Chapter 15
Suzanne was stunned to hear Richard’s voice. Alan’s condition had been stable—there was no reason for a sudden flare-up.
She had given Richard her number in case of emergencies, and now, it seemed like one. Without hesitation, she set the pillow aside, grabbed her things, and strode toward the door.
In the lavishly decorated living room of the Yates residence, Seline and Mandy lounged on an opulent couch beneath a grand crystal chandelier, trying on various pieces of dazzling jewelry.
Seline admired a large aquamarine ring on her slender finger, her delicate features glowing with excitement. “Mom, isn’t this aquamarine stunning? Look at how pure the color is!”
Mandy smiled, picking up a pair of gemstone bracelets and clasping them around Seline’s wrist. “This suits you better.”
Under the chandelier’s glow, the gemstones sparkled brilliantly. These were exquisite pieces Mandy had won at an auction—perfect for high-profile events.
Seline looked at the bracelets adorning her wrist and beamed. She leaned her head against Mandy’s shoulder, playfully saying, “Mom, you’re the best.”
Mandy hugged her, and the two laughed together.
Just then, the butler, Niall Cooper, stepped into the room, glancing around to ensure they were alone. “Mrs. Yates, there’s news from the Alvarez family.”
Both women immediately straightened up, their lightheartedness vanishing. Mandy leaned forward, her tone sharp. “What happened?”
Seline instinctively gripped Mandy’s arm, tension rising in her chest.
Niall slipped his phone into his pocket, lowered his voice, and said, “Alan’s condition has flared up.”
Mandy and Seline exchanged a look of surprise, which quickly turned into excitement.
Mandy’s eyes narrowed. “Are you certain?”
Niall nodded eagerly, a smile creeping onto his face. “Yes, and it’s bad. He’s practically destroyed everything in the house, demanding blood to drink.”
Seline’s heart raced with exhilaration. So much for Suzanne’s so-called expertise. Just one day, and her treatment had already failed!
Mandy, however, quickly masked her satisfaction with an air of composure. Fixing Niall with a cold gaze, she spoke in a warning tone. “You understand that some things are better left unsaid, don’t you?”
She picked up a valuable ring from the table and placed it in front of the butler.
Niall’s eyes gleamed. He carefully picked up the ring, cradling it in his hand, and broke into a grin. “You can trust me. I’ll handle everything discreetly.”
Mandy’s smile returned as she leaned back into the couch. “Good. Just keep me informed, and you’ll be rewarded accordingly. You may go now.”
Niall clutched the ring and left.
Seline huffed in frustration. “Mom, why did you give him that ring? It’s worth a fortune. He’s just a household staff member—does he even deserve it?”
Mandy picked up another set of gemstone jewelry and placed them in Seline’s lap. “Sweetheart, some things are worth spending on.”
Seline frowned but didn’t argue further. Her thoughts quickly shifted back to Alan. Her eyes sparkled as she recalled what Niall had said. “Suzanne claimed acupuncture could suppress Alan’s urges. But if his condition has flared up again, doesn’t that mean she’s a fraud?”
The idea thrilled her. She couldn’t contain her excitement. Suzanne was nothing but a liar!
Mandy took a sip of coffee, clearly pleased. “It seems we don’t even need to do anything. She’s ruining herself.”
Placing her cup down, she scoffed. “I actually thought she might be Jane Smith. But to impersonate Jane after her disappearance for years? That’s bold. I can’t wait to see how she cleans up this mess.”
Seline smirked, recalling Suzanne’s arrogance at the hospital. Just imagining her fall from grace filled her with satisfaction.
“She’s nothing special. I won’t even need to lift a finger to crush her.”
Mandy chuckled warmly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Seline’s ear. “Suzanne is nothing compared to you.”
Seline’s grin widened. “Of course not. She’s not even in my league.”
Gathering the jewelry back into its box, she stood and turned to Mandy, her excitement bubbling over. “Mom, I’m going to tell Jenson right away. There’s no way he’s going back to Suzanne!”
Jenson belonged to her. She could already imagine his reaction when he found out.
Mandy chuckled and waved her off. “Go ahead.”
Seline clutched the box and dashed upstairs.
Late at night, a sleek Ferrari sped through the quiet streets.
Suzanne gripped the steering wheel tightly, her sharp eyes fixed on the road ahead. Alan’s symptoms shouldn’t have returned—at least not this soon. Something wasn’t right.
The sudden ringing of her phone snapped her out of her thoughts. Thinking it might be Richard, she answered without checking the caller ID. “Hello?”
But instead of Richard’s voice, Seline’s smug, taunting tone came through.
“I heard Alan’s condition has flared up again!”
Suzanne frowned, her patience wearing thin. She had no intention of engaging and was about to hang up when Seline’s voice piped up again.
“Aren’t you supposed to be the great Dr. Jane Smith? Doesn’t seem like you’re all that amazing.”
Seline was practically giddy, thrilled at the opportunity to taunt Suzanne. Twirling a ring between her fingers, she continued mockingly, “Or is it that you’re not even Jane Smith? Did you steal her identity?”
Suzanne’s lips curled into a faint smirk. Seline was getting more insufferable by the day.
Oblivious to Suzanne’s growing annoyance, Seline pressed on. “Sue, just wait until Jenson finds out what a failure you are!”
This version keeps the original intensity while making the dialogue and transitions smoother. Let me know if you’d like any tweaks!
