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Chapter 20

Annie returned to her room, tossing the pot of cacti carelessly onto her desk. If it weren’t for her concern about the innocent greens, she would have thrown it out of the window.

After contemplating and planning so much, she never anticipated the sudden appearance of Jackson. He was definitely not a friend but a foc, akin to a ticking time bomb–way too unpredictable.

“Argh, if only I acted like I didn’t know him. Why did I have to provoke that troublemaker?” Annie shot a glance at the cactus pot, annoyance evident in her eyes.

A rivalry brewed between Yolanda and Jessica.

Jessica intended to have a tailor at home for a custom–made high–end gown. Yolanda also planned to do the same for a similar dress. Jessica wanted embellishments with thousands of pink pearls on chiffon, and so did Yolanda.

Infupfated, Jessica sneered, Clothing should match the person wearing it. Don’t end up looking out of place and embarrassing yourself!”

Yolanda retorted confidently, “What can I do? Jeremy likes me. It’s better than looking gorgeous. and him not fancying it, right?”

“You!” Jessica suppressed her anger and asked, Jessica struggled to contain her anger and quizzed, “Can you even afford authentic pearls? Don’t make a fool of yourself with cheap, low–grade

trinkets!”

Yolanda replied saucily, “No worries. With Jeremy, I’ll have the best.

Yolanda’s constant mentions of Jeremy pricked at Jessica’s nerves. She wished she could silence Yolanda for good. However, Jessica was smart. The next day, images of Yolanda wearing fake jewelry at a previous event flooded the internet. The wealthy heiress depending on fake glamour… Those unaware of the Sanders family dynamics would assume they were on the brink of financial

ruin.

Fuming with anger, Yolanda “mistakenly hit the Like button on Jessica’s photos and videos where she had clumsily fallen into the water. Jessica had managed to cover up the incident, but Yolanda dragged it back into the limelight, making it once again the talk of the town over afternoon tea.

The two continued to expose each other’s flaws, neither willing to step down.

Meanwhile, Annie gathered her courage and dialed a number.

“Hello?” A voice came from the other end of the line after a few rings.

“Mira.” Annie’s eyes reddened instantly, her voice trembling.

Cheyles 201

Antie was abducted by traffickers at a young age, and as she fell ill and deemed unfit to survive, she was abandoned on a rural roadside. Mira Shaw’s patents discovered her and took her in. Growing up together, they were as close as sisters. When the Sanders family reclaimed her and brought her horne, Mira had pledged to visit. However, when Mira did come, an irreparable incident unfolded, haunting Annie from her previous life.

Now that fate has granted me a second chance, I won’t make the same mistakes again. I’ll right the wrongs and take what’s mine! Annie vowed silently

“What’s wrong. Annie? Are the Sanders family mistreated you?” Mira asked anxiously, sensing Anne’s emotions over the phone.

Shaking her head, Annie chuckled amidst tears, “No, don’t worry. No one can bully me now. It’s my

turn to dish it out.”

Mira teased. “Come on, with your small build, you plan to bully others? In the old days, if I hadn’t shielded you, you’d have been picked on to no end.”

Annie’s expression softened. “Yeah, and now, it’s my turn to protect you.”

“Oh, getting all sentimental, aren’t we?” Mira joked. Since Annie had departed for Betrico, she had been engrossed with her two Sanders cousins, neglecting calls back. Thus Mira wasn’t quite prepared for this abrupt phone call.

Annie took a deep breath and said, “Mira, come to In her mind, she added, ‘Come see for yourself what fate awaits those who wronged you i in the

past!‘