Ch. 601..610
Chapter 601
The next few days passed uncventfully.
call, inviting licr to il party at a bar named No
On Friday afternoon, Charlotte gave Genevieve Man's Land.
Genevieve, after getting a change of clothes, headed over after work, expecting Charlotte to have something to discuss.
Since going to the bar was a rare occasion for her, Genevieve recalled the last time she went there was with Johanna and Jermaine. Subscquently, they joined Cooper and the others in a private, room and played truth or dare.
As Armand had previously invested in the bar, ownership of it had naturally transferred to Cooper.
Charlotte, who loved to party. was never short of socialitcs and rich playboys in her entourage, even the lounge she reserved was in the most conspicuous part of the bar.
At the sight of Genevieve, Charlotte flailed her arms to welcome the former. "Genevieve, over here!"
After letting loose on the dancefloor for a while, the group headed into a private room to sing and continue drinking. In the midst of their merry-making, Charlotte pulled Genevieve aside. "Genevieve, how much does it cost to buy out one of your actor's contracts?"
Genevieve took a sip of her cocktail. "Why are you asking?"
Giving her arm a tug, Charlotte revealed, "The deputy CEO of Vitric Entertainment is a close friend of my dad's. Thus, I plan to sign Bruce over to his company."
Genevieve knew Charlotte's character well and was aware of how relentless the latter could be in the pursuit of whatever she wanted. A man was no exception to her.
Considering the history of Charlotte's relationships, her interest in Bruce was probably just temporary
With a darkening gaze, Genevieve casually replied, "I spent a princely amount when I first signed Bruce over. As a result, the price to buy out his contract is similar to that of Sylvie's which is a nine-figure sumn."
"That's a lot!" Charlotte was caught by surprise.
After giving the matter some thought, Charlotte raised lier cocktail glass and clinked it with Genevieve's. "Genevieve, since we're friends, I'll reimburse you whatever you paid for Bruce, not a penny less. After that, I'll tell my dad to look out for Specter Corporation while your company relcases Bruce from his contract. How about that?"
Even though Charlotte had a huge allowance and could easily get more from her father just by cajoling him, the latter would never agree to pay such an outrageous sum just for an actor. Swirling her cocktail glass, Genevieve remarked in resignation, "The company isn't minc alone, as there are many more shareholders. Even if I wanted to help you on the account of our friendship, they would definitcly relusc. Ms. Benson, if you really like Bruce, what difference does it make if you ask him out?"
"But he's ignoring me." Leaning dejecically into the couch, she grumbled, "Just the other day when you invited him out to the art exhibition for me, he made in cxcuse after a few minutes and left."
Since it was common knowledge low rich and generous Charlotte was, many clamored to be invited to her parties, On top of that, she was never short of suitors. Unfortunately, only Bruce paid no liced to her.
Even during their visit to the art exhibition, she dropped her father's name on purpose so that he could tell her his demands. Unexpectedly, her implicit offer was haughtily snubbed by him. That was the genesis of her intention to sign Bruce over to Vitric Entertainment. As an employce, he would have no choice but to obey hier.
Upon hearing her words, Genevieve felt an inexplicable sense of relief. "There are plenty of actors in the entertainment industry. If he isn't interested in you, why don't you find one who is?" Charlotte snorted. "Is there anyone else who could come close to him?"
Truth be told, Genevieve shared her sentiments.
Charlotte, fiddling with her hair, suggested all of a sudden, "I have a feeling that he's playing hard to get. By the time I'm hopelessly enamored with him, he'll give in to me and that's when I'll return the favor to him for a few months."
Genevieve almost choked on her cocktail when she heard the words.
She wondered how many relationships Charlotte had actually been in to gain such an insight into men.
At the sight of Genevieve's shocked expression, Charlotte suggested with a smile, "Look, you agree with my speculation, don't you? He has truly captured my heart and made me feel as if I'm hopelessly in love."
Genevieve was rendered speechless.
"Genevieve, why don't you give him a call?" Charlotte gave Genevieve's arm a lug. "Invite him over to join us."
Genevieve wiped the corners of her mouth witli a napkin. "Are you really that attracted to him?"
Charlotte nodded.
"Since he's so irresistible to the extent of having you mesucrized, have you ever wondered why would Coco cheat on such a perfect man?"
Chapter 602
"Huh?" Charlotte was stunned. "He dated Coco before?"
Realizing that Charlotte wasn't aware of Bruce's history, Genevieve related Bruce and Coco's underground romance to the former.
