Chapter 296: Take My Chances
Waverly hadn’t even finished her rant when Alaric exploded in anger.
“Stop talking nonsense and shut your mouth!”
Waverly retorted through her tears, “I’m not talking nonsense. I—”
Alaric promptly slapped her across the face. The force of the blow whipped her head to the side, drawing blood from the corner of her lips—a chilling testament to his strength.
Harriet immediately came to her defense.
“Alaric, was there really a need to slap her? Just use your words. It’s not fair to blame Wavy. She was just so upset that she let her anger get the better of her.”
Alaric was so furious that his face turned beet red.
“Go ahead, coddle her! With what happened to Ms. Tiffany, she’s just adding fuel to the fire. Is she trying to drive me to my grave?”
In the crowd, Raylee silently observed the entire scene unfold. It was a spectacle of the pot calling the kettle black. Everything was under her control, and the results were immensely satisfying.
At Tiffany’s party four years ago, Mindy had repeatedly accused her of theft. Now, it was time for her to taste the bitterness of being left utterly speechless. One was the woman who had slandered her, and the other was the one who had ensured she was thrown into prison. Both of them, in her eyes, deserved their fate.
The police arrived swiftly, taking away Tiffany and all the members of the Goodridge family. At long last, the absurd spectacle drew to a close. Thanks to their testimonies, the police managed to piece together the clues and uncover the true mastermind behind the chaos—Mindy. Mindy had orchestrated the forceful act Tiffany had been subjected to. The Goodridge family felt a mix of relief and apprehension. On one hand, they were grateful that Waverly had no involvement in the matter. On the other hand, they feared that Mindy’s actions might inadvertently implicate them. After all, Mindy wasn’t just Waverly’s closest friend; she was also her study companion. Everyone at school was aware of the relationship between the two of them.
With the gravity of the criminal case at hand, it was inevitable that Waverly’s reputation would take a hit. Yet, honor seemed like a minor concern compared to the potential repercussions. If Tiffany decided to bear a grudge and sought revenge—not just on the main perpetrator, but on Waverly as well—things could spiral completely out of control.
Ironically, Waverly continued to lash out at Tiffany in front of everyone, even after Tiffany had been sexually assaulted. She spared no words in her tirade. She even exposed her past in a foreign country, revealing the unsavory deeds she had committed. Given Tiffany’s vindictive nature, she would certainly not let Waverly off the hook. Alaric was at his wit’s end.
No matter how much he tried to sever ties and distance himself, the unfortunate reality was that the incident involving Tiffany had happened under his watch. It was a problem he couldn’t avoid. Not only did he have to ensure Waverly’s safety, but he also had to protect the survival of the entire Goodridge family. The Goodridge family endured a sleepless night. Waverly wanted to confront Mindy and demand answers for her reckless act. Mindy had no deep-seated grudges or significant conflicts with Tiffany, and she knew Tiffany was the eldest daughter of the Lorimer family. What else could it have been but courting disaster?
Yet, Mindy seemed to have vanished without a trace, leaving all attempts to contact her in vain. The police spared no effort in their search, and that very night, an online warrant was issued. There was no escaping justice for long. Mindy wouldn’t be able to stay hidden forever. The Goodridge family was fraught with worry, and Waverly was particularly distraught. She was extremely worried about Mindy being caught. Once caught, Tiffany would undoubtedly not let her off the hook. The best-case scenario was Mindy rotting in prison, and the worst-case scenario was a tragic end for her behind bars. Either way, with Tiffany’s fiery temperament, Mindy was certainly not going to have an easy time. Raylee was a living example. Waverly was worried that she couldn’t save Mindy. Mindy had too much leverage over her. Their fates were intertwined.
If Mindy fell into trouble and Waverly failed to save her, there would undoubtedly be a cascade of retaliatory consequences. However, all Waverly could do was take things one step at a time. Staying at home, she fervently prayed that Mindy would evade capture.
The next morning, Waverly received a message from Mindy, instructing her to bring fifty million to their usual meeting spot. It was the hair salon in their hometown, a business run by Mindy’s godmother. Waverly hadn’t anticipated that Mindy had already fled back to their hometown. She sent a message back, warning her that the police were actively searching for her and urging her to stay hidden.
Mindy, growing impatient, called Waverly directly using a public phone.
“Of course, I know to keep a low profile! I won’t go to jail. Tiffany will never let me off the hook! Instead of living a life worse than death in prison, I’d rather take my chances. But I need money to escape. Hurry up and get me fifty million!”
Waverly angrily questioned her, “You don’t want to end up in jail, and you don’t want to face the consequences. So why did you have someone sexually assault Tiffany? Why, of all people, did you choose to provoke the eldest daughter of the Lorimer family? Have you lost your mind? And on top of that, you did it at my banquet! Do you even realize how this implicates me and the entire Goodridge family? My dad was furious with me because of your recklessness!”