The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 255

Chapter 255

Natalie bit her lip and shut he eyes for a moment, standing there with the application form outstretched for quite a white before finally leaving.

Natalie spent the whole day in the lab, not even stopping for lunch.

By the time she finally stepped out around six in the evening, she realized it was already pitch dark outside

It had rained heavily earlier, and the thin hoodie she was wearing left her feeling a bit chilly.

She pulled the hood up and stuffed her hands in her pockets as she headed downstairs.

As she passed by the campus bulletin board, she caught sight of a poster stuck there.

The

poster had a deep gray background, with a black silhouette of a woman the center, her long hair flowing, her profile blurred, her features impossible to make out.

Next to the silhouette, in gold foil letters, it read: “Bluebell, author of the mystery novel Daybreak, makes her first public appearance to share her creative journey with readers.”

Below that, in smaller print:

“Time: December 6th (Friday), 7 PM.

‘Location: Redvale University Auditorium.

‘Seats are limited. Admission with registration QR code only.”

In the bottom right corner of the poster was a QR code, with the words “Scan to register, first come, first served next to ji

Natalie glanced at the poster and kept walking. Her car was parked outside the school, and as a light drizzle started to ra she quickened her pace.

Today, Natalie was driving a black Mercedes CLE two-door coupe. As she walked over, she spotted someone standing

her car.

It was a middle-aged woman, maybe around fifty, but she looked even older. Her skin was rough, deep wris around her eyes, and her hair was plastered to her face by the rain.

She wore a dark blue factory uniform, the cuffs faded to white and the collar traying

Behind her sat a battered electric scooter, with a toolbox tied to its frame.

She stood there, lost and unsure, clutching a drenched ussue in her hand. At her feet, the scooter bad rop, edi basket’s contents were scattered across the ground

When she saw Natalie coming over, a flicker of panic flashed across liet tace They lips quivered sever finally managed to stamper. “H-hi, is thus your car

Natalie glanced

her, then at the car door on that side Along skates streiched tone the doci ailea glaring under the streetlights

The scratch wasn’t deep, but it was long

The woman followed Natalie’s gaze and went even paler Herl

1/4

1 darkut mean to The road was slippery from the rain, and my scooter just just scraped against your car

As she spoke, she bent down, picked up a rain-soaked rag from the ground, and was about to wipe the scratch on the cat

door with it

Natalie reached out to stop her. No need to wipe it

The woman’s hand froze mid-air, her eyes turning red. “Miss, I… I’ll pay for it just tell me how much. I’ll make it right.”

She fumbled in her work uniform pocket and pulled ous a plastic bag, inside which were a few bills, some fifties, some twenties, and a ten.

She counted them up, and it came to just over 200 dollars.

“T-this is all I have right now. Please take it. If it’s not enough… I’ll pay you the rest when I get my next paycheck

She looked at the car. She didn’t know much about brands, but she knew any two-door car had to cost a fortune. Right now she was really regretting picking up that phone call.

‘I… I just answered a call. Something happened to my daughter, and I got so worried I ended up hitting your car by accident.”

Natalie didn’t take the money. “What happened to your daughter?”

The woman’s eyes welled up as she spoke. ‘She’s my adopted daughter. Her real parents found her and took her back, and I thought things would finally turn out well for her.

‘But just now, my family called and said something went wrong with her birth family. I still have no idea what’s happening.

‘I swear, I didn’t do it on purpose. Just tell me how much, and I’ll pool together whatever we can at home. I promise I’ll mak it right!”

Natalie didn’t ask any more questions. She took her car keys out of her pocket, pressed the button, and unlocked the doors

“You don’t have to compensate me. It’s fine, you can go,” Natalie said.

The woman was stunned, thinking she must have heard wrong. “W-what?”

Natalie opened the car door, got in, started the engine, then rolled down the window and handed her the umbre

“Hurry up and go. It’s about to pour,” Natalie said.

The woman was at a loss for words, just kept saying “thank you” as she quickly dragged hey scooter out of the way so Naralle could drive off

Natalie drove back to Causeway Bay. Rosie wasn’t home. She was probably at the gym with Mombe hike shed by cadang every day lately.

Natalie was exhausted after a long day, so she headed upstairs and took a shower

After her shower, she changed into white silk pajamas, rubbing her hair dry as she side or at her deck

She hadn’t caren much all day and now she was finally starting to fret langry

Natalic picked up her phone to order some food, but out of the camerad her v and the Ghost Rock succulent sitting on her desk

274

1:34 am

PPP

#at was when her She hadnt watered the succulent in over half a month

#55 voucher

The Ghost Rock’s leaves weren’t as full and firm as before. Their edges were starting to wrinkle, and the color had shitted from a bright jade green to a Bull, deep green. like a piece of jade that’s dried out.

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