Lloyd enunciated slowly, "Miss McKinney's mother should be Leroy's wife, and she must have taken the pocket watch and the photo from Sandra at that time."
Mr. Jackson snapped in irritation, "That's nonsense! Look at her eyes! Their eyes are so similar. She is clearly Sandra's daughter. How do you..."
"Mr. Jackson..." Lloyd interjected before he could finish, "I know better than anyone else that Gina is Sandra's daughter. I can do a paternity test with her if you don't believe me."
Mr. Jackson gripped his walking stick and pursed his lips.
Lloyd pushed the photo back to Mr. Jackson and quipped, "I believe you can see how much they hate me just by looking at this photo. If Sandra had it, how could she ruin it?"
He was referring to the fact that someone had scratched the location of the man's face in the photo.
Leanna explained, "Jethro scratched the photo. My mom died when I was very young."
"If I'm not mistaken," Georgina added immediately, "you have a younger brother, don't you, Miss McKinney?"
Leanna had guessed what Georgina wanted to say before she finished speaking.
She looked straight into Georgina's eyes and smiled. "Yes."
Georgina continued, "I don't know why you came here with the pocket watch, but for your information, my mother died in that accident twenty years ago, and I'm her only daughter. So I'm afraid that you will never be able to get your way."
"My way? What do you mean by that, Miss Crossley?" Leanna voiced flatly, "I saw the pocket watch in my mother's relics and found out that it was related to Mr. Crossley, so I came to verify something. You don't need to be so nervous, Miss Crossley."
Lloyd asserted, "Miss McKinney, since you have asked your questions, can you please return the pocket watch to me? I don't know who your mother is, and I don't want to hold anyone accountable for this matter, but since the watch belongs to Sandra, you should return it to its rightful owner."
"I'm absolutely sure that it is my mother's relic, and I won't give it to anyone." Leanna conferred, "But since you claim that the watch belongs to your wife, it can only mean that one of us is lying. What do you think?"
"Miss McKinney..." Georgina grumbled.
"Well," Mr. Jackson raised his hand to interrupt her, "I think she's right. Lloyd, that explosion was catastrophic, to say the least, so someone might have pulled a switcheroo or two. I think we'd better not draw a conclusion so hastily. Also, I find it very strange that Miss McKinney bears a stark resemblance to Sandra while you and Gina look so much alike. I think it is better to investigate this matter in detail." "There's nothing to be investigated. We can just do the paternity test..."
"You're right, Mr. Jackson." Lloyd smiled. "We should look into this matter thoroughly."
Georgina furrowed her brows in frustration. She couldn't figure out why Lloyd would agree to such an absurd suggestion.
Leanna said, "Before you find out the truth, I want to move into your house."
"No, you can't!" Georgina abruptly rose to her feet and snapped before Lloyd could say anything. "Don't even think about it."
Leanna raised her eyes to look at her and commented lightly, "You can't say no, Miss Crossley. We're currently in the same boat."
"Hey..."
Lloyd cut in before things could go sideways, "Alright, you can move in, but if we find out that you are not related to Sandra at all, I hope you can make an official apology to us."
"No problem." Leanna smiled. "But if it is proven that my mother is indeed your wife, does it mean that Miss Crossley has to apologize to me? In addition to the apology, I want her to move out of your house and will never be allowed to call herself Miss Crossley or have any relations to Crossley Group."
"Sure," Lloyd agreed before Georgina could say anything about the matter.
Mr. Jackson nodded. "I think it's not a big deal. Even if Miss McKinney is not Sandra's daughter, she should be a member of the Crossley Family, so she should move back to her own house."
Georgina knew that judging from the flow of the conversation that nothing she said could reverse the situation, so she gave in to her rage and stormed out.
Mr. Jackson got up with the support of his walking stick and said to Leanna, "Young lady, see me to the door, will you?"
"Sure."
Leanna took Mr. Jackson's hand and walked a few steps when Lloyd's voice echoed from behind them, "Miss McKinney."
"Yes, Mr. Crossley." Leanna turned back indifferently. "Do you have something else to say?"
"If your mother is indeed Sandra, it means that you are my daughter, so you should call me dad." Leanna said dispassionately, "What makes you think that you deserve that title when you have never done anything as my father? I just want to take back what was once mine, that's all."
The combination of her attitude and her logic was perfect.
Leanna and Mr. Jackson strolled out of the venue. As they descended the stairs, Mr. Jackson continued earnestly, "He has now agreed to let you move into his house, but he may set up traps secretly and catch you unawares. Therefore, you must always be on guard."
Leanna pursed her lips and muttered, "Mr. Jackson..."
Mr. Jackson patted her arm gently. "Trust me. You are definitely Sandra's daughter, but there are some things that I can't tell you right now. But you'll know sooner or later."
Now that Lloyd had been forced to take a step back, he now had to compromise and meet him halfway. Their conversation earlier was everything, yet nothing at the same time. Now was not the time for them to have a fallout.
Then, he looked at her and beamed in gratification. "I didn't expect that you and Sandra survived that explosion. Tell me, what did you go through after that?"
Leanna opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Finally, Mr. Jackson seemed to realize that this wasn't the time and place for such a reunion, so he chuckled and changed the subject. "Forget about it. It's not important anyway. I'm sure he would be pleased if he knew you were still alive."
"He?" Leanna was clueless. "Who do you mean?"
He didn't give her a straight answer but merely advised, "You are courageous to confront Lloyd on such an occasion today. After the chaos, I'm sure this is the hottest topic in Highside now. With so many people anticipating this matter, Lloyd will not dare to harm you. Stay at his house. The best place to hide is in plain sight. Just call me if you need any help."
"Thank you, Mr. Jackson." Leanna nodded.
After she escorted Mr. Jackson to his car, she couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Jackson, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead." Mr. Jackson nodded.
Leanna hesitated for a moment before muttering under her breath, "Uh... Is the current Lloyd no—"
"Ahem!" Mr. Jackson coughed harshly in order to drown out her question and smiled kindly, "Don't overthink this. You'll know when the time comes."
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