CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 204. USING OTHERS’ HANDS

[Why is it so hard to get a hold of you?]

After checking the wound for the last time in that questionable clinic—and making sure that it wouldn’t suddenly burst or anything if Hajin started to work again—they finally returned to the apartment, and the first call she received was Amber’s exasperated tone.

Sarah laughed while turning on the heater, taking a deep breath to inhale the scent of her home. "Why do you want to get a hold of me, anyway? I returned your boy safe and sound, didn’t I? Not a lick of evidence attached to him."

As a gift, Little Bird had even erased Andrew’s name from the list of past participants before the prosecutors could get it. Even if someone said they saw the idol in that event, it would only be treated as a delusion, or an attempt to frame an innocent person.

[I know] Amber said after a few seconds. [I’m thankful for that, but...you’re not even around to see the aftermath?]

"What is there to see?" Sarah curled her lips. "It’s your job to make sure Jeong Mina gets affected by this. Unless you tell me she left the mansion right away, what’s the point?"

[Tsk]

Amber clicked her tongue and went silent, as if sulking. She probably had imagined that everything would go smoothly; that Jasper getting caught would have made the third wife so embarrassed that she could no longer hold her head high. But...nothing much happened, really, just like Sarah had expected.

Yes, she already received a very colorful report from her little spy, complete with a re-enactment about how the driver who took Jasper to the event called the third wife and the chief of security about the bust. Naturally, the chief of security told the chairman, and the third wife frantically called the lawyer, which woke up the whole mansion.

It was a series of people flying around the house trying to get Jasper out of the police station while the house staff had to make coffee and something to eat. By morning, while Jasper was finally out of the station, the videos and news articles were also out.

And it was a whole new chaos.

They tried to do some damage control, but the stock market opened like a dam and they saw waterfals everywhere, including under their own companies. Sarah heard it was so chaotic that they didn’t even have time to take care of Joseph’s disappearance.

Which was a nice bonus for Sarah.

[Where have you been, anyway] Amber asked after about a minute, probably gave up on waiting for Sarah to talk first.

"Staycation with my puppy," Sarah said, just as Hajin was diving into the bed and onto her lap, nuzzling her stomach like a real dog. She chuckled and stroked the black fur of a snow leopard-mixed puppy. "Doesn’t seem like he has enough, though."

[You’re still with him, huh?] Amber asked, as if amused. Sarah had no idea if it was about them still staying as lovers, or still staying at Raisa’s apartment instead of somewhere Chairman Yoo provided. [Anyway, that woman is truly shameless and stubborn]

Sarah scoffed. "That’s old news."

[How can she shamelessly tell us that Jasper is a victim?!] Amber hissed into the phone, probably so the staff wouldn’t hear her throwing a tantrum.

"In a way, he’s just a minor," Sarah shrugged. "I take it that nothing much happened? Have you highlighted the fact that our stock price is also falling because of him?"

[Of course, I have! But since others got hit harder, it didn’t look very dramatic] Amber grumbled. [She also brought up Mason’s case to make it seem like Jasper was better]

Sarah heard a clattering sound from the other side, perhaps from Amber slamming her hand against the table. "You could say the boy tried to drug me," she said nonchalantly.

Hajin stiffened and raised his head with a frown, only for Sarah to push him down again and stroke his head to soothe him. It was a bitter memory of her complacency, and a memory that kept reminding her of what Mason did in her first timeline, but...

If she could use it as a weapon, she would.

Amber clicked her tongue. [Then she’d bring up Axton, and I’d get dragged just because I’m his twin]

Sarah threw her head back and laughed, loud enough for Amber to feel the mockery in each vibration. "Oh..." Sarah coughed at the end of her cackles. "What a messed-up family we have."

[It’s not funny] the older sister grumbled. [What should we do now?]

Why did she ask her? Sarah rolled her eyes. Wasn’t the deal for Amber to prove herself worthy of her support by getting rid of the third wife? But even with Jasper, it was Sarah who gave her a hint first about the drug.