After learning of the incident, Charlotte had the same cxc response as Gencvicve did at Bruce's house. "Is Coco blind? Why would she pass over Bruce and sleep with an old man?" Genevieve insinuated, "Have you ever considered that the problem lies with Bruce?"
Charlotte stared at Genevieve, dumbstruck.
Raising another cocktail to her lips, Genevieve took a big gulp. "Do you still want me to call his assistant and invite him over?"
"Forget it." Charlotte's enthusiasm had seemingly been doused. "If a man can't get it up, that pretty face of his is all for naught."
Noticing that Genevieve had downed two cocktails, Charlotte pointed at the glass. "Do you enjoy it that much?"
"It's pretty good." Genevieve shrugged as she took the third glass.
Just when Charlotte wanted to inform her that the cocktail was specially concocted with a strong but delayed kick, another girl came over to pull the former aside to sing. Meanwhile, Genevieve didn't drive, as she had expected to drink that evening.
After finishing her third glass, she bit into a slice of lemon to jolt her senses while pulling out her phone. Deciding against calling Cooper since it was late, she felt it better to contact Steven instead.
As the partygoers drank through the night, the private room became so boisterous that Genevieve's right ear began to buzz.
In the meantime, she figured the room's air conditioning wasn't cold enough as her body burned up even though all she was wearing was a slip dress.
When a young man approached and attempted to pull her away to the dancefloor, she swept his hand away. "I'm not dancing, Please tell Ms. Benson that I'm be taking my leave." Grabbing her bag, she stumbled out of the private room.
While making her way across the dancefloor, a man noticed hier unsteady gait and figured that she was drunk. Attracted by her pretty face and stunning ligure, he was driven to follow her by his lust.
"Miss, where do you live? Why don't I give you a ride home?"
Before his hand could reach Genevieve, she grabbed a bottle of red wine off a waiter's tray and
smashed it into his head.
"Throw him out," Genevieve ordered groggily before dusting off the glass shards in her hand onto the tray.
Recognizing Genevieve, the waiter acknowledged her respectfully before calling in the bodyguards. They subsequently gave the man a beating and threw him out of the bar.
The waiter followed up with a kick and sneered at the man, "Luckily, our boss isn't here. Or else, you would be going home without any hands!"
Meanwhile, Genevieve was surprised at the knock-on effects of just three cocktails. Under normal circumstances, her capacity for alcohol allowed her to consume plenty of whiskey without feeling anything
Upon stepping out of the bar, she spotted the Rolls-Royce Phantom parked by the street. She had barely walked toward it when its doors opened for her.
Inside the car sat a man in a cap and a face mask. When he saw the slight blush on her checks and how she kept pulling down her collar, he quickly pulled her into the car with a darkened gaze. "Why did you get yourself drunk?"
No sooner had he settled her into her seat than he instructed Steven, "Find a pharmacy, and get her some sobering pills."
"What gives you the right to order him around" Genevieve was outraged at how the man was speaking to Steven. "He isn't your driver. You should show him some respect!"
"All right. I'll take note of it." Bruce opened a bottle of water and held it up to her mouth. "Do you want some water?"
"No, I don't." Genevieve shoved his hand away.
Didn't I get Steven to pick me up? Why is Bruce in the car?
With her mind clouded by the heat, Genevieve wasn't in the mood to dwell on the matter. Pulling up her dress to allow the heat to dissipate faster, she mumbled, "Steven, please lower the temperature of the air conditioning."
When Bruce threw an icy glance forward and saw Steven focused on driving, he pulled up the screen that separated the back of the car.
Chapter 603
Bruce proceeded to straighten Genevieve's dress but ended up with her kicking around violently.
Irritated by how hot she felt, Genevieve reached around for the button to lower the window.
"Stop messing around." Bruce pulled her hand back to stop hier. "It'll be cold if you open the window."
Struggling to free hersell, Genevieve ranted in a drunken stupor, "It's really hot! I insist on opening the window! Let me do it, or I'll kick your iss!"
When she raised her leg to kick him, Bruce couldn't help but be amused at her intoxicated behavior.
Finally, he hugged her tight and sat her on his lap to prevent her from opening the window. Genevidve, who had her limbs restrained, headbutted him but ended up hurting her own nose instead.
By the time Steven found a pharmacy and returned with some sobering pills, Genevieve pursed her lips rightly and refused to take any.
Moreover, she even lectured Bruce, "Let me tell you that my children are already four. There's no way your charm is going to work on me!"
When Bruce finally gave up, Genevieve pressed on instead. "Why have you stopped trying to feed me? Are you doing it on purpose? Fine, you have now piqued my interest!"
