Chapter 18

Julian led Mildred into the study. "I know things must've been hard for you over the years, and I'm sorry you didn't have it any better even at home." He choked on his words and continued, "I promise you I'll give those unruly punks a memorable lesson. Still, at the end of the day, we're all family. For my sake, please don't hold this matter against them." Meeting his gentle eyes, Mildred let out a silent sigh. In the previous life, Julian had been indecisive, soft-hearted, and easily manipulated. It explained why he had favored her from the start. Recognizing her potential, he became determined to groom her as the heiress of Ginger Corporation—much to Kieran's growing resentment, as the two quickly became a thorn in his side. On the day Tamara was "abducted", all the evidence pointed toward Mildred as the perpetrator. Before Julian could step in and defend her, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and was admitted straight into the ICU. Within a short month, the Ginger household was turned upside down. Back then, Mildred finally realized all the sabotage, the infighting, and the seven years of scheming had all been part of a calculated effort to wrest the throne at Ginger Corporation. "Mildred, I heard from Kieran that you've never received higher education." She nodded. Truthfully, she couldn't remember herself. "I hold a seat on the board at Riverdale University. I've already donated a building in your name, so you'll be enrolling there." Mildred was taken aback. In her previous life, she was arranged to work at a pharmaceutical company under Ginger Corporation after her identity as a miracle doctor was revealed. She founded her own pharmaceutical research lab and led a team of scientists to numerous medical breakthroughs, earning countless accolades. In the end, she doubled Ginger Corporation's profits. There was no mention of attending any university in her previous life. That said, there was someone she needed to look for at Riverdale University in this lifetime. "Tomorrow, the faculty will set up an aptitude test to determine your major. Don't worry—even if you're not good at anything, I can still get you a diploma." Mildred was speechless. It was precisely because of his indulgence that he produced so many spoiled, entitled brats. "Dad, where's Alphonse? Isn't he back?" In her previous life, Alphonse would return to the country alongside Julian. For some reason, he didn't appear today—perhaps because she had altered the trajectory of her story. "Oh, Al was held back by something. He'll be home tomorrow. You two are actually twins—missing him already?" … Once Mildred stepped out of the study, she spotted Hermes quietly surveying the front yard. She approached him and asked, "What's up, Mr. Quirke?" He scanned around before cautiously asking, "Be honest—have the Gingers been tormenting you? I can tell how much trouble they all are, especially the one in the wheelchair! He's basically a wolf in sheep's clothing." Mildred raised a brow. "You could tell?" Hermes was visibly indignant. "That's not something hard to tell at my old age! I get why you refuse to save him now!" She laughed. "When the right time comes, I'll let them know the truth. For now, you'll have to cover for me and make frequent trips here, Mr. Quirke." He scoffed. "Easy-peasy. I may not be able to cure his legs, but I sure know how to make it seem like I do." That… wasn't something a doctor should be proud of, was it? After sending off Hermes, Mildred returned to the living room, where the others were still kneeling. Tamara had stopped crying. Instead, she tilted her face to the side, allowing Nox to apply the ointment for her. "A medicine from a miracle doctor sure works differently. It doesn't hurt anymore after you apply it. I bet the swelling will reduce soon." The heartbroken Nox said, "No one has ever laid their hands on you, but Mildred had the audacity to slap you. You and your poor, swollen cheek." Mildred calmly piped up. "Watch what you say, Nox. You're blaming me for things I didn't do." Tamara said sarcastically, "Yeah. Unlike Mildred, I don't carry a pen recorder with me at all times just so I can tattle on someone. "I've always been blunt and truthful. I never needed to resort to such tricks like that." Mildred smiled lightly. "Maybe you should learn a thing or two. Otherwise, you'll be catching slander left and right every day." "You…" A thought struck Tamara, and she pivoted. "You're having an aptitude test at Riverdale U tomorrow, aren't you? I wonder what your skills are. Beats me." Nox scoffed. "What skills do you expect her to have? I don't even know what Dad was thinking, donating a building in her name just so she could enroll. He's just waiting for her to humiliate the Ginger name." Adrian adjusted his glasses. "From what I've observed over the past few days, you actually don't possess any real skills. Maybe you should try martial arts." Tamara chortled. "No way. Mildred is the biological daughter of the Ginger family. With exceptional brothers like you guys, she ought to be extraordinary in some way. Maybe she just hasn't discovered it yet." Nox went along her lead. "To me, you resemble the true daughter more than she does. Everyone in Riverdale U knows you're the campus belle from the School of Fine Arts. "You're smart, pretty, and talented. You've even won countless awards. I've lost count of the number of admirers you have." "Enough, Nox. It's not like I fought for any of those things. They just came naturally to me." He laughed. "You're right. You're remarkable simply because you're you, unlike someone who's been turning this place upside down since day one." Mildred took another orange and peeled it, her eyes smiling as she took a bite. "Why are you smiling?" Nox questioned. "I just think it's pretty funny that you're all talking trash while still stuck kneeling here." "Hey—" She tossed an orange over to them. "How's this for a reward? Come on—next act, please." "You're crossing the line, Mildred," Kieran finally spoke up. A faint smile crept onto Mildred's lips, and she stood up to leave the living room. Kieran stopped her. "Was it your doing today, Mildred?" She left him unanswered and headed upstairs. Nox looked quizzically at him. "What did you mean by that, Kieran? It was Adrian and my idea to drug Arthur and lure out Mr. Quirke. You and Tammy were just dragged into this. What did this have to do with her?" "Don't you think the surveillance footage and toxicology report are fishy?" Kieran questioned in a deep voice. "The timing of Dad's return was suspicious, too." Adrian pushed his glasses upward. "There's no way she could've instructed the boutique owner to record Arthur and Tamara beforehand. I bet it was the Luzons' doing. "Tammy's manager-friend must've been fired, so the owner came in person to apologize." Tamara nodded in agreement. "That's right. Not even we knew Dad would return in advance, let alone Mildred. You're overthinking this, Kieran. Though we're being punished now, we still found you the miracle doctor!" As Kieran listened to their reasoning, he could only suppress the lingering doubts in his heart. They had a point; if someone wanted to turn the tables, they would need to know the plan in advance, bribe people at the bridal boutique, and maybe even predict the future. There was no way Mildred had that kind of ability. He was just overthinking it. Nox cut in. "Still, we can't let Mildred off the hook for getting us into trouble. Who would've expected she'd record us in secret? She got us into this mess, so we can't just let that slide." "Nox, you're saying…" "She likes recording behind our backs, doesn't she? Well, we'll give her a taste of her own medicine. Tomorrow, her aptitude test will be open for everyone at Riverdale U to watch. It's time we humble that slum stray."