Chapter 253
Ruby’s sobs echoed through the VIP lounge, her head spinning as she sat slumped in her wheelchair, looking completely defeated. It was like all the strength had been drained from her body.
“Do you know who did this?” Tina’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. Ruby barely looked up, her red eyes trembling as she met Tina’s gaze.
Tina didn’t wait for her to answer. “I asked you. Do you know?”
Ruby’s voice was barely a whisper. “I know, but I can’t say.”
Tina’s hands shook with anger. The thought that the person who hurt her daughter was still out there in Riverdale made her want to storm out and hunt them down herself.
“Why can’t you say? Who is it? What are Mom and Dad supposed to do?”
Ruby tried to steady herself. “Please, just stop asking. I really can’t.”
Tina stared at her, searching her face for answers, trying to figure out what was holding Ruby back. There was only one person she could think of.
“It’s Theo, isn’t it? Just say it. Is it him?”
Ruby shut her eyes and didn’t reply.
Her silence was all the answer Tina needed.
Tina was stunned, standing in silence for a long moment. Finally, she let out a bitter laugh and started pacing the room, her voice trembling between anger and disbelief. “Of course. The Newton family. They really think they can get away with anything.”
“If I let her get away with this, there’s no justice left.”
Tina’s furious words were muffled by the door as she stormed out. Left alone, Ruby’s tears fell silently onto the blanket over her knees, vanishing without a trace–just like clouds scattered by a jet, fading into nothing.
Elsewhere, Jackson was lounging in the front seat of a car, playing a game on his phone with zero urgency. “Finally got rid of that idiot Ruby. Who’s next, Kelly?”
“Wonder how far Greg’s gotten with her. The guy’s hopeless,” he muttered.
Patricia sat beside him, her phone open to Kelly’s Wikipedia page.
Kelly. Female. Professor, Riverdale College, Vocal Performance Department.
Below that was a long list of her awards.
Patricia pulled out a couple of wipes and slowly cleaned her phone screen. “What do you think Kelly cares about most?”
“Feathers, the Newton family… isn’t it always the same?” Jackson replied, not even looking up.
“Does the Newton family have any investments in healthcare?”
Jackson thought about it. “Nope.”
1/2
15:31
Chapter 253
Aiden, who was driving, couldn’t quite follow where all this was going. He gripped the wheel, listening in without saying a word.
After a few quiet minutes, Patricia asked, “Aiden, does the Padilla family have any investments in Riverdale’s hospitals?”
Aiden nodded. “Yeah. Quite a few.”
“Which ones, exactly?” Patricia pressed.
“I’ll ask Mr. Padilla and send you the list,” Aiden offered.
He was fast. Patricia had just sat down at her desk when his message came through. Her eyes landed on the OB–GYN department at Riverdale General Hospital.
A small, satisfied smile crept onto her lips.
Across the desk, Sally was getting frustrated. “Mr. Martin, are you even listening to me?” She was trying to talk about the product launch, but Patricia’s distracted attitude was driving her crazy. Just because Patricia had equity in the company didn’t mean she could treat people like this.
“I’m listening,” Patricia said, putting down her phone and finally looking up.
Her calm, steady gaze made Sally falter for a second–Patricia’s beauty was honestly intimidating.
“Our team already finished the product proposal,” Patricia said. “As for your idea about the two teams collaborating, I’m not interested. It’s better if we just work separately.”
15.21
