?<strong>Chapter 285:</strong>


    Katie waspletely taken aback by Gina’s words, not realizing Gina had discreetly pulled out a syringe. Their eyes locked, and Gina sneered before abruptly injecting Katie with the needle. The sharp pain caused Katie’s eyes to widen in shock as she tried to etch the face of her assant into her memory. But soon after, she lost consciousness.


    Gina stood and drew back the curtain, revealing a circr bed. Across from the bed, a camera was already set up. She called the driver who had brought Katie here. “Leo, let the men in.”


    There was a brief silence on the line. “Are you sure about this? If Jonathan finds out…”


    “Do you think he would me me?”


    “That’s not what I’m saying.”


    Gina scoffed. “If Jonathan had any objections, he wouldn’t have sent you to help me. Jonathan was clear: you take orders from me.”


    “Understood.”


    Shortly after, the same group of men from earlier re-entered, throwing Katie’s unconscious body onto the bed. Before leaving, Ginamanded, “Make sure to focus the camera closely on her face.” With that, she left.


    Leo Hanson remained outside the warehouse. It wasn’t long before he heard screams and sobs emanating from within. Although he was no saint, he found the mistreatment of women repulsive. Once Gina left, he dialed Jonathan Ricard and ryed everything Gina had orchestrated.


    The response from the other end was dispassionate. “Let her do what she wants.”


    “But—”


    “Enough. Don’t pester me about it.” Jonathan’s voice was low and annoyed. “Got it.”


    Gina hurried off to the care facility where Austin was staying. Everyone there recognized her, so she had no trouble entering even in the middle of the night. In the hospital room, Austin was lying in bed, his legs visibly wasted beneath the covers. His life seemed dependent only on the beeping machines surrounding him. Yet, it was Gina who truly controlled his fate.


    “Dad.”


    The fingers of the man in the bed twitched slightly, and Gina nearly burst intoughter.


    “Who do you think I am?” she whispered into his ear. “I’m not the perfect daughter you so carefully raised. I’m Gina. The daughter you refused to admit.”


    His heart monitor spiked, showing his heartbeat bing irregr. Gina looked at him with contempt as she pulled out a syringe. For years, she had secretly administered a drug to Austin that gradually deteriorated his muscles. The doses were minuscule and difficult to detect. Given his long-term bedridden state, no one suspected a thing. A single drop of the drug glistened at the needle’s tip, but Austin remained oblivious.


    “Do you have any regrets? Do you regret cheating on your wife? Or do you regret leaving my mother to marry her? Was that your biggest mistake?”


    As Gina injected the needle into Austin’s carotid artery, her tone grew even colder. “Your greatest error was taking me in after my mother passed away. Dad, you said you would announce my identity publicly when I got into college. But you reneged on that promise. So don’t me me for causing that stroke. Oh, and by the way, do you know how your wife died? After your stroke, she put on a brave front for a long time. But then she discovered her husband had been unfaithful and had been caring for his illegitimate child all these years. Isn’t that just tragic? She was so devastated that she drove off a cliff in despair.”


    Gina carefully stowed the syringe away. “Dad, you’re the reason your wife died. You pushed me to this point. Joelle and I are both your daughters. Why did she live a life of luxury, receiving the finest education? And what about me? I had to scrape and w for everything! We are both your daughters. Joelle always had everything handed to her, while I was supposed to be thankful for the leftovers. Why is that?”


    Gina’s fists tightened, her body trembling with rage. After a moment, the intensity in her eyes dimmed, and she smirked coldly. “Dad, rest in peace.”


    Two hourster, Shawn and Joelle were informed of Austin’s death. Surveince footage captured Gina entering and exiting Austin’s room, then triggering the fire rm and fleeing through the back door amid the ensuing chaos. The hospital room had cameras, so Shawn and Joelle heard Gina’s confession. Neither could settle down after uncovering the truth. Joelle was in disbelief; the cherished image of her father, who had been bedridden for years, crumbled overnight.


    “Shawn, did Dad really have an affair? Is Gina actually our sister?”


    “Yes.”


    Shawn had harbored suspicions when he started to question Gina’s motives. Two days ago, he had discreetly collected a strand of her hair. He hadn’t been able to stop Ginast night because he hadn’t received the results of the DNA test yet.


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