Bruce was specchless.
What in the world is she rambling about?
Even though the Rolls-Royce had a spacious back row, Genevieve still couldn't bear the heat due to how stuffy the car was. Staring at Bruce, who was in close proximity to her, she noticed how alluring his lips were and felt as if his deep obsidian eyes were constantly seducing her.
As her gaze drifted to Bruce's Adam's apple for two seconds, Genevieve leaned in to kiss and lick him. The suddenness of her advances caused him to freeze. Pushing her away, he asserted in a raspy voice, "Calm down."
"Don't worry, I'm not expecting you to do it for free." Genevieve slithered up to him, her eyes glistening dreamily. She asked in a domineering tone, "Go on, how much for one night? Is a inillion enough?"
Bruce/was stumped.
"I supposed that's not enough," Genevieve mumbled to herself. "Considering how handsome you arc, I'll offer you three million. How about that?"
With his lips twitching, Bruce didn't know whether to feel amused or angry. "Genevieve, how much did you drink?"
"Not much. Only three cocktails." No sooner had Genevieve finished than she glared at him. "I'm the boss here. However much I drink is none of your concern. All you should care about is pleasuring me!"
Bruce figured that the cocktails she consumed were specially concocted to be stronger than whiskey itself. Or clse, she would be drunk to that extent.
When he saw how adorable she looked, his Adam's apple couldn't resist bobbing.
"All right, it's a deal."
Since they were in the car, Bruce kept his lust under control while covering Genevieve's mouth to stop her from letting loosc.
By the time they got home, he pinned her against the door before covering her entire body with an avalanche of kisses, causing her to tremble from the raging lust.
Locked in a passionate embrace, both of them made their way to the room that was covered in darkness.
The moment Genevieve was thrown onto the bed, the impact jolted her back to her senses. It was then that the impulsiveness of her actions dawned upon her. However, when she saw the dark silhouette of Bruce's face with the help of the dim moonlight, the sense of familiarity suppressed her inherent urge to push him away. Squinting her eyes to get a closer look, Genevieve moaned, "Armand?"
Bruce simply leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips.
At the climax of their passion, Genevieve dug her chin into his shoulder amidst the uncontrollable quivering of her body.
Stroking her back gently, Bruce leaned into her car and whispered, "Darling."
When she faintly heard the words, Genevieve thought that he wanted a kiss from her. She
subsequently obliged by kissing his Adam's apple before giving it a gentle bite.
Bruce couldn't help but smile to himself.
The next day, Genevieve was stupefied for a long time when the gray minimalistic room greeted her eyes the moment she opened them.
Even though she was wearing a strappy ash-gray nightgown, the soreness between her legs and the hickcys on her arms caused memories of the night before to come looding back into her mind.
Recalling the audacious words that rolled off her tongue the night before, Genevieve just wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.
This is just too embarrassing.
Bruce, attentive to her needs, had prepared a new set of clothes for her. After washing up and puring them on, Genevieve hesitated inside the room.
We're all adults here. Sleeping with each other after getting drunk shouldn'be a big deal. Besides, it's not like he's doing it for free.
Having cleared her mind, Genevieve opened the door and strode out to see Bruce preparing breakfast on the kitchen island. Even the way lic busicd himself was irresistibly charming. Sensing someone watching him, he looked up and made eye contact with her.
"Perfect, you're up. I just finished preparing breakfast."
"I need to rush to the office. So, 1-I'll be skipping it." Returning his gaze, Genevieve felt her courage slipping away, leaving behind a sense of awkwardness.
Chapter 604
"I've made some oatmeal and beef meat pic. Are you really not going to try them?" Bruce asked.
Genevieve felt the urge to just turn him down, but her stomach growling betrayed her hunger. She had not taken anything the whole night, and her body could not resist the good food, so Genevieve sat down quictly at the table.
The oatmeal smelled delicious and tasted sweet. After having some warm food, Genevieve felt refreshed and energized.
While she atc, Bruce watched hier nervously, wondering if the food suited her taste buds. When Genevieve was almost done eating, he took a fork and had some of the pic himself. "By the way." he suddenly uttered, "I got the follow-up script yesterday night."
"Really?" Genevieve was glad to hear that. She badly wanted to read it then and there, but the thought of spending another awkward second with him made her hesitant.
"Could you send me the electronic version?" she asked. That was the best compromise she could think of.
Bruce looked at her. "Yeah, but you deleted me on WhatsApp."
