Chapter306
"Lauren, your parents' trial is tomorrow. What're you thinking?" Vanessa's kind voice came through the phone.
"Vanessa, what do you want?" Lauren asked softly, her voice laden with uncertainty.
"Look, if you're out of ideas, let’s do it my way. Just play along, okay?" Vanessa charmed Lauren with a smile, "If you do, I promise your folks will get a light sentence tomorrow — a few years at most."
"All right, Vanessa, I’ll follow your lead. I’ll do anything you say." Lauren felt utterly defeated at that moment, unable to think clearly and willing to do anything to spare her parents from a harsh prison sentence.
“That’s my girl!” Vanessa laughed joyfully on the other end of the phone. "Lauren, Liam will regret leaving you, I'm sure of it."
"What do I have to do to make Liam regret it?" Lauren suddenly found herself intrigued by Vanessa's last remark.
“Good girl. Now, tell me, will you have any regrets?”
"None. If it's going to make Liam regret, I wouldn't regret it, even if it kills me."
"Excellent." Vanessa smiled with satisfaction. "Head back to campus. I'll tell you what to do next."
"Okay." Lauren agreed, took a bus, and swayed back to the school.
......
Gabriel had embarked on his fourth round of treatment these past days. The doctor had said that once this phase was completed, over ninety percent of his cancer cells should be eradicated, stabilizing his condition.
The treatment would end by New Year's. If the cancer cells decreased by over ninety-five percent and stayed stable, they wouldn't need more treatment. But if things worsened, they'd continue treatment and maybe consider a bone marrow transplant.
That morning, after Teresa and Gabriel shared breakfast in his hospital room, she headed to the department for a meeting.
It was the final staff meeting before the holiday break, and Teresa, a vital faculty member in line for a possible promotion to associate professor soon, made sure not to miss any meeting she could attend.
The meeting dragged on, lasting a good four hours.
By the time it was over, it was just about 12:30 PM.
As soon as Teresa left the conference room, her phone buzzed. It was Gabriel. Despite spending a lot of time together recently, Gabriel always longed for her presence the moment she was apart.
They chatted for two minutes before hanging up. Teresa then swung by her office to grab a few things.
After collecting her items, she planned to head straight to the hospital to have lunch with Gabriel.
To Teresa's surprise, Lauren was waiting outside her office. She barely recognized the once rosy-cheeked girl who, after only a fortnight, looked ashen and drawn, like she had bled too much.
Upon closer inspection, Teresa noticed a strip of white gauze peeking from Lauren's left wrist.
Had she hurt herself that badly?
Teresa's brow furrowed with concern as she approached her.
"Teresa," Lauren's eyes, brimming with a pathetic longing, fixed upon her as she drew closer, calling out to her in a fragile whisper.
Seeing her much like a young girl ravaged by a dire sickness, Teresa's heart ached with empathy.
After all, Lauren was her student, just nineteen and newly-adult—still a child.
"Lauren, what are you doing here?" Teresa asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Teresa, can you do me a favor?" Lauren looked up at her, eyes filled with pleading.
"Sure, let's go inside and talk." Teresa nodded, unlocked her office door, and gestured to Lauren inside, "Come in."
Lauren nodded, followed Teresa, and softly shut the door behind them, ensuring the conversation remained private, even from Teresa's security detail.
Without further thought, Teresa set down her bag, grabbed a disposable cup, and poured some warm water for Lauren.
"Thank you," Lauren murmured, accepting the cup and sipping cautiously.
"What's going on? You look like a lost little bunny in the snow," Teresa prompted.
"Teresa, you know, my parents got incarcerated, and all their assets have been frozen," Lauren began, her voice weak as she locked eyes with Teresa. "Liam's getting engaged, and he's left me too. I have nowhere to go and no means of support."
"I see," Teresa replied, meeting her gaze. "What do you need from me?"
Gazing earnestly at Teresa, Lauren hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I know that the Bennett Group owns a lot of clubs and restaurants. I was hoping I could work at one of your establishments. Could you help me get a job there?"
"Is that all?" Teresa asked with a reassuring smile.
She never anticipated Lauren's resilience after everything she'd faced. Rather than dwelling in self-pity or blaming others, Lauren was prepared to lift herself and keep pushing forward.
Teresa's opinion of Lauren took a turn for the better.
"Mm." Lauren nodded gently, "Teresa, could you possibly help me out?"
"Of course, absolutely!" Teresa agreed cheerfully, quickly adding, "Hang on, let me just make a call and see if there's an opening that fits you. If so, you could start work tomorrow."
"Wow! Thanks, Teresa." Lauren's gaze was firm and decisive.
Teresa smiled and turned around to fish her phone out of her purse to make the call.
But just as she turned, Lauren's hand slipped into her canvas backpack, pulling out a gleaming dagger. Clutching it tightly, she lunged toward Teresa.
