Chapter 252 If He''s Good to Lauric...
Mia froze. Her spoon hovered in midair.
He works for Mr. Brooker? Then what''s he doing running around with someone like Jeffrey?
The memory of the 140,000 dors she scammed off him hit her hard.
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She''d never felt bad about taking money from cocky rich jerks-people like Jeffrey and Elliot deserved it.
But someone decent? Someone tied to Lauric, who''d only ever looked out for her?
Now it just felt wrong.
Her stomach turned. That 140,000 dors might as well have been on fire. She wanted to give it back- immediately.
If Laurie ever found out where that money came from... she''d be crushed. She''d never look at me the same again.
Mia stared into her bowl, her emotions flickering in her eyes. She kept eating, mechanically, but every bite was tasteless.
After dinner, Mia helped Lauren with the dishes.
She was lost in her thoughts, and barely said a word.
Lauren didn''t talk much either, mostly because she couldn''t hear.
So the kitchen stayed quiet, filled only with the soft sound of water and the asional clink of utensils.
Once they finished, Lauren led Mia into her embroidery room.
These days, when she wasn''t eating or sleeping, Lauren was pretty much always in there working on her embroidery.
Mia nced around at the explosion of vibrant thread colors and then at Lauren- head down, totally immersed in her craft. Her chest tightened with emotion. Laurie is the kind of person who excels at everything she touches.
She had learned this intricate embroidery-an officially recognized heritage art- while she was in prison. And somehow, in just five years, she had gotten so good she could pass for a master.
If she hadn''t been falsely imprisoned... if she''d graduated from Northcrest like she
was supposed to... her life would''ve been on an entirely different level.
Mia sat silently nearby, not saying a word, her eyes locked on Lauren as she embroidered.
Lauren was by the window, working at her embroidery stand. Morning sunlight streamed in, wrapping around her in a soft, golden haze.
She looked so peaceful, so graceful as she stitched.
Chapter 252 If He''s Good to Laurie...
Then she sat back again, watching Lauren in stillness while her thoughts wandered off
How am I supposed to give that 140,000 dors back to Josh without making things weird?
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And then another thoughtyered on top-Laurie said she wants to finish this entire embroidery piece in a year. Meanwhile. I''ve got to figure out how to save enough to leave the country in the same amount of time.
Her mind was a mess of ns and worries, all while Lauren kept stitching in golden light.
The day went by fast, and before long, it was time for lunch.
Mia had a quick meal at Brooker Vi, said her goodbyes to Lauren, and headed back to school.
That afternoon, Lauren got back to her embroidery routine, and Mia went to ss like usual.
By the time the sun started to dip low in the sky, casting everything in a deep orange glow, Mia was wrapping up herst ss.
As she stepped outside, her phone rang.
The voice on the other end was smooth and familiar.
"Mia, did you miss me?"
Still on edge from the whole encounter with Josh that morning, Mia wasn''t having
it. She snapped without hesitation.
"Cut the crap."
Kenny was caught off guard by her tone.
His phone was on speaker.
The second Mia''s voice came through, loud and clear, it set off a round ofughter from his dad, James, and his brother, Jeffrey-both sitting nearby with the rest of the Gordon family.
So why was Kenny''s phone on speaker in the first ce? Simple-there was a family meeting going on.
The topic? James had called everyone together for one reason only-he wanted one of his sons to finally join thepany and start preparing to take over. Jeffrey didn''t even try to pretend. "I''m a doctor. I have no interest in the business." Kenny, just as rxed, added, "I''m still young. I wanna enjoy life a little longer. Dad, you''re not even close to retiring. You''ve still got it under control. What''s the rush?"
James looked like he was about to pop a vein. "One of you is busy ying doctor, the other one''s out screwing around with your party crowd. When I step down, who''s gonna run thispany? You think leadership skills fall from the sky? I need time to train you!"
Kennu smirked "leffreye on iust quit being a doctor. It''s exhausting. You could be the CFO, kick back
Chapter 252 If He''s Good to Laurie...
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business. You should go. Once you turn thepany into an empire, just build me a couple hospitals,"
"No thanks. My youth is way too valuable to waste behind a desk.
"Cool. I''m out too."
Neither one of them wanted anything to do with the family business.
James was fuming. He had built a whole empire-and neither of his sons wanted to take it over.
James said, "Fine. You won''t run thepany? Then go get married. Have kids. If I can''t rely on you two, I''ll start training the grandkids."