"I'll add you again." Genevieve unblocked him on WhatsApp and added him back. "I can't wire you money here, so how about you give me your bank account number?" "You don't have to," Bruce replied, taking her bowl and finishing up the oatmeal in it. "I just wanted to prove something."
As Genevieve watched him finish her leftovers, she felt even more uncomfortable. "Oh. What is
it?"
Bruce chuckled. "How was my performance yesterday night?"
Genevieve recalled the day when she came here to have a meal. She conjectured that Bruce had broken up with Coco because he was impotent. At least, that was what she told Charlotte at the bar, but things took an unexpected turn, and Genevieve ended up sleeping with Bruce yesterday night.
Genevieve rubbed her forehead, trying to block her face from him.
Her sleeve slid downward at the movement, revealing the love bites on her arm.
She quickly put down her hand again and locked her gaze on Bruce. "You're not bad," she said shortly. Just give me your account number. I told you I will pay up."
Bruce could not refrain from laughing. He gave her his account number, and Genevieve transferred him the money. That made her feel better.
After a while, Genevieve got ready to leave. Before she did, though, she looked back at Bruce again as if she was hesitating if she should say something.
Bruce beat her to it. "Don't worry, Ms. Rachford. You've paid me enough. I don't remember anything from yesterday at all. Besides, I'm starting filming tomorrow. You won't be seeing me for some time."
Genevieve did not understand why a hint of
She should be relieved since he would be gone, but that also mcant he would not be able to make hier lunch for some time to come.
"Have a safe trip," Genevieve said.
Then she left Regality Gardens for the company. Amanda gave her a video call not long after Genevieve arrived.
"Mommy," the girl coocd, "I miss you so much!"
"I miss you too!" Genevieve replied, making a kissing gesture.
"You're lying, Mommy," Amanda complained, pouting her lips. "All my friends have their parents with them, but not me. They are loved and cared for, but you left me all alone here." There were tears in the girl's eyes.
"Come on," Genevieve replied helplessly. "You have food to eat and things to play with every day. That is not what deserted kids get."
"But I just want to be with you, Mommy. Could you bring me skiing in Horbah? You've not spent time with me for so long," the girl implored before a brief moment of silence.
"Mommy." she called out, "don't tell me you have a boyfriend over there. Does that mean you don't want Lucian and me anymore?"
"Of course not!"
Amanda's call reminded Genevieve that it had indeed been a long time since she went back to Dartan to see them.
Since Sylvie would not be able to make a comeback in the entertainment industry anytime soon, there was nothing much left for Genevieve to do.
"All right," Genevieve declared with a smile. "What about I go back the day after tomorrow? I'll bring you guys to Horbah to go skiing."
Amanda was clated. "Yay! Promise, Mommy?"
"Yes. I promise."
While they were still on the call, Jane entered to look for Genevieve.
Since Jane had never met Amanda before, Genevieve introduced them to each other.
Jane's heart melted when she saw the adorable child on the screen. She wished she could extend
her hand through the screen and pinch the girl's cheeks. "You are so cute!"
"Thanks, Ms. Faulkner. You're pretty too!"
"No." Genevieve interrupted. "You should call her 'Aunt Jane. She's your daddy's cousin."
Jane was dumbstruck.
Upon first secing Amanda. Jane liad wondered why the child did not take after Jack's green eves. It all made sense afier she licard what Genevieve said.
Chapter 605
"Oh! Hi, Aunt Jane!" Amanda greeted, smiling sweetly. She even took the phone to the next room to look for Lucian.
When janc saw Lucian's face, she realized lie looked exactly the same as Armand when he was young. They had the same cold and impassivc faces-although Janc had to admit that Lucian looked cuter.
Right afier the call ended. Jane shot Genevieve a question. "Genev, why did you lie to Mando: Why did you tell him they were not his children?"
Genevieve decided to reveal the truth and told her about the complicated relationship between Armand and Jack.
Jane did not speak for some time after finding out about the truth.
"You know," she finally remarked, "I've never seen Mando love someone like this. He's even willing to give his wealth and status away because of you. When you left him for Jack, I thought you were so crucl for betraying someone who loved you that dearly, but now, I don't know what to feel knowing that you've done so much for Mando."
Genevieve took a sip of coffee and lowered her eyes. "Cesar might not deserve Charice's love, but that's what happened between them. I don't want Jack to become a merciless killer." The last thing Genevieve wanted was for the brothers to turn against one another.
Jane was at a loss for words. She knew just how ruthless Jack was. If Genevieve had not married him, the whole Faulkner family would not have lived till that day-including her-but. Genevieve's sacrifice came at a costly price.
