Chapter 680
The ambulance drove away.
The Porsche was shattered, its airbag still deployed on the driver’s side. The blood on the ground was still a gruesome sight.
The handsome man sighed and said, “That woman just now–I couldn’t tell if she was pregnant or on her period, but I saw blood streaming down her legs.”
His assistant said, “What’s it to us? Come on, let’s go–you’ve got that audition for the lead in a music video. Don’t mess this up, or you’ll miss your shot.”
The handsome man stood still. He suggested, “Shouldn’t we at least notify her family?”
His assistant said, “Lucas, for heaven’s sake–stop being so soft-hearted. We’re just strangers to her. We’ve already done our part by calling an ambulance and paying for it; that’s more than enough. Let’s go. You’ve been working odd jobs in showbiz for years, and your career’s still going nowhere. If this audition falls through, too, do you even want to make your debut or not?”
“Of course I do,” Lucas replied.
Ever since childhood, Lucas had been passionate about singing and dancing. Multi-talented, he worked tirelessly to prove himself, longing for the spotlight and recognition. Yet his career had remained stagnant for years.
Lucas was fast approaching thirty–the age when a man was expected to have established himself. He couldn’t stomach turning thirty with nothing to show for it.
Just then, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Lucas let the phone ring out and watched in silence as it became a missed call.
That call suffocated him, making his fingers go numb with fear. He thought, ‘If only I had an understanding mother, one who wasn’t so controlling.’
At the Kelly residence, Irene was having coffee with the whole Kelly family, and the conversation naturally turned to Yalena and Jonathan.
Yalena’s mother, Katrina, said with a smile, “Yalena can be a bit mischievous sometimes. We’d appreciate your understanding.”
Irene smiled warmly and said, “Yalena is such a considerate girl. When Hayden was hospitalized, she visited him regularly. I truly adore her.”
Yalena said sweetly, “Thank you for your kind words, Mrs. Lynn. I’ve always believed that filial piety comes first among all virtues.”
Irene nodded in approval. She said to Katrina, “You’ve raised Yalena so well. She’s so well-behaved and considerate.”
Katrina said gently, “We’ve always supported Yalena’s decisions, whether in life or relationships.”
Irene smiled and said, “Jonathan is quite fond of Yalena. He’s a bit reserved by nature, and the thing is, he’s tied up with work today. But I’ll make sure he comes to pay you both a visit another day.”
Yalena’s father, Eason, nodded sincerely and said, “Mutual affection comes first, and then it’s all about the person’s moral integrity. Frankly, my wife and I don’t place much importance on family background–we just want Yalena to be happy.”
Irene chimed in warmly, “As they say, birds of a feather flock together. You’ve truly spoken my mind. With parents like you instilling such sound values in Yalena, I feel completely at ease. I wholeheartedly approve of this marriage.”
She was so domineering, it was as if she were ready to make all the decisions for Jonathan, even in his absence. She was practically itching to pick up the phone and get Jonathan and Yalena married on the spot.
Yalena sat demurely beside Katrina in an elegant dress, though her eyes kept darting furtively toward the antique clock on the wall. As the seconds ticked by, a triumphant smile played at the corners of her lips.
She thought, ‘Teresa and her son must have been dead by now, right? With three elders–my parents and Irene–here at home, I’ve got the perfect alibi. Even if Jonathan suspects me, I could clear my name. With Irene always ready to back me up, what could Jonathan possibly do to me? Next, all I have to do is put on a gentle facade and pretend to be Jonathan’s confidante–comfort him, make him feel cared for, let him fall for me, and then marrying him will be a breeze. My plan is perfect.’
Noticing how Yalena’s lips would occasionally curl into a sly smirk while her eyes darted around, Katrina asked, “Yalena, what’s got you smiling like that?”
Yalena quickly masked the calculating glint in her eyes and said sweetly, “Mom, I’m just so happy that Mrs. Lynn likes me this much. I can’t wait to marry Jonathan.”
Quick as Yalena was to conceal it, that venomous glint in her eyes didn’t escape Katrina’s notice. Katrina arched an eyebrow.
Just then, Yalena’s phone buzzed. Quickly dabbing at the corner of her mouth, Yalena stood up and said, “Mom, a friend is calling me. I need to take this.”
“Alright,” Katrina replied. She gazed after Yalena’s retreating figure, unblinking.
After Yalena left, Irene exchanged a few more pleasantries. Noticing it was getting late, she prepared to take her leave as well.
Once Irene had left, Katrina turned to Eason and said, “I don’t know why, but Yalena’s been acting a little strange lately.”
“Strange how?” Eason asked.
Katrina replied, “Sometimes when she sits beside me, I feel like she’s a completely different person—not my daughter at all.”
Eason sighed and pulled Katrina into a gentle embrace. He said, “You’re overthinking it, dear. Don’t let Yalena hear you say that–imagine how heartbroken she’d be.”
A year ago in Mianara, Yalena was kidnapped and barely escaped with her life. Had Eason not forked out a king’s ransom for her release, she would surely have perished at the kidnappers’ hands.
Katrina found herself tearing up again as she recalled that harrowing ordeal–the torment Yalena had suffered, and how close she’d come to losing her precious only daughter.
Katrina said, “You’re right. I was overthinking things. Yalena’s return to us is truly a blessing from above. We should cherish her all the more. If she truly loves Jonathan and he returns her affection–even though he’s divorced–we must respect our daughter’s choice.”
Eason said, “Don’t worry. Yalena has great judgment. Jonathan is not only handsome and charismatic, but also level-headed. Even though I haven’t worked with him much, his integrity and reputation are beyond reproach in the business world.”
Katrina snuggled into Eason’s embrace and said, “Good. As long as he’s not a womanizer and can make Yalena happy, that’s all that matters.”
Upstairs in her room, Yalena’s face twisted in dismay. She had expected the call to bring good news–that Teresa and her son were dead by now. But she was disappointed.
She gasped, “The woman in the car wasn’t Teresa? How the hell is that possible?”
The man on the phone replied, “We did our homework–the car we tailed was Teresa’s, the license plate matched our intel, and the timing fit her airport run. But after my guys hit it and got out to check, the woman inside wasn’t her. The woman was alone–no kid in the car.”
Yalena’s lips twisted in a furious snarl. She shouted, “You useless idiots. Didn’t you even double-check before ramming the damn car?”
The man replied, “We didn’t even know it wasn’t Teresa in the car.”
Yalena asked, “Who the hell was that woman in the car? Is she dead?”
The man lowered his voice and said, “She wasn’t quite dead yet. My two guys were about to finish her off, but then a car pulled up."