Johnny felt a headacheing on every time Mandy approached him. He knew exactly what she was itching to say, so he stopped in his tracks, turned around, and faced her with a firm expression. "Mrs. Gilbert, I thought I made myself crystal clear thest time we talked."


    Mandy clenched her teeth and pressed on, determined, "I just want to know, did you not pick us, the Gilbert family, because of something my adopted daughter said?"


    Mirabe, who was about to walk away, froze in ce when she heard this. Her eyes narrowed slightly.


    Johnny rubbed his temples and nced at Mirabe before responding sternly, "No, that''s not the reason."


    Catching the nce he threw at her adopted daughter, Mandy''s lips curled into a sardonic smile. If that wasn''t the case, why would he deliberately look at her daughter? Did he think she was born yesterday? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Mandy couldn''t hold back her resentment any longer and blurted out, "Everyone talks about how fair and honest you are, Johnny. Seems like that''s not entirely true after all."


    Since the bid for the Gilbert Corporation was down the drain, she had no reason to hold back. She demanded rity today.


    Johnny''s face turned stone-cold. If it were just him and Mandy, he wouldn''t even spare her a nce. But with colleagues from the Department of Education around, how could he tolerate such an affront to his character?


    "If Gilbert Corporation doesn''t have the chops, you shouldn''t be bidding in the first ce. If you are in the race, then wait for the oue like everyone else. What''s with this nonsense of running to me with usations? Are you out of your mind?" Mandy was beyond caring, "Oh, please! Are we, the Gilberts, really not capable? Are you going to stand here and deny that you were keen on us, that you had said our corporation would be under special consideration?"


    "Do you dare admit that you rigged the process, and that''s why Gilbert Corporation is out of the running now?"


    "Do you dare say you''re not targeting our Gilbert Corporation because of certain individuals?"


    Mandy''s barrage of questions came as her emotions surged, her ears and neck flushing with the intensity of her feelings, portraying the image of someone who had suffered undue hardship.


    Johnny, hearing all this, couldn''t help butugh. He looked at Mandy with eyes full of mockery, "I thought I was quite clearst time, but it seems you didn''t get the message at all."


    Mandy, frowning, shot back with fiery eyes, "Cut the high and mighty act. You yed your cards to block Gilbert Corporation, and that''s on you."


    Johnny shook his head, "I was trying to be polite and keep quiet, but since you''re so keen on knowing, I''ll spell it out for you. What makes you think Gilbert Corporation deserved special attention in the bidding process?"


    Mandy opened her mouth to retort, but Johnny cut her off again.


    "Do you really think your Gilbert Corporation is all that impressive in this city?" Johnny scoffed, then nced at Mirabe again before continuing, "If it weren''t for Ms. Mirabe''s sake, I wouldn''t even bother knowing your Gilbert Corporation existed, let alone consider it for special attention."


    Mirabe frowned at this revtion.


    Mandy refused to believe it, "Impossible, you''re just making excuses. I don''t buy it. You''re deliberately hindering the Gilbert Corporation."


    Mirabe was just an ordinary high school senior; what influence could she possibly have? If Johnny had mentioned the Davis family, maybe Mandy would have grudgingly believed him. But her adopted daughter? That wasughable. Even excuses should have some factual basis, shouldn''t they?