Chapter 221: Get the Police Involved

Carter nervously remarked, “Chloe, going straight there might be risky, and we could give ourselves away.”

“I get it,” I replied, nodding. “We don’t need to make ourselves known. I had suspicions earlier, but now that I see this man, I’m sure something’s happening. Nelson has doubts about Anna, just like we do, but he doesn’t have the proof. If we inform him that Anna frequently visits this car repair shop, he’ll definitely look into it. Of course, they’ll need a valid reason to intervene.”

“How do you mean?”

I grinned. “We can plant someone to stir up trouble at the shop, and then the police will have a reason to get involved. Once they uncover the entrance, they can act!”

Carter breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought you were about to do something reckless.”

I said, “I’ve just managed to stay alive, so right now, staying hidden is the priority. But we can still work behind the scenes to get the police involved.”

Carter agreed. “I’ll take care of the details.”

“That man keeps changing his appearance every time he shows up. If we could see his real face, we might be able to uncover the whole story.”

“We’ve already narrowed things down, and we’ll piece it together soon. Don’t worry,” Carter reassured me.

“Okay,” I replied with a nod. “Once we take care of the Wilchers, let’s head home right away.”

“Got it.”

Lately, I haven’t had a chance to train. Just thinking about that man’s presence and my body’s automatic fear response makes me realize I need to get stronger. Otherwise, I’ll keep reacting like this whenever I see him. But with my mom pregnant and emotionally unstable, and the entire Wilchers’ family involved, I can’t feel comfortable leaving her alone.

Sure enough, when I got home, this was the scene waiting for me. Linette came downstairs, holding a collection of brand-new skincare products. These were luxury items, carefully chosen by Bill to win over my mom. Each jar of cream cost tens of thousands, specially made to order. She picked up a handful, her face beaming with smiles. “Philippa, you can’t use these while you’re pregnant. These high-potency ones expire quickly; it would be such a waste. Let me make use of them instead.”

“Oh, you have so many bags, all brand new. You don’t even go out; it’s such a shame to just leave them sitting there. I noticed you still have a lot of new clothes in your closet, too. You won’t be able to wear them while pregnant, so why not give them all to me?”

The Wilchers are nothing but an empty shell. Grandpa and my two uncles lack any business sense. Since Benjamin took over, the family business has been slowly dwindling. By the time it reached his two sons, the business had already been completely drained. Had it not been for their connection with Bill, the Wilchers would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. Bill typically only helps manage their business, so it’s unlikely they are wealthy. Moreover, Harper has a habit of gambling, which makes their financial situation even worse. To give the appearance of being wealthy, she often comes to my mom for these things.

Even though my mom and I don’t need any of it, I can’t tolerate her actions. “Aunt Linette, if people who know you see you here, they’ll think you’re visiting. But if they don’t know you, they might believe you’re here to buy things. What’s going on? Are you treating my mom’s house like a bulk store? Even bulk buying requires an investment. How is this not just stealing?”

Linette’s face turned red. “What are you talking about? I’m just trying to avoid waste.”

Whether it’s wasteful or not, it’s still my mom’s stuff. Why are you so concerned? From abroad to here, I truly admire your determination. At the rate you’re going, you could outpace the old women in our neighborhood collecting bottles, or even rush to the supermarket to grab eggs first, leaving those old men far behind.”

My words made Linette furious. “It’s just some old stuff; who cares?”

“If you don’t care, then put it back. Don’t even think about taking a single thing from my mom’s house. Otherwise, I’ll report you for trespassing.”

Smack!

Benjamin, behind me, threw a teacup and yelled, “Zoey, you have some nerve! The elders are here, and you’re acting so disrespectfully!”

I turned around, arms crossed, thinking about all the things he had done to my mom in the past, which made my anger grow even more. “Elders? Where? All I see are a bunch of thieves and crooks. What kind of elders sell their daughters? Calling you a human trafficker is giving you too much credit.”

Harper jumped in, “How dare you speak to your grandpa like that!”

Linette clung to his arm, crying and complaining, while Harper raised his hand to strike me. “You’re nothing but trouble, always causing problems. Our home doesn’t need your reckless behavior.”

“Our home? When did the Gardners’ become your home? Sounds like you’re aiming higher, even setting your sights on the Gardners’ inheritance.”

At that moment, Bill walked over. “What’s all this noise about?” He looked more like the head of the family than Benjamin. As soon as he showed up, the bloodsuckers from the Wilchers became a lot more docile.

But I wasn’t intimidated. To me, he was just like the rest of them—irreparable, useless trash.

“Dad, you’re finally back. If you hadn’t come, Aunt Linette would’ve emptied our house. I remember everything you specially bought for Mom—luxury skincare and clothes. The tags are still on them, and she wants to take it all!”

Before Linette could say anything, I jumped in, “And what’s this nonsense about them calling this place their home? I recall you bought this villa for Mom. How did it become their house? Does Uncle Harper think that because you don’t have a son, the entire Gardner family inheritance will go to them?” I threw that last line in deliberately, knowing that Bill’s biggest regret in life was not having a son.

Hearing this, Bill’s anger flared, and he slammed his hand down on the table. “How could you? If I hadn’t been supporting your family all these years, you’d have gone under a long time ago. I can’t believe you’re still eyeing my wife’s possessions and my family’s inheritance!”

Harper tried to explain, “No, Bill, don’t listen to this troublemaker.”

“I’m not lying, Dad. Open your eyes and really look! Aren’t those skincare products the ones you bought for Mom? Aunt Linette even wore that expensive dress with a tag still on it. That limited-edition Hermès bag she’s carrying—don’t you recognize them?”

Harper, who had ignored everything up until now, was caught in my words, and all his lies were exposed for everyone to see.

Bill was furious. “Take that off! Who gave you permission to wear my wife’s clothes?”

Linette looked upset. “Bill, it’s just a piece of clothing. I was in a rush and didn’t bring anything with me.”

I chimed in, “Dad, for years she’s been taking advantage of Mom, taking everything she can. Mom is kind and never complains, but she’s still your wife and deserves respect. She’s been mistreated by them and now the Gardners. Even now, pregnant and suffering from terrible morning sickness, she’s still being treated this way. It’s truly heartbreaking.”

As I portrayed myself as the victim, Bill’s thoughts turned to how they had treated Philippa, and his fury boiled over. “Take it off right now, drop your things, and leave immediately!”

Chapter 291: Get the Police Involved (continued) Chapter 299: Darling, Keep Going (continued)