Chapter 36
Even if Lily believed herself superior, she couldn't voice it as the crowd swelled. Her anger intensified when onlookers began recording her with their phones, yet she maintained a composed exterior.
Soon, more Sanitation Service Center workers and police arrived to assist in the ring search. This was ridiculous! Shivering in the cold, Annabelle and Lily were interrogated amidst piles of garbage and noxious fumes.
Unsurprisingly, the ring wasn't found. Leaving the scene, both women were nauseated by the stench.
"Lily, what do we do? This is a criminal case!" Annabelle exclaimed nervously in the car. She tolerated pranks, but police involvement was unacceptable. "Who even reported this?"
"I'll handle it," Lily said grimly. She wasn't as concerned about the criminal case as she was about her public image. A celebrity photographed in upscale venues, she'd spent hours surrounded by garbage. With numerous people recording her, she feared it would become a trending topic. She frantically contacted her agent and publicist to suppress any related news.
Grace's body reeked of garbage. Despite wearing gloves and washing her hands repeatedly, a faint odor lingered. Even after changing clothes, the smell clung to her skin. "These rich people are unbearable! They lose a ring, and we're tortured? If it's so expensive, why didn't they keep better track of it?" Claire grumbled.
Grace offered comfort, then left.
After Lily's fiasco, Grace returned home later than usual, the streetlights already on. A cold wind stung her face. She felt the stark difference between her past and present.
When Lily demanded a search, Grace had lacked the strength to resist. She needed this awful job; no one else would hire her. Her past self could have quit and found other opportunities; her present self struggled to find even this one. To survive, stay warm, and eat, she had to persevere.
Suddenly, she stopped, staring at a figure by the apartment gate. Jason! He'd waited for her.
The streetlight illuminated his handsome face, a balm to her soul. At least her present self wasn't alone.
"Jay," Grace rushed toward him, then hesitated.
He looked at her questioningly. "Sister?"
"I I smell awful, don't get too close," she said, laughing. "It's been a hell of a day. I stink. Let's go inside; it's freezing."
She headed toward the building, planning a quick shower and clothes change before the smell permeated their apartment. But arms encircled her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Jay!" she whispered.