ILI
She and Armand had separated for more than four years until they eventually became worlds apart.
When Jane looked up again and saw how unaffected Genevieve looked, she was almost brought to tears as she imagined how much Genevieve must have been through to finally come to terms with reality.
"Genev, you have no idea how much Mando loved you. He just didn't tell you. He could have married someone else if he did not love you, but no, he waited for you all that while."
Love?
Genevieve recalled what he said to her when he came looking for her at Regality Gardens the other day
Back then, she was utterly unmoved, but when she relived that moment now, the determination and fear in his voice haunted her. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed in a fist, and her breathing became rapid.
"Genev? Are you okay?" Jane asked in concern when she realized there was something wrong with Genevicvc.
"I'm good." As she spoke, Genevieve took out a bottle and poured two pills from it.
Jane noted down the name of the drug "Since when do you have problems with your heart?"
"It's been like this for some time," Genevieve said dismissively, putting her medication back into her bag. "Jermaine did a checkup for me some time ago. He said I have nothing to worry about aside from occasional hcart palpitations."
After a pause, she continued, "Well, we should let bygones be bygones. I'm happy with my two children now. I wanted to bring them back so they could meet you and Coop, but you know how crafty Sylvic is. I don't have the time and energy to keep an eye on them if I bring them over now, so I might as well finish what I have to do here before I send for them."
"I agree. Leaving them at Dartan is the best thing you can do," Jane said. She had witnessed for herself just what Sylvie was capable of on the cruise ship.
"Mando..." she added hesitantly: "Does he know about the children?"
Genevieve nodded. "He came to me before the accident happened, and I told him about the kids, but he had never seen them before."
Back then, it did not occur to Genevieve that that would be the last time she saw him.
Jane's heart chilled. Sometimes, she could not understand how fate could be so capricious and cruel. Armand was an eminent latent in the business sphere, yet fate had not spared him cither. The two talked for a bit, and Jane asked for photos and videos of the two kids because she adored them.
When night came after working hours, Cooper arrived at the company to pick Jane up.
After getting into the car, Jane asked him to drive her to a textile store located some thirty kilometers away from where they were.
"Seriously?" Cooper asked, glancing at her. "I can just call the shop and ask them to send a few samples over if you want to make some clothes. You know you don't have to go there in person, right?"
Jane shook her head, smiling. "You don't understand. Sometimes, you have to touch them for yourself to know if they're really good."
Cooper kept quiet. As she said, he was really not an expert in that field.
Chapter 606
After they arrived. Jane started picking the cloth she wanted among all the hundreds available at the store. When she could not find some of the matcrials she needed, she went to ask the shop OWICI.
Afier she was done selecting. Jane went to the mall to get some other things she needed with Cooper.
It was already ten-ishi wlien they reached liomc.
Jane hurriedly at the food Golden Restaurant delivered and then set to work, going through all the things she had bought carlier on in the living room.
Meanwhile, Cooper cleaned the table first before joining her in the living room with a glass of warm milk
He put the milk on a coffee table, waiting for her to drink it, but Jane quickly asked him to take it away: "Don't do that. You might dirty the cloth. I'll have to buy them again then," she warned. "But this is for you."
Jane quickly took it and quaffed down the whole glass before passing the empty glass back to him. To her, there was no point trying to act decently in front of Cooper.
Cooper put the glass on the other side and looked back. "Why are you doing all this? Since when were you so interested in textile and ornaments? Did the company ask you to make a red carpet dress?"
"Nope," she denied. Jane took out her phone and gave it to Cooper. "Look at these designs. Aren't they cute?"
Cooper went through the pictures of outfit designs for dolls before looking over at the materials Jane bought. He finally understood what she was up to. "You're making clothes for dolls."
"Yes." Jane nodded.
Then she cuddled into his chest and swiped through her album to show him photos of Lucian and Amanda. "These are Mando's children. Aren't they lovely?"
Cooper was startled. "Armand Faulkner?" he asked antipathically. "Who's their mother?"
"Well, the children are about four years old. Who do you think she is?" Jane asked in return.
Cooper sat back, staring at her in disbelief.
He grabbed the phone and zoomed in, "This boy looks very much like Armand, but, of course, he is inuch cuter."
"I think so too," Jane agreed with a smile, but the happiness on her face quickly faded away. "But Mando never got to see them."
After a sigh, she collected herself again. "I contacicd a famous BJD dolls designer and sent him pictures of Mandy so he can make a doll that looks like lier. I'll make the clothes and accessories myself. This will be my gift for her."
