Chapter 390
Chapter 390
Lucia was startled, thinking, ‘Call the police? What for?‘
She was mulling over Ted’s suggestion to find someone to temporarily take over Eden’s duties. She already had her own criteria in mind.
At the very least, they must obey her–not be one of Audrey’s lackeys—and know who was really in charge here. Ideally, they’d be sharp enough to cover for her when needed.
She was still weighing her options when something shocking caught her ear.
Lucia was distracted, her mind in a muddle and her words illogical.
She protested, “Is it really necessary to call the police over a minor injury? Besides, I didn’t even do it on purpose. I just barely touched him.
“He’s already gotten his leave and compensation, so why is Eden still insisting on calling the police?”
Audrey’s gaze turned razor–sharp. “You’re the one who hurt Eden?”
The person delivering Eden’s log only mentioned he was injured and was given a few days off, without explaining how it happened. Audrey assumed it was just a simple accident–she never imagined Lucia was involved.
Startled by Audrey’s piercing gaze, Lucia instinctively clapped a hand over her mouth–but the words had already slipped out, and Audrey heard it
Her back stiffened as she forced out the explanation. “Eden rummaged through my bag without asking. I barely nudged him–he lost his balance and hit the dresser all by himself.”
“Why did he rummage through your bag?” Audrey demanded.
Lucia stole a glance at Logan. She couldn’t lie about this, but she didn’t want to admit the truth either.
Lucia replied, “Let’s not fuss over something so trivial. Just give me the money first, and I’ll redeem those things.”
Audrey thought sarcastically, ‘Get them back? Like it’s that easy.
‘Does she really think the pawnshop is her personal storage, and everything can come and go as she pleases?
‘Some things are gone for good if you hesitate. Even offering double the price now might not get them back.‘
Audrey handed Eden’s log to Yann, who flipped through a few pages before walking over to Logan and presenting it to him.
Yann said to Logan, “Take a look.”
Sensing an ominous shift in Yann’s vibe, Lucia instinctively reached for the log
Logan snatched it first, his eyes instantly turning fierce as he glared at Jenna.
Jenna was also calculating who would benefit her the most by taking over Eden’s position.
Jenna thought to herself. “Hans is really helpful. Whenever I have something going on at home, he always helps me out, and he doesn’t mind if I use the
Winifred family’s car every now and then.
“If I could get Hans to temporarily fill in for Eden, it’d definitely be easier to ask him for favors in the future.”
As if her recommendation actually mattered–she hadn’t even noticed Audrey had already made arrangements.
“Ah…” Jenna cried out as her arms were suddenly twisted behind her back, the pain making her break out in a cold sweat. “What did I do wrong? Why are you controlling me?”
1/3
Chapter 390
Everything happened so fast–it was as if the bodyguards had come down from the sky.
Lucia stood frozen in shock, only snapping back to reality when she heard Jenna’s cries of pain.
Lucia shouted, “What are you doing? Let go of Jenna. Audrey, tell them to stop and let her go right now”
Audrey fixed her gaze on the panicked Jenna and said coolly, “Eden’s log recorded every instance of Jenna’s suspicious activities, with curverfante footage as proof.
“You claimed you sold off unused gifts because of failed investments. How much did you sell? What specific items?
“Did Jenna take advantage of the situation–concealing the truth and stealing the family’s property?”
Jenna and Lucia were both startled.
While it might have been inappropriate for Lucia to dispose of the family’s belongings without consulting her husband, from a legal standpoint, it wasn’t illegal.
But Jenna was a different story. Every time items were taken out, it was Jenna who did it, and she alone handled all dealings with the pawnshop.
With surveillance footage from both the house and the pawnshop as irrefutable proof, Jenna had absolutely no way to defend herself.
Only by backing Jenna into a corner would she desperately implicate Lucia to save herself.
Jenna cried out desperately, “I didn’t take advantage. It was all Madam’s orders. Madam, say something. I gave you all the money. Don’t make me take the fall for this.”
Jenna was absolutely terrified–she never imagined the housekeeper had already discovered her sneaky dealings.
Jenna thought, ‘If Eden knew all along, why didn’t he say anything? Why does he expose me now when he kept silent all this time?
‘Just because Madam pushed him? Was it really necessary? Just that minor injury on his forehead didn’t even require stitches.
Boss gave him paid leave and extra compensation, so why did Eden have to go and tell Madam about it? What was he thinking?
‘Now I finally understood what Madam meant. I know exactly what kind of person Madam is.
‘If Madam claims she only sold a few items and says I sold off the rest without her consent, then I’ll be the one going to jail.
‘With such a huge sum involved, I could end up spending the rest of my life in prison. This absolutely can’t happen.”
Jenna writhed violently in desperation, her voice trembling with panic as she cried out, “Madam, say something!”
Audrey motioned to Hugo, and he abruptly let go of Jenna.
Jenna lurched forward and collapsed to her knees right in front of Lucia. She desperately clutched at Lucia’s pants. Her eyes were wild–a mix of terror, desperate pleading, and a veiled threat.
‘If she doesn’t set the record straight and tries to make me the scapegoat, I’ll have no choice but to expose all of Madam’s dirty secrets, Jenna thought desperately.
“Madam! Madam!” Jenna cried out desperately.
Lucia shrieked in terror as Jenna suddenly grabbed her leg.
Lucia shrieked in terror, “Hold her. Somebody, grab her now!”
She was shouting “Let Jenna go” just moments ago. Now that Jenna was free, Lucia panicked.
13
Chapter 390
Jenna clung to Lucia’s pants, her fingers digging painfully into the flesh beneath, making Lucia yelp in agony. In a panic, Lucia pounded Jenna ind screaming, “Let go. Let go right now!”
“Madam, please say something. It was you who told me to sell them. I never acted on my own, I swear,” Jerina pleaded desperately.
Lucia cried out, “Let go of r
- me. You’re hurting me.”
“Madam! Madam!” Jenna cried out, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.
Audrey’s words had indeed planted a new strategy in Lucia’s mind–a possible way to shift the blame.
She’d sold off so many things that she couldn’t even recall what exactly was gone. She thought, ‘Maybe if I pin half the blame on Jenna, Logan will redirect his anger, and maybe he won’t be so furious with me anymore!
The thought had barely formed in my mind when Jenna’s frantic grip tore it apart. The sharp pain jolted Lucia back to her senses.
“If I drag Jenna down with me, she’ll definitely spill all my secrets. This isn’t working,” Lucia thought anxiously.
“Jenna, get a hold of yourself.” Lucia seized Jenna’s shoulders and pinched her hard. “Just calm down for a moment.”
Jenna thought, ‘How the hell can I calm down? I’m about to take the fall for you and end up in jail.
‘Going to jail won’t even be the end of it. They’ll probably make my family pay back the value of all those gifts I sold. Even if we liquidate everything we own, it still won’t be enough.‘
“Madam, please explain to Mrs. Audrey Winifred. I swear I never acted on my own. I only did it because you told me to.” Jenna collapsed to the floor, her body trembling as she stared desperately at Lucia.
Lucia could only give a stiff nod. “Audrey, there must be some misunderstanding. Jenna would never do such things.”
Jenna wondered, ‘Is that really an explanation?‘
Audrey gave a knowing smirk. “According to Eden’s log, Jenna only started secretly moving things out this month.
“So, what exactly did you invest in this month? How much did you put in? How much did you lose that made you clear out the entire storage room in less
than a month?”
AD
