My Toyboy 289
Rachel was shocked by Selena’s words. “Selena, I never intended to get back at you. I had no idea about the children being
switched.
Selena didn’t believe her. “Are you kidding me? Your husband deliberately swapped the children. Are you seriously claiming it wasn’t your idea?”
Rachel explained weakly, “It was Dennis’s decision alone; I really didn’t know. I only discovered it years later when I noticed Shirley’s blood type didn’t match ours.
“Both of us are type A, but Shirley is type B. Even though I don’t have much education, I know if both parents have type A blood, their child can’t have type B
Selena let out a sarcastic laugh. “Well, Dennis’s dead now, so it’s convenient for you to say whatever you like without anyone to contradict you.”
Rachel lowered her head, staying silent for a long while. Actually, Selena already believed her.
After a long time, Rachel finally said, “Regardless of how it happened, I hold a lot of responsibility for the way Shirley turned out. I owe it to you, and I owe it to her. It’s my fault. I’m to blame for everything.”
Selena’s frustration flared up, and she jumped to her feet and scolded, “Rachel, after all these years, you haven’t changed one bit! Why do you insist on shouldering responsibility for everything?
Back then, when I accused you of deceiving me, of helping your mother get close to my father on purpose, of knowingly, hiding things from me, you just accepted it.
“I said you wanted to destroy my family and steal my father, so it was your fault my mother died, and still, you never defended yourself. Why do you accept every accusation I throw at you? It was like this before, and it’s still the same now!”
Rachel sat there, dumbfounded.
Selena was visibly upset as she continued, “Why didn’t you ever explain yourself? Why do you let me believe whatever I want, never once telling me you knew nothing? Or that you were in the dark even longer than I was?
“Why do you act like everything your parents did, everything your child did, is somehow your fault? They’re individuals with their own choices to make, their own lives to live. Why do you insist on carrying everyone else’s burdens? Do you think you’re some kind of saint, Rachel?”
She pointed a finger at Rachel, discarding the polished demeanor of a wealthy socialite and adopting the manner of someone fed up with years of resentment. “Rachel, I can’t stand this ‘saintly‘ attitude of yours. No wonder you ended up where you are now.””
Selena was feeling extremely conflicted. After she had driven Rachel away, she learned from the messages on her father’s phone that he and Rachel’s mother had kept their relationship hidden from Rachel as well.
Back then, the thing she hated most was the idea that Rachel had deliberately approached her and plotted against her. But that wasn’t true, and Rachel was a victim too.
But Rachel had never explained herself. Even when Selena had been relentless in seeking revenge, Rachel hadn’t said a single word in her own defense. If she’d just spoken up then, things might not have spiraled to where they were now.
Tears welled up in Rachel’s eyes. “Selena, there’s nothing I can say. You raised my daughter well, but your daughter…., so whatever you think of me, you’re free to. If there’s any way I can make things right, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Selena slumped wearily onto her chair. She realized, with some bitterness, that changing one’s nature was nearly impossible. Rachel was who she was, just as she herself was who she was
She thought to herself that she could never endure what Rachel ad gone through; if her life had unfolded in the same way, she would have broken down long ago.
“I have nothing more to say to you. With that, Selena turned and left.
In the car, Selena couldn’t shake a feeling that something was wrong, so she hurried home.
She pulled out an old folder from the cabinet–a collection of records from Cynthia’s birth, including a health report from her one–month checkup. One entry listed her blood type: AB, Rh–negative.
Since both Rachel and Dennis were type A, it was impossible for them to have a child with this blood type.
A cold realization hit Selena: Cynthia wasn’t Rachel and Dennis’s child
During this time, Cynthia had been avoiding Lilian, who had been incessantly pestering her.
She visited the underground casino at Night Whisper, where she ran into Luke again.
Luke, desperate and in over his head, had been searching everywhere for Shirley. He owed the casino 10 million dollars, and if he didn’t pay by tomorrow, he’d be tossed into a crocodile pit
Rumor had it that the club’s back hill had a pond filled with Nile crocodiles, used to “deal with clients who didn’t settle their debts.
Luke knew this was no bluff; yesterday. Oliver had dragged him out there for a look. It was horrifying.
So Luke was frantically trying to track down Shirley, hoping she would plug the hole in his finances.
But he couldn’t find Shirley anywhere. After finally locating her house and stopping one of the family’s maids on a grocery run this morning, he learned that Shirley had been arrested, Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.
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Nobody knew when she’d be released. Luke was in a full–blown panic, desperation clawing at him.
He had no one else to turn to who could come up with the ten million dollars. If he didn’t pay, he’d be fed to the crocodiles.
As he frantically paced, Cynthia appeared in front of him. Luke recognized her as the terrifying woman from the alley–the one who’d beaten him so badly that he’d had to jump into a river to escape.
Cynthia stood there with her arms crossed. “Looking for Shirley”
Luke was taken aback. “Who are you, and how do you know that?”
“You’ve been dealing with Shirley for a while now; haven’t you heard of me?” Cynthia asked. “I’m her older sister, Cynthia.”
Luke froze for a moment but kept a wary eye on Cynthia. “What do you want? To him, Cynthia felt more dangerous than any crocodile.
Cynthia continued, “You owe the casino 10 million dollars. Going to Shirley won’t help. Not only is she likely to be in prison for over a decade, but even if she gets out, she won’t have that kind of money.”
Luke was shocked that Shirley was facing over ten years in prison and asked, “What exactly do
Tl cover your 10–million–dollar debt,” Cynthia replied. “But only if you answer two questions honestly. If your answers satisfy me, I’ll pay
Lake was astonished. It was like a miracle had dropped into his lap–someone offering to pay his debt, no strings attached.
His face lit up immediately. “Ask away. I’ll be very
honest.”
20.41 FII, INUV
“First question,” Cynthia said, “what kind of deal do you have with Shirley? Or, to put it another way, what leverage do you hold over her?”
Cynthia had already done her research. Shirley had transferred money to Luke repeatedly, practically giving him everything she had, including the 6 million dollars she’d gained from selling her shares.
Luke hesitated, uncertain of Cynthia’s true identity. Shirley’s secret was his golden ticket; he worried that Cynthia might refuse to pay after she learned the truth
Cynthia seemed to sense his hesitation and gave a small, knowing smile. “If you think this secret is worth more than my offer, then forget what I said. You can keep it and go on using it to threaten Shirley.” She turned as if to leave.