When the next day came, Jane was in her ollice when she suddenly had a stroke of genius. Within just a few hours, she came out with a dozen designs for doll clothes. Ilcr ideas ranged from princess dresses O casual ones.
"By the way, how do you spell the girl's name?" Cooper asked.
Jane opened her memo and then typed out the children's names. "The boy is Lucian, and the girl is Amanda. Iler nickname is Mandy."
Cooper understood instantly why Genevieve named the girl Amanda.
She must really love Armand.
"I know Johanna is definitely better at clothes designing than me, so I decided to give Mandy a doll instead. Johanna can make her some clothes after she wakes up." She thien tilted her head to look at Cooper, asking, "What about you? What do you want to give Lucian?"
Cooper thought for a bit. "I'll give him a helicopter."
Jane felt like rolling her eyes at him. "Your nephew is only four, and you want to gift him a helicopter. Do you think he can even fly it?"
Cooper raised his brows. "Then I'll give him a customized sports car. Boys like this kind of cool stuff."
Jane was rendered utterly speechless.
"By the way," Cooper continued, opening an online shopping app on his phone. "Do you need a sewing machine and some thread? Take a look. I'll get them delivered tomorrow. We can make the outfits together."
"I'll take care of Mandy's present. You just need to worry about Lucian," Jane answered.
"Nah. A sports car is an easy option," Cooper replied dismissively. "It's not like I can make a sports car myself, right?"
Jane cyed him knowingly and pinched his face. "I know you don't like Lucian because he looks like Mando. Are you jealous? Is that why you aren't even bothering to think about giving him a proper gift?"
Chapter 607
"No way." Cooper grumbled.
"Really? I know you're jealous!" Janc cxclaimed with a checky smile. "Come on! You're a grown man. There's no need to be calous of kill Aren't you afraid that Lucian will get back at you when he grows up?"
Cooper put on an angry lace and sneaked lis 11:nds into licr swcater, tickling anc. She laughed and twitched in his m.
"All right! All right! I'm sorry!" Jane begged in the end.
When Cooper finally stopped. Janc looked her arms around his neck before planting a kiss on his lips. Cooper played along, closing the distance between them by pulling her to him by her waist and kissing licr back.
When they broke apart eventually, Jane's checks were already flushed. She panted as she lay down in his embrace.
Suddenly, Cooper's phone lit up, so Jane took it up and passed it to him.
Cooper picked up the call with one hand, combing Jane's messy hair with another. "So, did you get anything?"
A brief silence ensued as Copper listened attentively before hanging up.
When Jane saw him checking his email right after, she thought it was a work-related matter. "Do you want to go over to the study?" she suggested.
"No. It's not about work," Cooper replied shortly. He clicked on an email he received a minute earlier and continued, "I've long suspected Sylvie. Despite the efforts that went into searching for Old Mr. Zeigler's second daughter, who went missing dozens of years ago, no one was able to locate her, but bam! Sylvie conveniently turned out to be that daughter's child."
Back when he was talking to Armand about this, the latter did not believe it was pure coincidence as well, so he had asked Steven to get to the bottom of the mystery. Unfortunately, Steven's investigation was fruitless.
Cooper did not believe that was the case either, so even after Armand had died, he continued looking into the matter.
He had asked people to go to Dartan in secret to find out more about Sylvie's mother.
"So, did you discover anything suspicious?" Jane could not help but question.
"Ycali" he replied, showing her bis phone. "Sylvie hid all the records about her past, so I sent someone to keep digging deeper until they finally came across a clue at a farm."
Jane read through the email. It turned out that Sylvie's mother, Susan Wright, once worked at a farm when she was young.
It so happened that there was another Chanacan working at that farm as well. That co-worker was actually from Baykeep and had worked together with Susan for two years. According to her, Susan was not from Baykcep since she did not speak the dialect at all. However, the worker also told Cooper's man that she had no idea where Susan was actually from. "Old Mr. Zeigler has lived in Baykeep ever since lie was born, and the same goes for his children If Susan was really his daughter, there was no way she could not speak the local dialect." Jane tilted her head, thinking. "Or maybe she has lived in Dartan for so long she doesn't remember the dialect anymore. After all, Sylvie did do a DNA test with Old Mr. Zeigler."
Cooper scoffed. "Assuming what Sylvie claimed is true, Old Mr. Zeigler will be her maternal grandfather. They are two generations apart. That's a pretty distant match for a DNA test. Besides, even if the test result showed that she was actually his grandchild, don't forget that one could easily fake a test result."
