chapter 14 What If I Can Actually Do It?

Jean couldn’t shCake the feeling that someone might already be watching her every move

Whoever it was knew a lot–right down to the Hope Cup

+8 Pear

After school.

Jean was quietly organizing her backpack.

Knock knock.

Someone gently tapped the edge of her desk.

She looked up.

Lacey stood there, poised and btowering /bover herb. /b“Jeanb, /bbhave /bbyou /bbmade /bba /bdecision yet? What’s your answer?”

Her smile was bfaint/b, but her eyes were cold. “If you’re still refusing, then I’ll just have to find banother /bway to make you say yes”

“No need to go that far. Jean calmiy zipped up her bag. “I’ll participate in the Hope Cup.”

Lacey blinked in surprise.

She hadn’t expected Jean–who’d been stubborn as a rock–to suddenly give in.

“Is it because of Sofia?” Lacey’s gaze sharpened, her toneced with mockery. “Someone like you growing a conscience and thinking of others?b” /b

In her mind, Jean was already saying no.

Sofia wasn’t the real reason. It was the iron slip with that engraved message bthat /bforced her hand.

Whoever bhad /betched that message clearly wanted her in the Hope Cup finals.

Jean bdidn’t /bknow who they were or what their connection to the host was—were they coborators? Enemies? A bthreat/b?

If she disobeyed, bwould /bbthey /bretaliate? Would bshe /bbe in dangerb? /b

She was out in the open. The other bside /bwas hidden in the dark. If things went south, Jean would have zero advantage.

More importantly, joining the Hope Cup might be her only shot at bdigging /bup bclues/bb, /bbat /bunraveling beven /ba sliver of this bizarre mystery.

And she sure as hell wasn’t about to bring this stuff up to the Ginger family.

These secrets belonged to the host. Telling these “family members” she bbarely /btrusted–people bwho /bmight one day turn against her—was ba /bterrible idea.

Even when she’d asked Winston for help, she’d only seen him bas /ba temporary tool. There was no emotional attachment there.

“Then you’ll join rehearsal today—” Lacry tapped the desk bagain/b, cold as ever Jean’s thoughts were cut bshort/b.

She blinked, then smiled sweetly. “Not today, I mean, do trees really need rehearsal? I’ll just stand still. That’s the whole bpoint/b,

“I join rehearsals when it’s closer to the finals.”

rozlewly wasn’t huvine it. Her eves namused

7:40 PM c

Chapter 14 What If I Can Actually Do it

“What’s wrong? You mad about it! Want to kick me out? Go ahead.” Jean’s smile was dazzling. “Saves me the trouble of quitting

She brushed past Lacey and walked out of the ssroom

Rehearsals meant more time spent with Lacey’s crew, which meant more passive–aggressive torment. The less time arou them, the better.

As soon

nas she got home, Dominic was at it again

Besides that teacher and the prank boy, has anyone else given you trouble:” Dominic stood in front of her, patience unusually intact

The events of the past few days had made him realize that Jean’s life at school wasn’t exactly smooth sailing

It was something he should’ve noticed sooner.

He felt guilty–and more than that, he wanted to fix it. The principal had done everything he could to exin that what happened was just a misunderstanding, a coincidence. He swore Jean was well–liked and the ss had a great atmosphere

Dominic didn’t believe a word of it.

Jean stared into her brother’s dark eyes and sighed inwardly

What exactly turned this once–mighty CEO into a full–time helicopter mom in just a ifew /idays? Was it the loss of moral integrity? Or just th natural decay of the human soult

Dominic was puzzled.

“It’s not a big deal,” Jean said breezily “School is whatever. I’m going to my room now.”

She slipped away before Dominic could grill her for another hour.

She really didn’t want him getting too involved.

First, she didn’t want her identity as the Ginger family heiress getting out. If Dominic made too much noise, her cover would be blown in no time.

Second, the current situation was still under control. No need to send in the boss monster just yet. If he started digging into school matters-

The host’s secrets would probably start spilling outol start="100"li100./li/ol

Dominic v

was feeling a little defeated

In a single day, he’d been rejected by both his brother band /bhis sister. For someone who used to run everything like ba /bking, this

a brutal blow

After a long bpause/b, he dialed Winston’s number agam.

Sume result Straight to voicemail

He closed his eyes for a second before finally hanging up

“Sir this kind of thing takes btime/b.”

Bryson had been standing by the whole time and couldn’t help stepping in tofort his boss.

as expressionless. He stare

the

nuttering. “Dealing with these kids is harder than closing a

7:40 PL

Chapter 14 What If I Can Actually Do It?

Dominic set his phone down and replied casually. “If someone actually gets him toe home. I’ll hand them 690 the on the spot.

“Wait–you’re serious?”

Jean had juste downstairs and caught thatst part.

Her eyes binstantly /blit bup/b. She bolted over to Dominic like a rocket.

Right now, her brain was fixated on just three words-

Sir hundred ny thousand

Those words practically sparkled in gold and pped their wings, waving at her from across a golden meadowb. /b

“bWhat /bare you talking about?” Dominic asked, a little confused.

Jean’s whole face was bglowing /b“You said just now–if someone can get Winston toe home, you’ll give them 690 bthousand/b.

That had just been a figure of speech.

Dominic knew full well that no one could bconvince /bWinston toe back.

That guy’s heart bwas /bcolder than steel these days.

And the money? Not even a big deal. He could afford to throw it baway /b

“Shame. bThat /bmoney’s staying right where it is,” Dominic said quietly, his tone heavy.

“Says who?” Jean smiled, eyes bglearning /bwith confidence. “What if I told you–I could do it?”

bSend /bGifts