Chapter 71
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“Seriously, what’s the deal with this adopted daughter? She can’t be some secret love child from outside, can she? No, that doesn’t make sense–no one would wait until she’s this old to bring her home,” someone said.
It finally dawned on Zina why there were no servants downstairs–most likely, they’d all beer sent away on purpose girls could gossip without restraint.
She wondered how Lydia had introduced her to these people.
so these
Her hand hovered at the door, fingers curling back. Her lowered gaze fixed on the floorboards as the voices beyond the door
washed over her
Lydia was sighing. “What could I do? Mom insisted on adopting that girl. We are so wealthy, Keeping one more person barely costs a thing, so we just let her stay. But you wouldn’t believe it–ever since she showed up, she’s been trying to steal my things and even turn Adrian against me! She really should know her place!”
A girl tried to comfort her, “Come on, Lydia, don’t be upset. Everyone knows you and Adrian are the closest. That woman’s cheap flattery means nothing. Honestly, don’t even worry about her. And your parents? They’re doing that thing rich people do–collecting strays like designer handbags. Give it three months max before they’re begging you to help unload their ‘charity case”
Another girl chimed in, “Exactly! Lydia, it’s not even a competition! You’re just worrying too much about nothing. Now let’s drink to your very secure place in that family”
Zina quickly lost interest in what they were talking about next. She tiptoed back to her room, closed the door behind her, and sank into her chair, her mind replaying the voices she had just heard.
The voice tugged at her memory–familiar, yet just out of reach. She sifted through mental archives, finding the right file perpetually misfiled.
So she just dropped it.
Unlocking her phone, she pulled up Chris‘ contact and dialed.
It was reassuring to her that whenever she called him, he would always pick up right away.
“Boss, trouble again on your end? A few of us just hit Springvale—we’ve got some solid leads on that clue you dropped last time. I’ll send all the intel we dug up to your email shortly…
“That can wait.”
Zina rubbed her temples and cut Chris off mid–sentence.
Her gaze sharpened as she continued, “Investigate the Quinn family in Jorvellan. Whatever you find, send it to me immediately.*
*Sure thing, Boss. Rest assured, the guys and I always handle things properly.”
Chris thumped his chest in affirmation, but before he could get another word out, Zina had already hung up.
He heaved a resigned sigh.
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Chapter 71
That was just like her–gave her orders and hang up right away. No nonsense whatsoeve
‘She never gives us a chance to get a word in edgewise.”
With that, he threw himself back into his busy routine.
Right after Chris’s light complaint, Zina sneezed, as if she sensed someone was gossiping about her behind her back.
She rubbed her nose, her gaze fixed on her phone as her mind wandered.
‘Something must have slipped my attention, she thought. That’s why this investigation has hit a dead end.
Five years have already passed. Uncovering the truth about that car accident now feels like chasing ghosts.
For a moment, Zina felt her head was on the verge of exploding, when suddenly Kellan’s chiseled face flashed before her
eyes.
“Weird. Zina thought. “Why am I thinking about the Carter family again?
The Carters…
And the Sinclairs….
Wait! Patrick’s illness was never that simple to begin with!”
Here
eyes widened in sudden realization, and she shot to her feet, staring blankly out the window.
Balling her hands into tight fists, she resumed pacing restlessly around the room as she waited for the call to connect.
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