"But it's Old Mr. Zeigler. Who would dare do such a thing?"
"That's what I can't figure out. Sylvie was a nobody, so how exactly did she get the other person to help her? That person is taking a huge risk by tampering with the test result." Cooper was also thinking hard about the point Jane raised.
Sylvie would not have achieved fame in showbiz initially if it were not for Armand, but it would not be easy to get Armand to do something like that for her.
Then who could it be?
"I bet Sylvie has her people keeping watch at the place she did a DNA test with Old Mr. Zeigler, so I hadn't dared to send anyone there."
Jane rubbed her brows, speaking lowly. "Well, if we really want to know if the results are fake, we can just ask them to run another test to know if she's really his granddaughter."
Both of them knew that was easier said than done.
Sylvie's bodyguards were all ex-
members of the special forces, and they stood guard around her twenty-four-seven.
Even if Cooper and Jane were to tell Herbert what they found out, they had no evidence to prove their point. Herbert would not believe a word they said.
In the best-case scenario, where Herbert actually bought their story, Sylvie would definitely find out about it and take preemptive actions to change the new test result. There was no way she did not have any spies around Herbert.
Chapter 608
Meanwhile, Genevieve had bought a flight ticket and had embarked on a ten-plus-hour journey backliome.
When she arrived in Dartan in the alicmoon the next day, the two children were playing at the playground
Amanda wiis over the moon when she saw her mother. The girl ran as fast as her little legs could bring her toward Genevieve. "Mommy!" When she finally reached her mother, Amanda nuzzled the woman. "Oh, Mommy! I missed you so, so much! Did you miss me?"
"Of course." Genevieve exclaimed, picking her up and kissing her in the face. "You smell good, Swectic! Like strawberries and butter." Amanda giggled when Genevieve kissed her.
The girl went on to complain to her about how Lucian bullied her as the two went into the house. "Lucian is always asking me to sleep early, but he himself plays with his phone until late at night in his room. Also, he said the doll I made was ugly. Oh, and he even ate my caramel pudding!"
Lucian, who had been following behind all the while, defended himself, "I didn't play with my phone. As for the doll, I was just speaking the truth. You have a nose yourself, but you didn't make one for your ugly doll. Also, I didn't eat your desert because I wanted to. You were already so full yesterday, so I couldn't just let you stuff that thing down or you might explode."
"Whatever!" Amanda shouted at her brother before turning back to look at Genevieve pitifully. "Mommy, look at all the excuses Lucian made up to bully me. Why didn't you make me his elder sister?"
Lucian scoffed, "You're not taller than I am, and you're not as smart. How can you even hope to be the elder sibling?
For a moment, Genevieve was reminded of Armand.
Not only did Lucian take after his looks, but the child also inherited his intelligence and his calm demeanor
He might look as if he had no temper, but just like his father, he liked using facts to argue with people.
Amanda was on the verge of crying. She wrapped her arms around Genevieve's neck, sobbing, "Mommy... Look at him! He keeps doing this to me. You have to punish him." "Lucian," Genevieve stressed, "didn't I tell you to take care of your sister? As a punishment, you will have to give your share of dessert to Mandy tonight."
"Okay," Lucian replied nonchalantly.
When the girl saw that Genevieve had taken her side, she stuck her tongue out at Lucian and then
kissed Genevieve. "Mommy's the best."
It was a cokl month at Dartan, so Genevieve went upstairs to put on a thicker sweater before going shopping with the children so she could get them some clothies for skinur. "The trio was walking around in the mall whiclack calleel. "I'll meet you at Ilcisin tonight for dinner. I'll be there al about seventhinty."
"Sure." After Genevieve talked to him for a bit, she hung up.
Beside lier, Amanda was humming a tunc in glee, dreaming about the trip they were about to take. When they went past an ice cream store, the girl begged Genevieve to buy her two scoops of strawberry tlavor ice cream.
After she got what she wanted, she turned toward Lucian to show off. "Lucian, say you were wrong, and I will give you a bite."
Lucian looked away, ignoring her.
When the clock struck seven, the children and Genevieve were already at Heising. Since Jack and the children were frequent customers of the restaurant, the staff had a window seat with a splendid view reserved for them.
Amanda was still eating her ice cream in Genevieve's arms when she said, "Mommy, I know that guy's name."
"Which guy?"
"The guy who appeared in the video when you showed me the sky lanterns the other night," the girl replied, smiling. "He's a celebrity. No wonder he's so handsome." Unfortunately, Amanda was not interested in the romance movies Bruce filmed since she could not understand a thing.
