Chapter 99: Aunt Orchid Calls
Faced with apologies from Elena and Martin, Tina remained unmoved, her face devoid of any unnecessary expression. However, when it came to Andrew, she finally spoke, “Regarding the incident last time, there was no evidence and no arrest warrant, and your summoning me to assist in the investigation was standard protocol. You are an upright person, so after you were suspended, I didn’t make things difficult for the Heisler family.”
Andrew’s mouth twitched slightly. You didn’t make things difficult, but your fiance did! The Heisler family’s business had already taken a hit last time, although Jared only intended to teach them a lesson. This time, Jared showed no mercy, aiming to bankrupt the Heisler family.
However, Andrew didn’t voice these thoughts. They were there to apologize, not to cast blame.
Tina’s eyes lifted slightly, and with her pale, delicate hand, she tucked a strand of hair that had fallen on her cheek behind her ear, speaking unhurriedly, “Mr. Heisler, do you still remember how you got to your current position?”
Andrew was shaken, looking at Tina in shock, struggling to find words.
He remembered, of course, he did! The Heisler family’s current position wasn’t earned through his parents’ efforts, nor by his own endeavors. Instead, the Heisler family had been supported and raised to their current status.
They didn’t know the identity of their benefactor, but after raising the Heisler family to their current position, they were left with a warning: not to use their power to oppress ordinary people, to do good deeds, and to forge good karma. If the Heisler family did evil, someone would take away everything they had.
Not only Andrew but his parents were also stunned by Tina’s words.
After a while, Orson, with a hoarse voice and feeling a chill running down his spine, asked, “Miss Reed, who are you?”
Tina didn’t answer him but instead took a ring out of her pocket and put it on.
Seeing the ring, Orson’s legs nearly gave out, and he almost knelt down, but a look from Tina allowed him to barely stand firm.
“Master Se…”
He began to speak but suddenly realized something and hastily fell silent.
Tina glanced at him coldly, expressionlessly saying, “I hope this is the last time.”
“Yes, yes, we understand, it won’t happen again,” Orson said, his voice dry.
“Take your daughter and go,” Tina said indifferently.
Orson didn’t dare linger and quickly left with Elena.
After they left, Jared’s deep-set eyes watched Tina for a long while before his gaze fell on the hand she had removed the ring from just two seconds earlier.
He had seen that ring once before, but the one on Tina’s hand was slightly different, almost imperceptible unless looked at carefully.
He didn’t know why Tina had that ring, but he understood that it represented power, a might even greater than the forces he had cultivated in secret.
Who exactly was Tina?
Unaware of his thoughts, Tina glanced at the student who became panicked due to Mr. Stiller’s reprimand and finally rested her gaze on Amber, her eyes deep. Without a word, she turned and left.
Once Tina left, the group of students who had surrounded her, intending to seek justice for Amber, looked at each other in confusion.
Their recent memory of doubting Tina’s educational credentials and the subsequent face-slapping came back to haunt them.
And Amber was the instigator of it all.
In that moment, everyone started to doubt Amber.
Upon seeing the expressions of those around her, Amber understood everything.
Fortunately, at that moment, her phone rang; it was Elizabeth.
Her heart tightened, and she answered the call anxiously, “Grandma, I just saw the news. How are you? I’m coming to see you right now.”
After the call, she requested leave from her Lead Teacher and headed to the hospital.
Hospital.
Rushing into Elizabeth’s ward, Amber was surprised to find her seldom-returning aunt Orchid sitting inside.
She paused, then smiled, “Aunt Orchid, you’re back?”
Orchid glanced at her, her response neither warm nor cold, “Mhm.”
Amber stiffened, feeling displeasure. This Orchid always seemed so disagreeable, always cold to her as if she owed her a fortune.
She didn’t bother with Orchid anymore and turned her gaze to Elizabeth, only to find that Elizabeth and Pinewood were both looking at her.
Elizabeth’s face was kind, but her eyes hid a shadow, and she beckoned, “Amber, come here, your grandmother has something to tell you.”
“Your grandmother hopes you will post a clarification about the matter of Tina taking credit for your work.”
Amber’s heart sank, “I understand, Grandma.”
Ensford High School.
As soon as Amber’s clarifying and apologetic post was published, Tina saw it.Text © by N0ve/lDrama.Org.
Amber had recorded a video, in which she admitted that it was Tina who had cured Shonna, and that she hadn’t stolen her credit.
She confessed that it was out of jealousy that she had slandered Tina and earnestly apologized to Tina in the video, asking for her forgiveness.
However, the direction of public sentiment did not improve by much.
Although Amber had stepped forward to clarify, in the video she cried so pitifully, looking so sympathetic that it seemed as though she was the one who had been greatly wronged.
The comments under the video were all expressions of disbelief, suggesting that Amber must have been pressured by the Farrell family to release such a clarification video.
Online, the abuse towards Tina became even more vicious.
Tina scoffed coldly; Amber’s reluctant video had subtly guided public opinion to be even more unfavorable toward her.
Playing mind games at this time?
Interesting.
Just then, Tina’s phone rang with an unknown number. Her brow furrowed slightly as she answered.
“Tina,” a gentle voice came through the phone, “it’s your Aunt Orchid. Do you remember me?”
“Aunt Orchid.” Tina was momentarily taken aback, her heart softening a bit as a tender face came to mind.
How could she forget? As a child at Moon Gate Estate, besides Hugo, only her Aunt Orchid had been kind to her, playing with her, buying her treats, and telling her stories.
She occupied half of the precious memories Tina had of Moon Gate Estate.
She had heard that Orchid later moved to Australia with her husband and didn’t expect her to suddenly return.
“It’s me, do you still remember?” Orchid’s voice became much softer, “I’ve always missed you over the years. It’s so good that Hugo could find you, Tina… Can I see you?”
Tina was silent for a moment, “Okay.”
She had thought her heart had become as hard as iron over the ten years in the mountains, yet it turned out that when faced with people like Jennie and Orchid, who genuinely cared for her, it could still be touched.
“I’d also like to see Zackary,” Orchid’s voice was filled with anticipation, “After Zackary gets out of school, can we take him to the amusement park?”
“Okay,” Tina agreed.