, Victor noticed Theresa.
A slight smile touched his thin lips, and his tone brightened.
“Mr. Carlisle mentioned you’ve been wanting to go to the coast. The weather’s been nice lately. How about we go this weekend?”
“Is this from you? It’s exquisite.”
Victor took the gift box from Theresa’s hands, opened it, and saw a burgundy tie inside.
Before Theresa could say anything, a voice came from the parking area.
“Walter, I’m in a real hurry. Can you please make an exception?” Jason’s voice was tight with anxiety.
The man called Walter replied, “Mr. Jason, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but the Lockridge matriarch is allergic to animal fur. I really can’t let this dog in the car. I’ll lose my job.”
“I’ll have the car thoroughly cleaned afterward,” Jason pleaded.
But Walter the butler just shook his head. “It’s the rules, Mr. Jason. Please don’t make this difficult for me.”
“”
Victor, acting as if he hadn’t heard the argument, held the tie up against himself, seemingly quite pleased.
Theresa couldn’t hold back any longer. She gestured toward Jason and asked, “What’s going on?”
Victor glanced over.
“He found a stray that got hit by a car and brought it back. It just fell from the second floor. It’s probably not going to make it.”
“Don’t get involved in this mess. Jason has a bit of a savior complex. He thinks he can save the world, but he can’t even save himself.”
Over the past few days, Theresa had
learned
a little about Jason’s
.n
background and his family situation. Hearing Victor’s dismissive tone now, the words grated on her
She felt that by saving this little stray, Jason was also trying to save a part of his former self.
“You should help him,” Theresa said, unable to stop herself.
Frankly, the staff at the Lockridge estate dared to refuse Jason only because they knew he wasn’t a true Lockridge, so they used the rules to push him around.
But Victor was different. He was the future heir. The staff wouldn’t dare disobey him.
Victor, oblivious to the concern in Theresa’s voice, said, “Why get involved? It’s a waste of time and energy.”
He truly didn’t want to waste time on a dog, on something so meaningless.
His coldness was not lost on Theresa.
She had known Victor for a long time.
When they first met, he was aloof and cool, acting indifferent to everything. She never thought much of it back then. Kearney had said that boys at that age could be dramatic and that it was normal.
Victor had always been good to her, so she’d never questioned it before.