Genevieve felt uncomfortable when she was reminded of the preposterous actions she did with Bruce the night she got drunk. "Yeah, celebrities are better looking than regular people."
Amanda cocked her head and thought about it, ranking the people she knew based on their looks, "That guy is handsome, but he's still not as good-looking as Mr. Valentine or Daddy." To her, her father was the most handsome man in the entire world.
Chapter 610
An inexplicable glimmer sparkled in Jack's eyes upon hearing Genevieve's words. Ile pulled her into his arms and looked down, his warm breaths caressing her face
Genevieve intuitively turned her face away, only to be starilcil by her own reaction.
She did not know why her body would naturally shy away from Jack's attempts to be close to her. What perplexed her more Was why she did not feel the same antagonism toward Bruce wlien he accidentally touched her.
She had just met lim not long ago, but they ended up sleeping together.
"What do you take me for, Genev? A repulsive beast? It's been lour years, but you're still trying to avoid me," Jack remarked with a siglu. Over the years, loc luad never once forced himself on her even after Genevieve had turned him down, and that night was no different. lle let her ko.
He knew Genevieve did not love him, but she would never be able to love anyone else cither, keeping her by his side was already enough for him.
The next morning, two skilled bodyguards escorted Genevieve and the children to the airport.
They waited for a while at the VIP lounge and were ushered into the first-class cabin. The children were so excited they started exploring every bit of the place.
"So, this is how a plane looks like!" Amanda announced.
Jack's private jet was customized in such a way that the interior was lavish and comfortable like a homc.
Every time he brought Amanda on a trip, she would watch an animated movie or play some games with Lucian, and they would be at their destination in no time. However, this was her first time flying on a normal plane.
Amanda was curious about how it looked like on the inside.
"Yes, Mandy. You will be taking this kind of plane when you go to Chanaca in the future." Genevieve told herself that she should give Amanda more exposure to what life was like outside her own world.
After all, she figured it would not be good for the children to always be pampered by Jack. They might end up feeling entitled.
"Yes, Mommy!" Amanda said with a nod before squeezing herself in Lucian's seat.
Lucian looked bothered, but he did not push the girl away. Instead, he moved aside and gave her some' space. "Don't you have a seat of your own?" *But I like you, Lucian!" the girl replied sweetly. Although the siblings always quarreled, they would reconcile the very next day even after a fight.
Amanda clung to Lucian and said, "Could you play some detective cartoons for me?"
"You should be watching something like Peppa Pig or Tom and Jerry," Lucian argued as he took out his iPad. "I always get the feeling you'll end up killing me if you keep watching stuff like that."
"You're so smart, Lucian. That was my plan all along!"
с
virveluched when she saw the children bantering across the aisle. She took out her phone and took a video of them.
After thirteen hours of flight, the planc finally landed at Norham Airport in Horbah.
It was not a good time to go skiing anymore since it was already past four in the afternoon. To train the two kids to be more independent, Genevieve gave them the assignment of looking for lodging
Before they departed from the airport, Amanda went to the automatic service dispenser to change some money.
"This is my pocket money," Amanda stated, separating the money into three stacks before passing one to Lucian and Genevieve cach. "Both of you can buy anything you want with this money. It's my treat!"
"Thank you," Genevieve said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Since she had to choose a place to stay, Amanda wanted a place that was close to tourist attractions and food so everyone could easily return to rest after sightsecing
Lucian did a search on his phone and chose a suitable hotel.
After that, they went on the subway. Looking at how calm Lucian was, Genevieve tcased, "Lucian, aren't you afraid you might end up taking the wrong train? This is the first time you and Mandy have been on the subway."
"Mommy, I'm young, but I'm not stupid. The one who's stupid is your daughter," Lucian replied in Sylvonican, a language Amanda did not understand.
Although she had no idea what he said, the disdain in Lucian's eyes was telling. "Mommy, what language was Lucian speaking in? Did he say something bad about me?"
"No. He said you're adorable," Genevieve replied, smacking Lucian's head lightly.
The hotel they were heading to was right beside a night market. The place was bustling with people during nighttime.
After putting their luggage at the hotel, Amanda hurried them up so she could go out to look for good food. That night, she indulged herself in the food paradise and tried different delicacies unti slie felt bloated.
Once they returned to their room, Genevieve helped Amanda shower before taking a bath herself. When she was doing her skincare routine, her phone on the washbasin counter suddenly vibrated.