?<strong>Chapter 275:</strong>


    “Gina, do you remember this photo?” Joelle beckoned Gina over to take a closer look. “That was the year you got into college. My parents threw that big celebration for you.”


    “Of course I remember.”


    Joelle’s smile was tinged with a hint of bitterness. “It wasn’t long after that my parents had their idents.”


    “Joelle, try not to dwell on it.”


    “Okay.” Joelle took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together. “By the way, Gina, do you recall thest time you saw my mom?”


    Gina furrowed her brow, searching her memory. “I can’t quite remember the details. She was always so upbeat. I never imagined things would turn out like this.”


    “Yeah, me neither.”


    Joelle’s probing didn’t seem to uncover anything rming about Gina. Maybe Shawn looked in the wrong ce after all. How could Gina possibly be involved?


    “Mommy!”


    Aurora’s voice cut through the conversation, drawing Joelle away.


    Left alone, Gina started tidying up the room. She picked up the group photo again, studying the smiles frozen in time. Yet, an uneasy feeling gnawed at her—a sense of not quite fitting in. She was always painfully aware of her ce—a poor girl the Watson family had taken under their wing.


    Pity. Charity. Everyone seemed to think she should be grateful. But…


    Joelle’s voice drifted in from outside the room. Gina quickly opened the frame, slipped a tiny listening device inside, and carefully ced the photo back in its spot.


    As she had suspected, Joelle and Shawn were starting to get suspicious of her. Trust, she knew, was a fragile thing. Once doubt crept in, it was hard to erase.


    Joelle managed to push aside her suspicions about Gina. Later that evening, when Shawn returned, Joelle updated him on her little test of Gina.


    “Shawn, I really don’t think Gina’s involved in Mom’s death.”


    Shawn remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the group photo.


    After Joelle had finished, he finally spoke. “You know what I found out today?”


    “What?”


    “Gina’s been secretly in touch with Adrian.”


    “No way!”


    Joelle’s heart raced. Her rtionship with Adrian was nothing short of toxic. The thought of Gina being in contact with Adrian behind her back felt like a p in the face.


    Shawn raised a calming hand. “It’s not as dire as it sounds. Adrian’s been using her to get some recent photos of Aurora. Other than that, Gina hasn’t done anything to harm you. He’s probably just trying to see his daughter, and this is the only way he can manage it.”


    Joelle understood Adrian’s motives, but she couldn’t stomach Gina ying the mediator, trying to cate both sides.


    “Shawn, Gina is well aware of everything that happened between Adrian and me. She knows every detail, and yet she still chose to…”


    Shawn nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I get where you’reing from. I feel the same way. Dad always told us to treat her like a sister. Even if he’s not around one day, we should still see her as family.”


    He paused, grappling with the tangled mess of human behavior. Why was it that when you gave someone your genuine self, they didn’t always reciprocate?


    “Forget it. Joelle, don’t let it eat at you. Gina has her perspective. We can’t control how others feel.”


    Meanwhile, Gina sat in a dimly lit hospital room, her headphones on. She nced at the heart monitor, the steady beep a stark reminder of Austin’s unresponsive state. Though technically alive, after all these years in aa, even if he miraculously woke up, he’d be like a ship lost at sea, adrift from reality.


    “Sister?” Gina scoffed at the figure lying motionless in the bed. “Did you even say that? How pathetic!”


    The next day, Gina invited Joelle to meet. Joelle also had something to pass on to Gina.


    They went to a tennis club. Joelle had been working out consistently for thest two years. Before her marriage to Adrian, she had been passionate about sports and discovering new ces. Back then, she had been naively convinced that every man’s ideal wife was a virtuous andpliant one.


    The reality was harsh—losing her independence, no matter how genuine her intentions, had only led to disrespect and being taken for granted.


    Joelle and Gina hit the court for a few rounds of tennis. After a few sets, they took a break, sitting on the court. Joelle opened a bottle of water and handed it to Gina.


    “Thanks, Joelle.”


    Joelle smiled warmly. “Gina, you’ve always been so polite to me. I’ve told you before, I consider you like a sister.”


    Gina hesitated for a moment, her eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty, but she met Joelle’s gaze.


    “Joelle, honestly, I’m deeply grateful for everything you and the Watson family have done for me. Words alone can’t express it. If I could, I’d do more to help you and Shawn, but I’m not powerful enough.”


    “You’ve already done so much for us.” Joelle’s smile remained sincere.


    Gina returned the smile, though it was tinged with awkwardness. She then took a deep breath. Finally, gathering her resolve, she faced Joelle.


    “Joelle, there’s something I need to confess.”


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