Chapter 2 Discovering The Truth

• “What did you say?” The disbelief and horror were palpable in Jovienne's voice.
• How could it be? Mom has always been the epitome of gentleness and kindness.
• “Do you even realize, I wasn't homeless! I was abused by my stepfather since I was a child, treated merely as a cash cow, and sent off to work on a cruise ship to entertain people. I escaped because I couldn't bear it any longer...” Rochelle's voice was a mixture of pain and defiance.
• “Just when I thought all my nightmares had come to an end, your mother revealed to me that she had enlisted help to find my biological parents!” The frustration in her voice grew as she recounted the betrayal. “She clearly already saved me from a sea of suffering, so why are you trying to push me back into it?”
• “You and your mother are nothing more than a pair of deceitful lowlifes!” Rochelle's voice was restrained, tinged with a fear of being exposed, yet it was also brimming with anger.
• Hearing this, Jovienne felt a sharp pang in her heart. All along, she had been unaware of the true story, merely believing Rochelle to be a pitiful orphan who had lost both her parents.
• “Why didn't you tell me and Mom? We would have helped you...” Jovienne's voice was soft, filled with confusion and empathy.
• “Help me?” Rochelle's laugh was sharp and bitter, “Do you think I'm not miserable enough? Do you want to add public humiliation to my misery?”
• “No, I...” Jovienne began, her voice faltering.
• “Enough!” Rochelle's interruption was fierce, her face contorted with hostility as she backed Jovienne against the wall, “You're not even worthy to speak these words to me!” Her voice was filled with scorn and disdain, her body language menacing.
• Rochelle's life had been one of physical and emotional scars; the shame of her past, if revealed, would strip her of her dignity forever.
• Jovienne, in contrast, was the golden child, blessed by fortune. Not only was she academically brilliant and strikingly beautiful, but she was also fortunate enough to be engaged to the most coveted man in Sparaville.
• Why should I allow you to have everything?
• The jealousy that consumed Rochelle was palpable; she was resolved to take everything from Jovienne.
• “I've always seen you as a sister, which is why I stepped aside. I even agreed to have Hendrik's child for your sake... But then you went and killed my mother!” Jovienne shook her head, tears streaming down her face, a picture of sorrow and disbelief.
• Suddenly, Rochelle grabbed Jovienne's hand forcefully, her menacing glare intensified by the dim light in the corridor. “Heh, if there really is such a thing as retribution, it's not my turn yet!”
• Jovienne shivered under Rochelle's intense gaze, the fear palpable. She couldn't even begin to fathom the depths of cruelty that Rochelle might stoop to, and her primary focus was on protecting her unborn child at all costs.
• Holding Rochelle's arm tightly, she asked with a determined look, “What are you planning to do?”
• “Everything should be over now... Oh, you probably don't know, but nothing happened between Mr. Xenakis and me that night...” Rochelle's revelation was casual, almost nonchalant.
• “You…” Jovienne gasped, shock registering in her wide eyes. Piecing together the recent revelations about the staged miscarriage, she finally understood the full scope of the deception.
• Rochelle had merely taken advantage of the fact that Hendrik harbored no feelings for me and devised the entire plan so that she'd be accepted into the Xenakis family. But this child...
• “You never really wanted the child I'm carrying, did you?” Her voice was a mixture of anger and sadness.
• “Haha, you've finally caught on! I just made a passing remark; I didn't expect Mr. Xenakis to take it so seriously!” Rochelle's laugh was cruel, her smugness evident in her taunt.
• “Do you realize how grave his expression was when he received that miscarriage report?” he continued to mock, reveling in the torment she caused.
• Jovienne attempted to flee from Rochelle's grasp, but Rochelle's strength overwhelmed her efforts to escape. In the heat of their struggle, they both tumbled down the staircase.
• In a moment of sheer malice, Rochelle delivered a fierce kick, her eyes glinting ruthlessly. If Jovienne were dead, Rochelle's own secrets and sins would die with her.
• Only when she saw Jovienne's limp body tumbling down the stairs did Rochelle dust herself off and stand, a slight smile curling the edges of her lips. “Don't blame me for being heartless; if anyone's at fault, it's you for being so weak!”
• Struggling desperately in a pool of her own blood, Jovienne clutched her abdomen, the pain overwhelming her. Despite her attempts, she couldn't muster the strength to speak. Overcome by excruciating pain, she eventually succumbed to unconsciousness...
• ...
• Five years later, in the vibrant and bustling Lumonburg, a woman stood confidently before a large screen in the largest full-service design center, explaining her design philosophy in fluent Friyxian.
• This children's amusement park project, worth one and a half billion and highly sought after by many design firms, had unexpectedly landed in her hands.
• “Ms. Citrus, your skills are impressive for someone so young. It's truly remarkable!” a client praised her warmly.
• “Not only did you consider the investors' needs perfectly, but you also focused on what truly matters for the children. Designers like you are rare indeed.”
• “You're too kind. I'm grateful for your guidance,” Jovienne responded graciously, her smile polite and professional.
• Citrus was her name now.
• She had miraculously survived that fateful night. As she lay there, on the brink of death, she remembered the life-sustaining medicine she always carried—Lifesaver Pill.
• This critical moment had spurred her decision to leave the Xenakis family and the city behind, choosing to start afresh rather than face her tormentors again.
• Luckily, she had not lost her child. Half a year after relocating to Lumonburg, she had successfully given birth to a son, Leonard Schumer, the sole reminder of her past and a symbol of her new beginning.
• In just a few years, Jovienne had risen to prominence as a celebrated architectural designer in Lumonburg, establishing a fulfilling career she loved.
• After concluding her presentation, she gathered her things and headed to her car. That day was her son's birthday, and she had promised him a Japriumian cuisine outing.
• Meanwhile, back at Xenakis Group's office, urgency filled the air. Zachary Gunderson hurried toward the CEO's office, “Mr. Xenakis, our security system has been breached!”
• The man at the desk, his eyes cold and unforgiving, simply responded, “Investigate it.”
• Despite the breach seemingly minor, it was an audacious move against Xenakis Group's security systems.
• “Our team activated a tracker, but it found nothing. However, we discovered an IP address that the intruder left,” Zachary reported. “Despite bypassing numerous obstacles, the intruder had cleverly left clues that were too simple to decipher. Looks like he's no ordinary foe.”
• This apparent intrusion was more than it seemed. “Mr. Xenakis, I'll go capture him right away?” Zachary looked at the address on the screen, his expression serious as he pondered what kind of person could have caused such a stir that Hendrik had to personally step in.
• “That's just a decoy,” Hendrik responded coldly, his features hardened into an icy mask.
• Zachary, surprised, asked, “A decoy?”
• Could it be that this little rascal was deliberately fooling us?
• “He's luring me out for a meeting,” Hendrik explained, his voice betraying a hint of anticipation.
• The IP was a decoy, but the hidden messages within the code revealed a location for a meeting. The other party was challenging the Xenakis leadership directly.
• “Mr. Xenakis, will you meet them?” Zachary inquired, wary of the implications.
• “Yes.”