Ruth Tricks Maia
48 Pean
“It’s you!” Ruth seethed with rage the moment she realized everything had unraveled because Caroline had overheard her conversation with Helen. That was how Alaina had found out the truth.
She was so furious she could hardly contain it. “Caroline, what grudge do you have against me? Why are you so determined to ruin me?”
Caroline scoffed. “There’s no deep hatred between us, but I haven’t ruined you either. I simply did what I was supposed to do. Once I found out Maia is part of the Somertons, of course, I had to speak up.”
Ruth still tried to argue. “What do you mean ‘part of the Somertons? That brat doesn’t have the fate to enjoy a wealthy life! I carried her for ten months and gave birth to her. I’m her mother–you think you know better than I do?”
Caroline didn’t want to hear another word. Her voice turned sharp with anger. “You and I both know the truth. Stop lying to yourself. I’ll make sure
you pay for everything you’ve done to hurt Maia. So the only
thing you should be doing right now is repenting.”
She didn’t give Ruth a chance to reply and hung up immediately.
The beeping on the other end of the line made Ruth stomp her foot in frustration.
She had planned to take Maia away so Alaina wouldn’t be able to do the DNA test. She hadn’t expected Caroline to answer the phone.
She was at a loss.
It would be too late if they really went to the hospital.
She couldn’t let that test happen. If it did, Helen would be thrown out of the Somertons for sure.
My poor daughter has such a difficult life!
Ruth wanted to go upstairs and find Maia directly, but with Caroline still around–and possibly that man across the hall too–there was no way she could take Maia away.
She had to think of another way to get Maia alone.
Early the next morning.
It was still dark when Caroline was jolted awake by the sharp ring of her phone.
“It’s bad! Someone’s smashing the doors of your restaurant!”
Still half–asleep, Caroline snapped awake as soon as she heard the words.
Before she could ask anything, the caller hung up.
She didn’t recognize the voice but her contact number was on the signboard outside the old restaurant.
Maybe it was a kind stranger who happened to witness what was going on.
Caroline didn’t doubt the person for a second. She threw on some clothes and rushed to the restaurant.
In just half a month, the lease would be up.
12:46 Tue, 24 Jun ▼ KO
Chapter 277 Ruth Tricks Maia
* Pears
She couldn’t afford any problems now. If anything went wrong, she might have to pay darnages.
With her new restaurant just getting off the ground, money was already tight.
She left in such a hurry that she didn’t notice the pair of eyes watching her from a distance.
Those eyes belonged to Ruth.
Ruth watched Caroline ride off on her scooter, exiting the neighborhood. Only then did a sly smile spread across her face as she stepped out from the shadows.
She walked up to Caroline’s unit and called Maia.
It took several tries before the call finally connected.
Before Maia could say anything, Ruth blurted out, “Maia! Something terrible happened!”
Her voice was choked with sobs, desperate and trembling. The raw emotion in her tone caught Maia off guard, making her momentarily forget all the resentment in her heart.
“What happened?”
“Something happened to your grandma!” Ruth cried. “Jamie is nowhere to be found, and I can’t handle this on my own. I had no choice but to come to you. Please, come with me to see your grandma.”
Maia’s heart clenched. Her grandmother had never really liked her, but compared to Ruth, she had been relatively kind.
She had even stopped Ruth from going too far a few times when things got violent.
If something really happened to her, Maia couldn’t just ignore it.
“What happened to Grandma?” she asked.
Ruth paused for a moment, then said, “She got hit by a car. The driver fled the scene. We don’t even know if she’s going to make it. Lately, she’s been saying she wants to see you… if you don’t come, you might regret it for the rest of your life.”
Panic hit Maia. “Which hospital is she in? I’ll go right now.”
Ruth didn’t answer directly. “I’m on my way to your place. Come with me when I get
Then she quickly hung up the call.
Five minutes later, she knocked on the door. “Maia? Maia!”
there.”
Her voice was urgent. Maia didn’t suspect a thing and opened the door immediately. “How’s Granda?” she asked.
“Her condition is pretty bad,” Ruth/said, wiping at invisible tears before looking up at her.
When she saw the injuries on Maia’s face, especially the bandage over one eye, her expression changed. “What happened to your eye?”
“It’s nothing. Just a small injury,” Maia said flatly. She knew Ruth didn’t actually care, so there was no point in explaining. Instead, she pressed again, “Which hospital is Grandma in? Let’s go.”
12:46 Tue, 24 Jun G E G
