Chapter 4
+25 BONUS
Donald guffawed before exclaiming, “What’s gotten into you, Jeanette? How did you manage to find so many actors? Considering that pittance you earn as a salary, won’t you go bankrupt paying them? Look at him calling you Ms. Swan as though you’re a big shot. Hah!”
His spit landed on my face, and Gordon, despite being in his 50s, paled in horror at once. He quickly instructed his people to get me some tissues.
“Jeanette, why do you like putting on airs so much? As women, we should be more generous and accommodating. I’m willing to stay single for the rest of my life for Donnie’s sake, but what about you? You’re just acting like a bitch in heat!” Gigi declared as she looked at me with a mocking expression.
When Shawn noticed that everyone was too engrossed in the gossip to pay any attention to me, he started playing with the food and decorations all around, turning the party into a mess.
Shawn had been an unexpected gift in Frank and Martha’s later years, and by and large, they preferred him over Donald. They doted on Shawn above all else.
Previously, out of love for Donald, I dared not make any comments about Shawn’s behavior. All I wanted was for Donald to love me back. During the peak of my love for Donald, I even allowed Shawn to climb on top of me and ride me around the house like a horse.
“Shawn! Get down!” Donald snapped, his eyes brimming with fury. He marched up to Shawn to slap him.
So, it was indeed possible for him to get mad at Shawn after all! He knew that Shawn was a rude and unruly child, and he was capable of protecting someone from Shawn—but he never did it for me.
Alas, before he could slap Shawn, Frank grabbed him, and Martha also kicked him in the calf.
“That’s enough! What do you think you’re doing?” Frank snapped.
“Hey, you over there! Jane, or whatever your name is. Get the hell over here and apologize. You really are an uneducated woman who wasn’t raised right! You’re nothing but a gold digger who wants to leech off our family. It’s already a great honor for you to even get to show up here!” Martha shrieked.
It had been five whole years, but Donald’s parents couldn’t even remember my name.
“No, it can’t be. I don’t think this is just an act. I’ve seen that old man in the lead in the news before. I know who
he is.”
“You know, I think you’re right… but it can’t be. Isn’t Jeanette a nobody from the countryside?”
“Who knows? Maybe she’s secretly a big shot who’s been hiding her identity. Either way, we’re just going to stand back and enjoy the show.”
As soon as that comment was made, everyone fell silent.
Two police officers came up to Gigi and put a pair of handcuffs on her.
“Gigi Lott, you’re under suspicion of attempted murder. You’ll need to come with us to the police station for further investigation.”
“That’s impossible!” Donald, Frank, and Martha shouted in unison.
“Murder? What murder? Do you think you’re invincible just because you’re the police? That doesn’t give you the right to slander people!” Donald hollered. “Gigi and I spend all our time together, and-”
One of the police officers waved his hand in annoyance to cut Donald off before questioning Gigi, “Do you dare to
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 4
claim that you didn’t push Ms. Swan down the stairs?”
Frank and Martha started screeching loudly, “Answer him, Gigi! Go on. We’re all here, so no one can bully you!”
Those two readily accepted the supplements I gave them every month and happily had me at their beck and call. But despite all that, to them, I was nothing compared to Gigi.
During Christmas Eve, I slaved away in the kitchen and prepared a veritable feast for the entire Hoover family, but I wasn’t allowed to even join them at the table. Frank and Martha thought I was just a country bumpkin who was trying to rise above my station by latching onto them.
“Gigi, just tell the truth. I was there that day too. If you say you didn’t do it, I’ll believe you,” Donald declared.
“And you, Jeanette! Why are you kicking up such a fuss when you simply got a few scratches and lost a bit of blood? What kind of a woman are you? You’re the one who lost your balance and thought you could gain my sympathy by getting hurt. You’re just embarrassed and angry that I didn’t fall for your trick!
“In the past, I didn’t want to tell the truth because I didn’t want to hurt you, but from the looks of it now, you really are nothing but a bastard child who’s an incorrigible liar. You don’t have a single ounce of decency in you!”
The secrets I once shared with him from the bottom of my heart were now being used as a weapon against me. In the past, I had often considered taking my own life after being called a bastard child. Once, I made an attempt and nearly wasn’t rescued in time.
Donald knew what I cared about the most.
By the time I snapped back to reality, I saw the police officers eyeing the Hoovers in contempt.
“What’s this? Do you think your family is above the law? Is she innocent just because you say she is? Here’s the footage from the security camera! Feel free to see for yourself!”
The video showed that when Donald blinked, Gigi seized her chance to push me with all her might. Her vicious act had happened too quickly for anyone else to notice, and just like that, I fell and ended up covered in blood.
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