Chapter 20
1062 Words
Anna Nolan worked until around ten-thirty that night. After making sure the “gift” for Mark Everest’s interview tomorrow was fully prepared, she smiled in satisfaction and saved everything onto a USB drive. All that remained was to find a printing shop near Everest Group, and it would be finished.
The moment she turned her phone back on, she saw five missed calls from her father—probably asking why she had not returned home yet.
Anna Nolan ignored them.
Slipping her bag over her shoulder, she headed back to the small one-bedroom apartment.
But when she arrived, she discovered her father was not home.
Just as she was wondering where he had gone, her phone rang.
The moment Mr. Nolan realized Anna’s phone was finally turned on, he quickly said,
“Anna, come to City Hospital No. 1. Aunt Wendy twisted her waist. The doctor recommended hospitalization for observation. Jason is here too. Take a taxi—don’t use illegal rides this late at night. Dad will wait for you at the entrance.”
Anna froze.
Wendy Lincoln had been hospitalized?
Still, Anna took a taxi to the hospital.
To be honest, she was far too curious.
A woman like Wendy Lincoln—someone so skilled at using her father, someone who calculated every gain and loss so carefully—
what could possibly have happened to make her injure her waist badly enough to require hospitalization?
The moment Anna stepped into the hospital room, she nearly laughed bitterly.
So that was it.
It was all because of money.
Of course.
A woman like Wendy Lincoln, who loved taking advantage of others so much, would never willingly spend such a huge amount of money letting Jason Lincoln buy luxury goods for Jessica Cole.
So the money had been stolen.
And all for “true love.”
In her previous life, Jason Lincoln had killed Anna Nolan for Jessica Cole.
In this life, he stole his own mother’s money for Jessica Cole.
Truly talented.
Anna’s hand hanging beside her school uniform pants unconsciously clenched into a fist.
Just how blind had she been…
to love a man like that for so many years?
“What did you say?! Say it again!”
“Jason Lincoln, are you trying to sever the relationship between mother and son?!”
“Tomorrow, are you going to get that money back or not?!”
“Even if it’s technically your money, I am still your legal guardian!”
“I have every right to order you to take it back!”
Wendy Lincoln’s voice was still incredibly loud.
If someone did not look carefully, they would never believe she was currently lying in a hospital bed because of a waist injury.
Mr. Nolan, who knew perfectly well how explosive Wendy Lincoln’s temper could be, stepped forward to calm her.
“Enough. What’s done is done.”
“Didn’t we already agree to resolve this peacefully?”
“Look at yourself—you’re already lying in a hospital bed, your waist condition has flared up again, and you’re still yelling.”
The moment she heard that, Wendy Lincoln burst into tears.
“Daniel… why is my life so bitter?”
“I’ve worked so hard raising him since he was six years old.”
“Now his wings have hardened, he wants to fly away, and he says it’s his money and I have no right to control it.”
“How could this not break my heart?”
Anna almost rolled her eyes.
Just as Mr. Nolan softened and reached out to pat Wendy Lincoln’s back comfortingly, Anna quickly grabbed her father’s hand and stepped in front of him.
“Aunt Wendy, my father is right,” Anna said calmly.
“What’s done is done, and you’ve already been hospitalized.”
“Getting angry now won’t solve anything.”
“Didn’t you already report it to the police?”
“Let the police handle it.”
“After all, you’re his legal guardian. Recovering your own money is your right.”
“Anna Nolan fully supports that.”
Jason Lincoln’s expression changed instantly.
“Anna Nolan.”
“This truly has nothing to do with me,” Anna replied coldly.
“And since it has nothing to do with me, it also has nothing to do with my father.”
“Dad, let’s go home.”
“Jason Lincoln is already bold enough to decide how Aunt Wendy’s money gets spent. I’m sure he’s also capable of taking care of his hospitalized mother.”
“Even though we’re neighbors, your help has already gone far beyond what’s necessary.”
“And besides—”
Anna’s eyes turned sharp.
“Dad is an outsider here. Don’t let people start gossiping.”
“Let’s go home.”
“Anna, why are you speaking like this again?”
Mr. Nolan shook off the hand trying to pull him away and spoke sternly.
“Aunt Wendy has been hospitalized. How can your heart be so cold?”
“Anna, what exactly happened between you and Jason?”
“I don’t believe you suddenly became this cold for no reason.”
“And Jason would never buy luxury goods for Jessica Cole without a reason either.”
“Anna, is all of this because of exam pressure?”
“Are you two just trying to vent your stress?”
“If that’s the case—”
“Dad, why don’t you understand what I’m saying?” Anna interrupted sharply.
“Jason Lincoln and I are like this because this is how things should have been from the beginning.”
“Your status here is unclear, your position inappropriate—why are you still trying to play the good guy?”
“Do they really appreciate you?”
“With Aunt Wendy in this condition, aren’t you afraid Jason Lincoln will end up resenting you instead?”
“Wasn’t it you who suggested Aunt Wendy report this to the police, which caused Jason to be scolded by his mother?”
“Dad, you’re already forty-five years old. Half your life is gone.”
“Wake up, okay?”
“Or do you want to stay here forever—working for free?”
“Running Aunt Wendy’s breakfast stall during the day…”
“And taking care of Aunt Wendy at night?”
- Writer
