Amber was terrified. Janelle had just kicked a chair leg clean off. If that kick had landed on her, wouldn't her leg be broken? Not daring to confront Janelle head-on, Amber tried to slip out silently.
But Janelle blocked her path with a foot.
"Problem solved? You're leaving without resolving it? Mrs. Evans, so lacking in accountability?"
Amber glared at Janelle. "Janelle! No matter what, I am your stepmother! Your elder! Are you truly going to commit such impious defiance?"
"Stepmother? I've never acknowledged you! As for defiance? That's just how I am." With that, Janelle slapped Amber hard across the face. The blow was sharp and brutal. Amber froze in shock. She dared hit her?
Before Amber could fully react, another sharp slap cracked through the air. Linda watched, feeling a surge of vindication. Miss Rovella never let them down.
"Enough! Janelle, I—" Amber started, but Janelle silenced her with yet another slap. Ten slaps in total, each delivered with full force and no mercy. Amber's face swelled visibly.
"Apologize," Janelle commanded coldly.
"You... you..." Amber finally snapped. She lunged forward, aiming to claw Janelle's face. Today, she'd scratch that little bitch's face to shreds! Amber charged like a madwoman.
But she never reached Janelle. Janelle kicked her squarely in the calf. Amber cried out in pain and crumpled to her knees.
"Janelle, you're insane!" Amber tried to call for help, but no one came despite her shouts.
"Feel a bit better now?" Janelle asked Linda.
"Miss Rovella, thank you." Thank you for defending her so fiercely.
"Let's go. The bidding deadline is approaching. We still need to finalize the project these next few days." Without a glance at Amber on the floor, Janelle led Linda out.
Back in their project team's workspace, the others rushed over as soon as they returned, immediately spotting Linda's swollen face.
"That's outrageous! I'm going to find her!" Kevin slammed the table.
Linda stopped him. "Don't. Miss Rovella already struck back for me. We're pressed for time; we need to focus. Kevin, listen."
After calming the team, Janelle went to pick up her senior brother. She drove Linda's car.
Jiang Chao, Janelle's senior brother, was a master data analyst. He'd agreed to come help when she called. His flight landed in Graham City around noon. Spotting Janelle as he exited the domestic arrivals, Jiang Chao walked straight over.
"Little Junior Sister, you've lost weight again!" He refused her offer to pull his luggage. "I'm a grown man; I won't let you carry my bags. Come on, take me to the best food in Graham City!"
He was busy, but he'd made time because she asked. Anyone else, he wouldn't have bothered.
"Of course I'll take you for Graham City specialties. Don't worry, it's all arranged." Jiang Chao didn't have many hobbies, but he loved hotpot. And Graham City hotpot was famous throughout the country.
Leaving the airport, Jiang Chao frowned at Janelle's car. "Little Junior Sister, are you short on money? If you are, I can transfer you some." This car simply didn't suit her.
"Not short. Don't worry, I won't starve." Janelle got in the driver's seat. Jiang Chao took the passenger seat.
Janelle drove to one of Graham City's most famous hotpot restaurants. She'd made a reservation before going to the airport. Unexpectedly, they ran into Lillie and her friends inside.
Lillie, unaware Janelle was alive, stared in shock. "Janelle? You're... alive?"
"..." What a question. Just how badly did this mother-daughter pair want her dead in that explosion?
Jiang Chao was appalled. How could this girl speak like that? His junior sister was standing right here, alive and well. Was she cursing her?
"Not dead. Are you disappointed? Were you already celebrating?" Janelle's gaze pierced into Lillie's soul.
Lillie forced a laugh. She had desperately hoped Janelle died in the blast. But with so many people around, she had to maintain her sweet persona.
"Janelle, I don't know what you're talking about! Dad and I were so worried about you yesterday. We even went to the hospital looking for you!" Her image must not crumble. She'd been humiliated enough in Graham City lately; it couldn't continue.
"Little Miss, don't provoke her. Otherwise, I won't mind hitting a woman." His junior sister was their master's only female disciple; her senior brothers were very protective. His imposing aura made Lillie step back involuntarily.
"What do you want to do?" Lillie's friends, seeing this, tried to intervene, but the man's presence was too intimidating. They fell silent.
"Aren't you hungry? Let's go," Janelle said, ignoring Lillie. She was hungry too after skipping lunch.
"Mmm." Jiang Chao gave Lillie one last look before entering the private room.
Inside the Restaurant
"Lillie, who was that man? Doesn't Janelle have a boyfriend? Who is he? They looked really close!"
"Yeah! What's so great about Janelle anyway? Why does she always have these top-tier men around her?"
"It's just too much! Nelson is engaged to you, yet he still wants to mess around with her!" one girl blurted.
The mention stung Lillie deeply. Nelson was excessive. He'd truly humiliated her.
"No, Nelson is just too kind-hearted. No matter what, they had a past. He wants to help her, stop her from debasing herself. Besides, Janelle is still my sister," Lillie said, refusing to appear pitiful. She was Nelson's fiancée; she would marry him.
"Lillie, look! I took a picture! If we send this to Janelle's boyfriend, things will get interesting!"
"When did you take that? Xiaoya, I didn't know you were so sharp!" Looking at the photo, Lillie had Xiaoya send it to her.
Meanwhile, at the Hospital
Erik called Janelle. The call connected, but a man answered. "Who is this? Where is Janelle?" Erik's voice turned icy.
Hearing the tone, Jiang Chao smiled faintly. "I'm Janelle's most intimate man. And who are you?" Janelle had gone to the restroom after ordering and hadn't returned yet.
"Who. Are. You?" Who was she with? Her most intimate person?
Just then, Janelle returned. Seeing Jiang Chao on her phone, she frowned. "Hand it over."