Chapter 108 Shuffling the Deck
Adeline's words turned Lucia's face sour.
She couldn't keep up her cultured facade any longer and started berating Adeline, finger aimed at her nose, "Who do you think you are, trying to lecture me?"
"Do you even know anything about jewelry or design? How dare you say such words?"
"You're nothing but an intern. What do you know? You think you're some kind of jewel design guru like Master Moon, able to set trends with just your words?"
Adeline's brow lifted ever so slightly.
She was somewhat surprised to hear her old title from Lucia's lips.
"Adeline."
From a distance, Scarlett sniffed miserably, approaching her with reddened eyes. "Can you please forgive me?"
"I can't even face the boss without your forgiveness."
"I can forgive you, but..."
Adeline snorted dismissively, nodding towards Lucia. "First, have her grovel at my feet three hundred times."
Lucia's eyes widened in disbelief, her temper flaring. "In your dreams!"
"Then keep dreaming," Adeline retorted.
Glancing at the time, she smoothly gathered her belongings. "Shift's over, goodbye!" With that, she strode away with effortless grace.
The design department was left in an awkward silence, exchanging confused looks.
Mia Turner, who had been enjoying the spectacle, hesitated momentarily before hurrying after her.
Adeline was at the bus stop, waiting.
"You're amazing!" Mia complimented as she caught up, patting Adeline on the shoulder. "You're the first person I've seen who can leave them all tongue-tied!"
"Really?" Adeline asked, gazing towards the oncoming bus.
"Yeah," Mia sighed. "Lucia is connected to Mr. Foster's grandmother."
"She got her job through grandma's influence, so she's been throwing her weight around the office. She thinks since Mr. Foster is so respectful to his grandmother, he wouldn't go against her wishes. She's grown more and more arrogant."
"She didn't even respect Mr. Foster's ex-fiancée, Molly!"
Mia eyed Adeline carefully as she spoke, "You know Molly, right? Mr. Foster's former fiancée, she..."
"The bus is here," Adeline interrupted indifferently. "I have to go."
Mia was left with her words stuck in her throat.
When she returned to her senses, Adeline was already on the bus, leaving in the distance.
Mia clenched her fists at her sides as the bus faded away. She could tell there was something complex about Adeline's connection to Jasper.
If she could get close to Adeline, she'd undoubtedly uncover Molly's whereabouts!
Closing her eyes, Mia envisioned a man's silhouette.
"Brother, I promise I'll avenge you..."
...
When Adeline reached the kindergarten, the children had already lined up to leave.
Bennett stood at the end of the line, holding little Lauren's hand, the siblings strolling together.
"Ms. Collins!"
"Mommy!"
Both kids rushed into Adeline's embrace.
From a distance, Alice intended to take Lauren home silently.
But seeing Lauren leap into Adeline's arms...
She sighed, taking slow steps towards them. "Lauren, the boss wants you to head home early tonight."
After the words left her lips, she lifted her gaze. "Miss Wilson, I sincerely apologize."
"About yesterday... I'm sorry."
Adeline paused, only then remembering the burn on her hand.
The back of her hand had been badly hurt yesterday.
But Bennett had been there all night, taking care of her and applying ointment, and now it didn't hurt at all.
It only stung a bit during the day when she accidentally stretched it while typing.
"Mr. Foster already punished me yesterday."
Alice looked up. "I do understand my mistake now."
Adeline paused, gently patting Alice on the shoulder. "I know you meant no harm."
"Don't take their words to heart; I get where you're coming from. I'll be more mindful from now on and stay in touch with Brandon Torres regularly."
Alice seemed taken aback, probably not expecting Adeline's forgiving demeanor.
She was so surprised that she didn't know what to say for a moment.
Lauren sighed and kissed Adeline's cheek softly, then took Alice by the hand. "Come on, Alice, let's go!"
Watching Alice and Lauren walk away, Bennett scowled slightly. "Why are you so easy on her?"
"Everybody makes mistakes."
Adeline exhaled and held Bennett's hand, leading him toward the bus stop while quietly sharing the day's events.
She told him about the pair of mischief-makers, Tim and Tom, along with Mia Turner, the latest addition to the team.
"Mother, you place your trust in others with such ease."
Suddenly, a somewhat heavy child's voice chimed in.
Adeline stopped and then realized the voice was coming from her necklace.
Each family member had received one from Blake, but after a fallout over her return to the States, she had stopped wearing it.
After the incident on the Ferris wheel, she had put it back on.
"How am I too trusting?"
Adeline asked, furrowing her brow.
"I've dug up some info on Mia Turner."
Blake leaned back in the hospital room, the afternoon sun lazily pouring over him. "She didn't graduate from an arts college."
"She's not a designer's apprentice — she's a journalist."
"Yeah, she's a reporter, and she was the same one who had a penchant for splashing all that dirt on Molly before," he affirmed.
"After Molly's incident, she abruptly quit the newspaper business, assumed a new alias, and interned in the design department at Foster Group."
Blake's voice was measured and calm on the phone. "At first, I suspected she and Molly were pals, that she peddled the dirt to spike Molly's fame."
"But then it hit me; her intent towards Molly was nothing short of spite."
"Her coverage on others was always fair, but when it came to Molly, it was vitriolic."
Blake's voice softened, "Mom, maybe you could try getting to know her better. I've got this hunch there's something under the surface with her and Molly that we're not seeing."
"But tread carefully; that woman means trouble."
Adeline paused; her mind felt like it was about to explode. How could this be possible? The image of Mia Turner's seemingly innocent face surfaced unexpectedly. It didn't make sense. Yet, Blake's findings couldn't be inaccurate.
With these doubts swirling in her head, she returned home with Bennett.
As they ascended the stairs, they noticed someone sitting by their door.
When Helen saw them, she hastily got to her feet. "Miss Wilson."
"I heard you started your job at Foster Group today."
The weariness on Helen's face struck a chord of sympathy in Adeline.
Adeline bit her lip slightly. "What brings you here?"
She unlocked the door as she spoke, "How long have you been waiting outside?"
"It's unnecessary to go in."
Helen instinctively stepped back, "We aren't on those terms yet."
“Have you heard anything about my daughter?”
Adeline's grip on the doorframe tightened slightly.
A thought echoed silently in her mind: I am your daughter, too.
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