?Chapter 272:


    “Where else? He’s attending to business matters,” Cathy replied, elegantly reclining against the headboard. She picked up the ice cream Jessa had brought and began eating, her tone casual. “Did the people you arranged manage to find that college student yet?”


    Jessa shook her head. “They’ve located his dormitory, but he wasn’t there. His roommate mentioned he’d gone to fetch water and hasn’te back yet.”


    Ruthlessness flickered in Cathy’s eyes. “He couldn’t have run off, could he?”


    “Absolutely not,” Jessa reassured quickly, shaking her head. “We’ve stationed over a dozen people outside his dormitory. Everyone’s vignt. He certainly didn’t slip away. He must still be in the building. The ce is quiterge, so we need to conduct a thorough search…”


    “We need to find him by dawn,” Cathy dered, her voice firm.


    “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this upset,” Jessa observed. She then continued, “Thest time I saw you this furious was four years ago when you mentioned your sister…” Jessa’s voice faltered as Cathy’s re silenced her.


    Taking a deep breath, Cathy closed her eyes topose herself. When she reopened them, they sparkled with indignation. With a swift motion, she hurled the tub of ice cream to the floor. “I warned you four years ago never to bring her up again. Haven’t you learned? Bring her up one more time, and you’re out of here. Pack your bags and leave!”


    Ice cream sttered all over Jessa, her face draining of color. “Cathy, I apologize… I truly am sorry. It was my mistake.”


    Cathy’s anger subsided after a moment. She pulled an old mobile phone from her bag and handed it to Jessa. “The charger’s broken. Get me apatible one.”


    Taking the phone, Jessa looked puzzled. “Cathy, this model is outdated. Why cling to it?”<fn0490> Original content can be found at f?ndnovel</fn0490>


    “This was her phone,” Cathy replied coldly. “It holds information I need.”


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    Jessa paused, absorbing the weight of the task, then nodded in understanding. “Alright, I’ll find one at the mobile phone market first thing tomorrow.”


    Cathy nodded, signaling the end of their conversation. As the door closed behind Jessa, Cathy leaned back against the headboard, closed her eyes, and the haunting image of Joyce standing on the rooftop four years ago filled her mind. The fierce wind on the rooftop tousled Joyce’s hair and fluttered her long dress.


    With anger burning in her eyes, she pointed directly at Cathy. “Even though we share the title of sisters, I’ve never truly called you one! Cathy, how dare you take someone else’s ce? It was Belinda who cared for Kristopher, and they promised to stay together in the future. Kristopher was blind, so it’s understandable that he might have initially mistaken someone else for Belinda. But you knew he wasn’t looking for you! I won’t stand by while you usurp my friend’s efforts, steal the life she was meant to have, and coerce Kristopher into a marriage based on your lies!”


    These memories were vividly etched in Cathy’s mind. A cold smirk formed on her lips. She had regretted what happened next on that rooftop ever since. The regret wasn’t for her actions alone but also for the choice of ce. Why had she chosen a building only seven stories high? If it had been taller, might Joyce have died, as Cathy had initially desired?


    Now, Joyce was left in a vegetative state… Yet, those in vegetative states might awaken. As long as Joyce lived, Cathy’s peace was disturbed.


    With these thoughts, Cathy did something unexpected. She picked up her phone, scrolled through her contacts to find “Ms. Scott,” and made the call. “Mom, are you still with Joyce? Have you seen the news online? I’m caught up in a scandal, and thepany has given me a few days off. I n to use this time to be with you and visit my sister. I miss her.”


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