Chapter 10
After pocketing the bank card, Gina glanced at Mason, who was lurking behind Ethan. She signaled. “Bring him here.”
Fuming, Ethan, blaming Mason for his humiliation, grabbed him and threw him in front of Gina.
Gina flexed her wrist and landed a punch on Mason’s trembling face, causing his teeth to rattle and sending him crashing to the ground, his world going dark.
With her foot pressing down on Mason’s face, Gina demanded, “Delete the post, clear my name, and apologize.”
Tears and snot running down his face, Mason blubbered. Tll delete it. Please, get off me. I’m sorry, I screwed up, I’m the
Worst
Aria scoffed. “Suddenly all apologetic, huh? Thought you were Mr. Tough Guy.”
While sobbing. Mason scrambled to access the campus network on his phone, deleted the defamatory post, and published an apology under his real name.
Aria commented on the post right away. [All fluff, no stuff. Seriously, who buys this trashy gossip?]
Some recognized Aria’s account and, looking to curry favor or genuinely outraged, slammed the original post for spreading
Tumors.
Yet, others sensed something off about Mason’s apology, speculating he might have been threatened. But it was hard to imagine who would bother defending Gina, notorious as she was.
The apology stirred less buzz than the original rumor, but Gina wasn’t bothered. She knew many didn’t care for the truth; they just relished the chance to stomp on her a bit more.
The whole mess killed Ethan’s mood for drinking, prompting him to leave.
After dealing with Mason, Gina bid Aria farewell and returned to her downtown apartment.
She called Michael to manage the 600 million dollars the Miller family owed her.
“Donate 300 million dollars to Clago Orphanage and the rest to build schools in impoverished areas,” Gina instructed.
Clago Orphanage was where Cina grew up, under the care of a kind–hearted director who often dipped into his own pockets to keep it running. Over twenty years, the orphanage expanded, and Gina was more than willing to support it.
“Understood,” Michael responded.
“By the way, Gina, seems like someone else is digging into that massacre,” he cautiously added.
Gina raised an eyebrow.
Truth was, during Gina’s two decades of hardship, she had briefly been fostered by a well–off couple who had a son. The couple was good to her, but the son was standoffish, wary of Gina stealing his parents‘ love.
Gina kept her distance, even considering going back to the orphanage. Before she could act on it, tragedy struck: the couple was found dead, their family wiped out, and the son vanished, Cina, having been out, narrowly escaped the fate that befell
them.
17:37 Tue, 21 May
Chapter 10
U
What truly happened remained a mystery, and Gina was determined to find the killer. And she was not the only one who was still looking for the truth.
“Could it be their biological son?‘ Gina pondered.
She had attempted to track down the boy before, only finding a severed finger, fearing the worst.
Lost in her memories, Gina clenched her eyes shut. The murder was executed with brutal efficiency, leaving no trace.
‘No matter what, I’ll find them and tear them to pieces, Gina silently vowed.
“Let’s put out some feelers, and see if they take the bait. She instructed Michael, keen on unmasking the perpetrator.
After hanging up, Gina hit the shower, then flopped onto her bed and messaged someone named “Neil” on WhatsApp. [Done with the last batch of potion? I’ve whipped up some more.]
Neil replied: [Yeah, Gina. Should I have someone swing by to pick it up? Wait, scratch that. How about you come over for dinner tomorrow? You bailed before I could properly thank you for saving me. You gotta come!]
[Alright.] Gina didn’t object. It was the perfect excuse for her to check up on Neil’s recovery. Rather than giving out her address, she sent him a pin to a nearby bus stop. [Just meet me here.]
Neil replied: [Deal!]
The next day, Gina stood by the bus stop when a Maybach slowly pulled up. The driver stepped out and inquired, “Miss Gina Miller?”
That’s me.” Gina nodded.
“Mr. Jackson sent me to pick you up. Please, after you, the driver said, motioning towards the car with a polite gesture.
Gina got into the car, bringing along two jars of the potion.
Meanwhile, it was Neil’s birthday bash at the Jackson mansion, bustling with noble guests.
Olivia had gone all out with her outfit. She had to coax Ethan for days before he agreed to let her attend Neil’s birthday feast.
Previously, Ethan thought it inappropriate for Olivia to attend since they weren’t officially married yet. But after days of cajoling, Olivia snagged an invite. She was hell–bent on impressing Neil, hoping to cement her place in the Jackson family.
She had done her homework and learned Neil was a sucker for painting. So, she picked up a masterpiece by the famed artist Gena, betting Neil would be over the moon.
“Olivia.” Hazel Baker, decked out and Olivia’s close friend, greeted her. Hazel had always envied Olivia’s engagement to the Jackson family.
“Lucky you, future queen of the elite!” Hazel cooed, laying it on thick.
Olivia blushed modestly. “We’re not quite there yet.”
“Come on, it’s practically in the bag. Just don’t forget about your bestie here when you’re living the high life with Ethan. Hazel hinted, fishing for Olivia to play inatchmaker with any eligible bachelors in the Jackson fold.
17:37 Tue, 21 May
Chapter 10
“I won’t.” Olivia smirked, playing along.
As they chatted, Hazel’s eyes bulged as she pointed towards the entrance. “Olivia, look, isn’t that Gina?”
Olivia followed Hazel’s pointed finger and, sure enough, there was Gina. Dressed down in a white tee and baggy sweatpants,
with her hair up in a no–fuss bun. Gina was a sore thumb among the sea of glitz and glam.
