Chapter 83
Everyone gasped.
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Zion’s eyes widened. “No way…” Then, scoffing, “What junk are you trying to pull? You think you can fool us?”
Jackson shot him an icy glare, “Ignorant fool.”
Everyone fell silent.
They hadn’t seen anything like it either, but surely Jackson’s insult was meant only for Zion, not them.
Zion flushed crimson, but the lingering pain kept him from challenging Jackson further.
William, approaching Janie, began to ask about the device, but thought better of it. “Is this… evidence, Miss Janie?”
‘Better to appear cautious than Clueless, William thought.
David, catching his father’s subtle shift, smirked.
Janie simply nodded.
At the same time, Jackson turned to David. “Get my laptop.”
David, though puzzled, obeyed.
Xena’s legs were starting to give out.
‘A laptop? What for?‘ she thought, panic rising. ‘Could that thing be some kind of camera or recording device?‘
‘No, impossible!‘
Xena quickly dismissed the idea.
As the Jenkins daughter, she’d seen it all. How could Janie, a nobody, possibly have high–tech gear they’d never encountered?
Forcing a smile, Xena said, “Janie, what are you up to?”
Kathy and the others remained silent, their expressions shifting from disbelief to apprehension.
Zion, still clinging to denial, laughed. “Fine! Let’s see what tricks you have up your sleeve!”
Ryan and Ethan were starting to feel uneasy.
Janie’s calm demeanor made them wonder if Xena had actually framed her.
But how could that be possible?
They’d watched Xena grow up. Sure, she could be spoiled, but they couldn’t imagine her being so malicious.
The brothers exchanged worried glances, at a loss for words.
David returned with the laptop and placed it on the table.
As Janie stepped forward, Ethan called out, “Janie!”
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Janie ignored him.
Ethan pressed on, “What on earth is this?”
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Seeing that Janie had no intention of responding to him, Ethan turned to William. “Mr. Smith, I apologize for this scene. Perhaps we could ask the guests to leave and handle this privately?”
Only then did Janie look up at him.
Ethan felt uncomfortable under her gaze.
He was quite perceptive and had already guessed some of what was going on.
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If Xena had indeed done something foolish in a moment of confusion, and it became public knowledge, how could she ever show her face again?
How could the Jenkins family maintain their reputation?
Jackson’s voice cut through the tension. “Why didn’t you suggest that before? You wanted Janie to prove her innocence, didn’t you? Now you want to sweep it under the rug? Hypocrite.”
Ethan, stung by the insult, bit back a retort. He couldn’t afford a confrontation with Jackson, not now.
Ryan and Kathy, watching Xena’s increasingly pale face, felt a sinking feeling in their stomachs.
Only Zion remained oblivious, still convinced that Janie was bluffing.
Xena’s thoughts raced. ‘Maybe it’s all a trick! Maybe there’s nothing on that device!‘
“Alright,” Janie said, turning the laptop.
“Janie!” Kathy cried out.
Janie remained unmoved.
The Jenkins family watched helplessly, unable to intervene.
Kathy pinned her hopes on Janie’s supposed soft spot for her, a remnant of their past relationship.
But Janie felt nothing but indifference for the woman who was once her mother.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Zion whined, his stupidity astounding Jackson.
Jackson quickly connected the device.
The video began to play.
The audio crystal clear.
Xena flinched, her mind scrambling for an escape.
Ethan closed his eyes.
It’s over.
The guests, drawn by the unfolding drama, craned their necks to see the screen.
They were all stunned.
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On the screen, Xena smirked, “Guess what happens if I jump from here?”
Janie replied with a touch of sarcasm, “Well, you’d fall, wouldn’t you?”
Then, just as Janie was about to leave, Xena suddenly shrieked, “Janie, don’t do anything rash!”
And with that, Xena threw herself into the water, screaming for help.
It was a complete act, a self–made drama,
Just as Janie had said, Xena had staged her own dramatic plunge into the sea.
The onlookers‘ expressions shifted, their gazes hardening as they instinctively distanced themselves from Xena.
They all had their own skeletons in the closet, but Xena’s level of craziness was beyond their comprehension.
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Xena had jumped into the ocean! She was willing to risk her own life! What kind of vendetta drove her to such extremes?
‘Why, why was Janie so cruel?‘ Xena’s face drained of color; her life felt ruined. ‘She had deliberately pretended not to have evidence, only to let me incriminate herself and then rub my face in it.
There was no doubt about it – Janie was her ultimate downfall.
Zion stared blankly, muttering, “No, this can’t be… Xena is the kindest, most innocent person I know!”
How could this manipulative, scheming woman in the video be his sister?
It felt like he had never truly known her.
Zion looked at Xena, his gaze stiff and unfamiliar.
Xena wished it was all a nightmare, that she would wake up and it would all be gone.
She had been so sure of her victory, assuming that Janie, dressed in her gown and without her phone, would be caught off guard and have no choice but to admit defeat.
She never expected Janie to have a hidden micro–camera, something she had never seen before.
Xena’s body went rigid, her face ashen, and she swayed, on the verge of collapse.
The crowd, mindful of the Jenkins family’s influence, kept their voices low as they whispered and pointed.
But it was enough to make Xena feel utterly humiliated.
“Xena, say something! This isn’t real, is it? It has to be…”
Zion wanted to accuse Janie of fabricating the evidence, but he knew deep down that such a thing was impossible, especially in such a short amount of time.
Unless Janie was some kind of sorceress.
Xena’s lips trembled, but no words came out.
Zion felt a sting of shame on his face.
Tyler frowned. He had always known that Xena was a bit calculating, but he never imagined she was capable of something
like this.
Even Kathy and Ryan and Ethan had suspected something, but the reality was still hard for them to swallow, especially with
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such damning visual evidence and so many witnesses.
The Jenkins family’s reputation was about to be dragged through the mud.
Kathy’s lips quivered. “Xena, what is the meaning of this?”
Jackson’s voice was icy. “Isn’t it obvious? Janic was completely innocent in this. Your family is nothing but trouble!”
He turned to Xena, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You are quite ruthless to yourself!”
Xena’s vision blurred, and she fainted.
“Xena!”
The Jenkins family rushed to her side, their previous composure forgotten.
The Smith family’s private doctor, who had already been on standby, hurried over to examine her.
The Jenkins were utterly mortified.
They should have known better than to come today.
Jackson scoffed, “Is she pretending to faint, or was she scared into fainting by the truth being exposed?”
Zion glared at him. “Don’t be a jerk!”
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Jackson rolled his eyes. “What? She tried to frame my sister! I have every right to call her out, precious little princess or not.”
Zion was left speechless.
Jackson turned to David. “Call the cops.”
