Chapter 709

John released his grip on Jordan's arm and said nonchalantly, "Go ahead if you can." Jordan stormed off a couple of steps before turning back to glare at John. "John, you used to be the most paranoid about Frederick getting close to Jane. Why are you so calm today?" John's tone remained as placid as still water. "I don’t want to upset Jane today. Besides, compared to other men, I think Frederick is trustworthy." Jordan froze for a moment, considering the words. It was true if he barged over and beat Frederick up now, it would definitely ruin Jane’s mood. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Fine! I’ll let that brat off the hook just for today!" Meanwhile, Jane examined the ring in Frederick’s hand and tilted her head thoughtfully. "Brother Frederick, I really love your gift, but a diamond ring this big would be so clunky to wear on my finger. How about I string it into a necklace instead?" "Sure, whatever you prefer," Frederick agreed without hesitation. Fisher, who had just returned from Antarctica, was quick on the uptake and immediately fetched a red cord, presenting it respectfully to Frederick. Frederick threaded the ring onto the cord before kneeling on one knee and fastening it gently around Jane’s milky-white neck. At that very moment, fireworks erupted in the distance, their brilliant bursts painting the night sky in dazzling hues. Leaning close, Frederick whispered into Jane’s ear, "Happy birthday, Jane." "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." Two off-key, out-of-sync voices suddenly rose in song. Jane turned to see her two brothers, Bryan and Harold, pushing a towering five-tiered cake toward her so tall it nearly dwarfed them. Their singing soon drew in the rest of her brothers and friends, and the chorus of "Happy Birthday" swelled louder and louder. As Jane gazed at the flickering candlelight atop the cake, an indescribable warmth surged in her chest, as if her heart might overflow with sheer happiness. For a long moment, the little girl just stood there, dazed and slightly dumbfounded. Yet she looked utterly adorable so much so that anyone would’ve been tempted to pinch her cheeks. Jane's crystal-clear eyes darted between her brothers, their sparkle reflecting the fireworks and melodies around her. All her worries melted away in that moment, leaving nothing but pure happiness. The people she loved and those who loved her were right by her side. Perfect. The next morning, as soon as she picked up her phone, a flurry of notifications chimed in rapid succession. Glancing at the headlines, she saw they were all about the grandeur of her birthday celebration the night before. Curious, she tapped on a few articles only to be pleasantly surprised. For once, there wasn’t a single hateful comment in sight. Every post was filled with warm wishes for her birthday and heartfelt hopes for her well-being. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she scrolled through the messages. Maybe the world would always have its share of internet trolls, and darkness would never fully disappear. But her brothers had done everything in their power to carve out a beautiful little world just for her. Meanwhile, in a damp, cramped basement, Avani now barely recognizable clutched her phone with white-knuckled fury. Her grip was so tight her fingers turned bone-white. Seated in a wheelchair, she glared down at the stumps where her legs used to be, hatred boiling inside her. If only she could tear Jane limb from limb! That nightmarish evening still haunted her. She had been suspended in a tank swarming with piranhas, forced to endure their relentless bites until her legs were stripped to the bone. Only then did Frederick’s men dump her along with the ravenous fish into the river where the creatures thrived. She had been certain she would die, devoured alive. Yet somehow, she was saved. But even now, she had no idea who her rescuer was. Since being pulled from the water, she had been locked away in this basement. Food was delivered on schedule, the room cleaned but no one ever spoke to her. Her captor had given her a phone, allowing her to see the outside world. Yet here she remained, trapped like a rat in the shadows. Her bloodshot eyes burned with rage as she stared at Jane’s radiant smile on the screen. But in the end, all she could do was bow her head in bitter defeat. Jane put down her phone, finished washing up, and had just changed her clothes when her sister burst into the room. "Jane, hurry up! Big Brother is taking Katalina to the Brown family. Let's go check it out!" Jane tensed up immediately. Though she knew Katalina wouldn’t be at a disadvantage with Big Brother there, she still couldn’t shake her worry. She had to see it for herself. Quickly, she scurried after her sister, her tiny feet pattering against the floor. Outside the manor, Mariah had already started the car, waiting for them after receiving Mina’s message. As soon as Jane and Mina climbed in, Bryan and Harold swiftly followed, hopping into the vehicle. On the way to the Brown residence, Mina finally turned to Jane and asked, "Jane, why is Katalina going to the Brown family? Every time she’s mentioned them before, she’s looked like she wanted to grind her teeth to dust. What kind of grudge does she have against them?" Before Jane could answer, Harold shot Mina a sidelong glance. "Kids shouldn’t poke their noses into things they don’t need to know." Mina instantly bristled. "Harold, you were only born half an hour before me! If I’m a kid, so are you! Why do you and Jane get to know everything while we’re left in the dark?" Bryan quickly sided with Mina. "Yeah, Harold, that’s not fair. Why can’t Mina and I know what’s going on?" Jane thought for a moment before speaking up. "Harold, maybe we should tell them." Harold studied Bryan and Mina, their cheeks puffed out in indignation, then sighed. "Fine. The body we found during our school trip the other day her real name was Veronica. She was Cayden’s daughter… and Katalina’s granddaughter." Mina had already heard about Cayden’s two illegitimate daughters from Jane before, so with just that one sentence, her imagination ran wild. "I get it!" she exclaimed. "Veronica was one of Cayden’s secret daughters, but Rory and her wicked mother found out and killed her! Even if the police can’t prove it, Katalina’s sure they did it, so she’s going to make them pay right?" Jane and Harold exchanged a glance before nodding in unison. "Yeah, that’s pretty much it." "Alright, then let’s hurry up and help Katalina serve justice!" Mina declared dramatically, clenching her little fist with righteous fervor. Jane arched an eyebrow slightly, amused by her sister’s unshakable enthusiasm.