Chapter 3: An Unmitigated Scoundrel
Selena Patrick helped the old woman retrieve a pill from her pocket, "Grandma, is this it?"
"Eat, eat..."
Quickly, Selena Patrick fed the pill into the old woman's mouth.
Soon, the old woman miraculously recovered. After a few heavy breaths, she thanked Selena Patrick, "Thank you, young lady."
"Grandma, maybe we should call the ambulance and get you to the hospital for a checkup. That fall looked pretty serious," Selena Patrick said, concerned.
"No need, I have an old condition. I'll be fine after resting a bit once I take the medicine."
Selena Patrick glanced at the passing vehicles and helped the old woman to her feet, "Grandma, let's go sit by the roadside. It's too dangerous here."
"Thank you, if not for you, I might have lost my life today."
With Selena Patrick's support, the old woman made her way to the edge of a flower bed. She pulled out a tissue from her pocket, wiped the cement bench, and sat down. The girl, in a simple white T-shirt with her hair tied up in a ponytail and stray locks fluttering in the wind, exuded youthful energy. The old woman held her hand, praising her warmly.
"Young lady, are you a student from around here?"
Selena Patrick nodded, "Yes, Grandma, I'm a student at J city University up ahead."
"What's your name?"
"My name is Selena Patrick."
Seeing that she was going to be late for work, Selena Patrick couldn't stay and chat any longer.
"Grandma, how about I call your family and have them come pick you up?"
The old woman waved her hand, "They know where I am. They'll come and get me soon."
Reassured, Selena Patrick pushed her bicycle, "Grandma, I'm going to be late for work. I have to go now. Take care of yourself."
"Ride carefully, young lady."
After Selena Patrick left, a luxury car arrived. The butler got out and rushed to the flower bed, relieved to see the old woman was unharmed.
"Ancestress, you scared me to death. Are you alright?"
As soon as the old woman's health alert went off, the butler immediately drove to the location, fearing the worst.
Thankfully, everything was okay.
The old woman, now calm, looked at the butler, "A young girl named Selena Patrick saved me today."
"Does Ancestress mean to thank her?" he asked, ready to act on it.
"She's called Selena Patrick." The old woman repeated the name.
The butler's jaw dropped in shock, "Ancestress, she's called Selena Patrick, could she be... that Selena Patrick?"
"What do you mean? It's her."
"What does Ancestress plan to do?"
The old woman, looking at the traffic, seemed troubled, "I plan to have Jeffrey marry her."
The butler frowned, finding it too hasty, "Will Young Master agree to this?"
"Would he dare not?"
"Ancestress, I think we should proceed cautiously. Perhaps we should first confirm if this Selena Patrick is the one we've been looking for all these years..."
The old woman's face darkened, interrupting him, "Are you teaching me how to handle things?"
"Ancestress, that's not what I meant." The butler fell silent.
"Let's go home."
The butler immediately offered his arm to support the old woman.
Meanwhile, Selena Patrick, who had raced to the burger shop, was informed that she had been fired.
Just yesterday, the manager had mentioned increasing her pay. How could this happen?
"Manager, I want to know why I was fired."
The manager, looking uncomfortable, pulled Selena Patrick to a corner and whispered, "Did you offend someone?"
"I... I don't think so."
The manager glanced around to ensure no one was listening and said, "To be honest, someone used their influence to get you fired."
Selena Patrick, a simple student with a small social circle, could only think of Steven Austin.
To confirm her suspicion, she asked, "Was it someone with the surname Austin?"
The manager looked surprised but didn't answer, which Selena Patrick took as a confirmation.
It really was that bastard.
She needed to find a new job, but first, she had to confront that bastard and settle the score.
At the luxurious Bar, filled with the city's wealthy, Steven Austin was enjoying himself, surrounded by two attentive women. He was comfortably drunk when a glass of water was poured over his head.
The man jolted awake.
"Who? Who did that? Do you want to die?" he roared.
Turning around, he saw Selena Patrick, his anger flaring, "You b***h, how dare you show your face here?"
"Steven Austin, you are utterly shameless. You used underhanded tactics to get me fired. You're a despicable person."
Selena Patrick grabbed another bottle of water and splashed it in his face.
Enraged, Steven Austin raised his hand to slap her, but she grabbed his wrist, "I warn you, if you mess with me again, I'll make sure your family never holds its head high in Jiang City again."
"You cheated on me and think you have the right? You disgraced the Austin family. I should have killed you. What more do you want?"
"You betrayed me first. Don't act like a victim. If you ever try to play dirty tricks behind my back again, I'll expose everything you did with Sharon Patrick."
Each word hit Steven Austin's weak points. Fuming, he overturned the table in front of him.
Selena Patrick felt some satisfaction, but her job was still gone. Disappointed and helpless, she pushed her bicycle, deep in thought, heading home.
On the way, Freda Patrick called, saying her daughter was hospitalized due to an injury.
Selena Patrick hurried to the hospital.
"Sister, how is Emily? How did she get hurt? Is it serious?"
Freda Patrick wiped her tears, her eyes red, and held Selena Patrick's hand, "Emily was hit by an electric scooter. The rider fled. Emily's leg is broken, and she has other injuries too."
"What did the doctor say?"
"The doctor said she needs surgery and further observation."
Selena Patrick gently patted her sister's back, comforting her, "It's okay, it's a blessing she's not in life-threatening danger."
"Selena, I really hate to trouble you, but Emily's medical bills, I..." Freda Patrick's lips trembled with shame.
Selena Patrick handed over the severance pay from the burger shop, "Sister, take this. I'll transfer more later. Don't worry, we have money."
"I'm sorry, Selena..."
"Don't say that."
Selena Patrick gently hugged her distraught sister.