"Rose, you said you inadvertently spoiled their plans, so they’re looking for payback. They can’t find you, so they nabbed us to force you out."
Joyce fretted, "Are you in so sort of danger then? What should we do? Should we call the cops?"
Rosemary wanted to tell her that things had escalated beyond the point where a simple call to the police could fix everything. But so things were ant to be kept to oneself, so while tending to Joyce’s knee wound, Rosemary reassured her, "Don’t worry, this will all blow over soon."
"With Mr. McMillian around, there’s nothing we can’t handle. Let’s just leave it to him!"
After her declaration, Joyce turned her gaze back to Rosemary. "Mr. McMillian seems to care about you a lot. He was wiping your hair the whole journey, afraid you’d catch a cold. He even wrapped you up in a blanket and had us flown to the nearest resort. He wanted you to take a hot shower. Why don’t you go freshen up?"
"Yes, my knee isn’t that serious." Joyce didn’t want Rosemary to catch a chill while tending to her wound. But Rosemary, feeling a bit guilty, started to apologize.
"All this happened because of ."
"No, no, no. Don’t think like that. If they captured us, that ans they see us as a threat to you. That ans we’re good friends! Being seen as your friends is sothing to be proud of. We are not ashad!" Joyce laughed, showing no signs of blaming Rosemary.
"Exactly, friends share the good tis and the bad. Yes, I was scared and felt hopeless when they threw us into the water. But when I saw you swimming towards , I was moved to tears."
Joyce added, "The bad guys are at fault, not you. Don’t take this to heart."
Rosemary gave a grateful smile, deeply moved by their understanding.
After tending to their wounds, Rosemary went to take her shower.
As the hot water cascaded over her, she noticed a few cuts on her arms and legs. The pain was negligible to her. Looking up, she let the water wash over her face.
On the surface, it seed like Doom’s influence was nearly eradicated. But how many more hidden threats were there? How many more incidents like today’s would occur?
She could save them once or twice, but could she do it a hundred tis?
It was ti to take quicker action.
However, so people were so well hidden that until they revealed themselves, she wouldn’t know if they were friend or foe.
When Mavis was about to take a shower, she noticed the presidential suite had a large outdoor hot spring tub.
The sight of the misty hot water and the beautiful mountain scenery left her stunned.
This was too beautiful!
If it weren’t for the wound on her knee, she would have loved to soak in the tub.
"Living like this is just too enjoyable." Mavis was rooted to the spot, completely srized.
"If you want to take a bath, you can. Just keep your injured leg out of the water."
"Right, why didn’t I think of that? Joyce, co with !"
Finally, unable to resist Mavis’s pleas, Joyce agreed to join her for a dip in the hot tub.
"This is so relaxing." Mavis closed her eyes, savoring the mont. "When I make a fortune, I’m definitely bringing my mom here."
Joyce chuckled, "You are a good daughter."
"But my mom’s best friend conned her into being a guarantor for her loan. She ran off with five hundred thousand dollars, and my mom’s factory was taken away to pay off the debt. My mom had to pay back three hundred thousand herself. You know, when I was ten, three hundred thousand seed like an astronomical figure. My mom couldn’t reach her friend, so she had to work multiple jobs to pay back the debt. It took a toll on her health. That’s why I want to beco a doctor—to help my mom get better."
Hearing this, Joyce asked softly, "Did you manage to pay off the debt in the end?"
"We paid back a little over a hundred thousand. Her friend was arrested for fraud, and the loan company was exposed for shady dealings. So, the debt was eventually written off. Later, my mom started an online shop, selling clothes she designed. In my free ti, I help her pack orders and model her designs on social dia. Last month, I managed to give my mom a hefty bonus from my earnings, and this month, I treated myself to a Louis Vuitton bag."
Her cherished LV bag was left behind in a restroom at Sumrfield College when she was held hostage.
She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get it back.
"Don’t worry, Mya will get it back for us. I left my keychain in the bag."
"By the way, Joyce, what do your parents do?"
Upon hearing this, Joyce turned gloomy.
"My dad runs a food company, mainly producing cookies and candies. My mom passed away when I was very young."
"I’m sorry, I didn’t an to bring up a sore subject." Mavis apologized. "But your family seems well-off."
Joyce always dressed modestly, so everyone assud she ca from a modest background.
"Since I turned eighteen, I haven’t used a cent of my family’s money, including my college tuition. I earned it all through part-ti jobs."
"Why?" Mavis asked, puzzled.
"My dad married a new wife the year my mom passed away. She brought along a pair of twins, who were the sa age as . That’s when I found out they’d been together before my mom died. The twins are studying at our college."
"What? Your dad was cheating even before you were born. That’s awful!"
Mavis was shocked and sympathetic. "You must really hate your dad, that’s why you’re adamant about not using his money."
"Not exactly. That woman controls my dad’s money. When I was in high school, paying tuition always involved listening to her nasty comnts."
Mya felt even sorrier for her.
"So, I don’t go ho anymore and don’t ask them for money. I don’t even consider that man my father."
After sharing her story, Joyce felt a sense of relief.
Apart from Mya, she had never told anyone else about this.
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