Even though she had resources and all...

Sarah shook her head in disappointment. Maybe because it hadn’t been long since she was thrust into the fray, Amber still hadn’t gripped the reality that she should start to take control; she hadn’t been used to thinking of an idea and giving commands to people outside of her assistants.

But then again...if she were such a capable person, Sarah would think twice about using Amber on her plan. If it were someone more capable, perhaps they would already see that Sarah had some hidden agendas.

The fact that she was still asking Sarah about the next move...

Or maybe...

Maybe she already suspected something and was testing Sarah? Sarah had no idea, but she did have an idea of where she wanted to steer Amber next.

"Hmm...maybe something about Uncle Hyun?" Sarah said in an absentminded tone as if it were just a random, unserious suggestion. Hajin perked up again, brow arched in amusement.

[Ugh--the cheating?] Sarah could sense Amber rolling her eyes all the way from the other side. [It’s not really a secret, is it? Even though they act so secretly. Father is not that blind] she said. [Besides...we can’t use that, can we? Not when our father changed women as easily as changing clothes]

"Sure, but..." Sarah curled her hair like she curled her lips. "Are you sure they only have an affair?"

It was about ten seconds later before Sarah heard any reply. [...what do you mean?]

"Come on, Amber. Do you think that woman will latch onto someone who has nothing?"

It wasn’t like Lee Hyun had nothing, but he didn’t have much either--just enough. It would be better for Mina to seduce Daesung’s CEO if she wanted to have a buffer. If it wasn’t for money or power, then she should just do what the first wife and the auntie did: look for a younger, prettier one.

[You have a point, but what are you getting at?] Amber groaned. [Are you seriously thinking they are planning something against Father?]

"Well, you’re the one who shares a roof with her, so..." Sarah smiled, casually threw the thought back. "What do you think?"

[Hmm...] Amber was quiet for a while, but the call did not end, and Sarah could hear her sister pacing around the room in contemplation. [So you’re saying you want me to investigate this?]

"Isn’t it better if you do?" Sarah rolled her eyes, but tried to keep her tone neutral. Must she spell everything to her? She continued patiently. "If they are planning something against Father, you won’t be able to take the chairman spot either."

[Tsk]

Amber clicked her tongue loudly and with that, the call ended. Sarah arched her brow and stared at her phone screen. "She always ends it abruptly," Sarah chuckled and threw her phone to the side.

Hajin smirked and put his head back on her lap. Gotta take all the chances he had while Sarah was still spoiling him. "That’s because you tend to ruffle her feathers, Princess."

Well...Sarah couldn’t deny that. But knowing Amber, it would be even more suspicious if Sarah acted all sweet and submissive. How could someone who was truly meek have a plan to get rid of Mason and Jeong Mina? It wouldn’t make sense. Acting just the right amount of annoying was the best route in Satah’s opinion. She just needed to be sure that Amber didn’t see her as a rival.

And since Amber had been cooperating well, didn’t it mean the plan worked?

As Sarah was smiling at the thought, her thrown phone vibrated again, briefly. Hajin glanced at the phone screen and raised his brows. "It’s your sister again, Princess."

"Huh? What else does she want?" Sarah took her phone and saw a new message notification. "Did she actually accidentally end the call earlier?"

[Talking about family, you remember that we have a gathering at the New Year, right?]

"Ah..." Sarah paused before laughing and let Hajin see the text. "I actually forgot!"

"New Year?" Hajin tilted his head, eyes narrowed in disbelief. "It’s not cancelled?"

With how many scandals and how chaotic the Group’s situation was, holding a party seemed to be the last thing someone would think of. I should be, at any rate.

"Why would it be?" Sarah chuckled while squeezing Hajin’s cheek; her lips curled cynically. "Don’t you know that during bleak times, it’s more important to have celebrations?"

Hajin shook his head. "I can’t understand conglomerates."

Sarah laughed and whispered teasingly. "Aren’t you technically one?"