A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust novel Chapter 817

Uriah’s brows knitted in frustration. He’d suspected it all along, but seeing Norton there still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He shot a cold look at Mavis and asked, “Really, Mavis? Was this supposed to be funny to you?”

Mavis hadn’t expected him to snap like that. She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry. It was my fault.”

“You think bringing Norton here to mess with me was going to get you what you wanted?”

Uriah raised his head and locked eyes with her.

Mavis met his gaze, and whatever tiny flicker of hope she’d been nursing inside her just shattered right then and there.

He was angry—really angry.

She’d known he’d be mad if he ever found out the truth, but now, seeing him standing there furious, her heart felt like it was being dragged under by a tidal wave. The hurt washed over her, and her eyes grew red-rimmed.

“I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have tried to test you. I don’t even have the right to do that. You said you don’t like me. I shouldn’t like you either.”

“This is the last time. There won’t ever be something like this again. I won’t test you, and I won’t like you anymore. You’re just my mentor. I’ll remember that, and I’ll keep my distance.”

Mavis sounded so formal, so distant.

She was clearly hurting, but she sat ramrod straight on the couch, as if nothing could touch her.

Uriah heard her words, and it made him feel even worse inside. He watched her for a long moment before finally saying, “Alright. Good. As long as you understand.”

Mavis stood up, posture stiff and respectful. “I’m going to my room now. Nothing like this will happen again.”

And with that, limping slightly, she made her way to her room.

Uriah stared after her stubborn figure, a nameless anger burning in his chest. He didn’t even know what he really wanted, but seeing her like that—so determined, so closed off—just made him even more frustrated.

He stood up too.

Mavis was just reaching her bedroom door when she heard the front door of the house slam shut.

Calliope rounded up Archie and the rest, and they all headed back to the rental house.

Mavis wasn’t in the living room. She was holed up in her bedroom.

Calliope and Portia went straight to her room to check on her.

“Mavis, what happened? Where’s Uriah? Did that jerk say something to you? Did he hurt you?”

Portia saw Mavis’s red eyes and felt a mix of worry and anger. They’d left Mavis, injured, alone with Uriah in the house, and now she looked like she’d been crying.

This Uriah clearly cared about Mavis, so why did he have to go and make her cry?

“It’s nothing,” Mavis shook her head with a bitter little smile. “He knows everything.”

“What do you mean?” Portia asked, puzzled. “Knows what?”

“He figured out that Norton was just there to get a rise out of him. He knew we were putting on a show,” Mavis said, her voice tinged with regret. “He’s too smart. Of course he saw right through it.”