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Chapter 3
Regina jen called down to the police station to the bodies
(When they pulleik back the white sheets, she saw her foster parents‘ messed up laces staring back at her.
The police looked at her with sympathy. Your father drank too much and killeil your mother on impulse. Mr. Jimenez, a friend of your i gabbed the knife and cus your father, who snatched the knife back and killed. Mr. Jimenez.
r mother’s,
“Mr. Junenca died in the hospital a few hours ago, and his family demandy compensation. I’m afraid your parents inheritance will be used to compensate Mr. Jimenez. Do you know how much money your parents hund?”
Regina snurked inside, thinking, “What a shitshow. They had it coming!
She put the two pieces of cloth back. “They had no savings, only debt. The most valuable thing they had was their place. I’ll use it to clear what they
The police officer was stunned at how calm she was.
In fact, he had known her because she was famous in the neighborlod
He had been the cop watching the neighborhood for years. When Regina was linke, she was always beaten, and the neighbors would always call the police, so he had to medite.
He watched her grow from a scared kid into this teenage girl who just didn’t care anymore.
Laser, her parents had Lily–another girl they didn’t want.
Regina took the brunt of it, shielding Lily from the worst.
Word was Regina crushed it at school, straight A’s, but her folks wouldn’t cough up for college. So she ditched her own chance and worked to keep Laly in class
Then Lily killed herself.
They fished her mangied body out of the frozen river, with a note that poured out how much she loved Regitu.
The police looked at Regina with great sympathy. “If you’ve made up your mind, I can get you an institution so that you can stay there for a while. After all, Dainville is too dangerous for a girl like you”
Dainville–Astrye’s wild mix of glitz and grit -was the most jacked–up city on the planet now
Nowadays, in 1994, tech was muts: rich people got cyberwares, swapped eyes for the latest gadgets, basically played God
The poor though They scraped by, dodging robberies and murders daily.
A lone girl with no backup didn’t stand a chance here.
Regina shook her bead Thanks, Mr Wheeler, but I’ve p anything”
She left despite Erol Wheeler’s persuasion.
got a job lined up–comes with a place to stay Just let me know if you need me
The whole year she stayed with the Machell family, they gave her the
the sileist treatment, but she gaurd something after all.
Irene lud a sister, Scarlet Sherman, who had always wanted to adopt her
Treur was a gentle lady.
Unlike her, Scarlett was a legend, a self–made
superwoman.
The Mitchells were big shots in Danville, and the Shermans were right up there too
Scarlett refused a marriage of interest when she was young, ran away from home, and clawed her way to the top on her own
She ran the security game–owned a ton of mercenaries and could throw down herself.
Only downside? She got banged up bad bark in the slay, couldn’t have kids.
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Chigher 31
Hi Region’s fast life, when the heart the Mitchells were sidelining her, Scarlett offered to adopt Regina.
Lveryim
che un bene, the would say: “You already have three kids, and I doubt if you have time to take care of
How about I look after
“Alies all, for re all family, and I knowcher well. Besides I need an heir“
She even julled Regina aside once, asking if she’d rather live with her.
cir dosen. The Machelly didn’t want her, and honestly, it didn’t nutter where she landed–nobody cared either way
to do right with Regins and make it up to her.
I agree, saying she wanted to
Scarlen laughed in her face. “Trene, she’s a glost in your house. A whole year, and you haven’t even taken her out once. You’re full of it”
trene Bew into a rage, and they had a big fight.
Before leaving. Scarlen left Regina her business card, saying that if Regina got sick of the Mitchells and made up her mind to leave. Regina could come find ber
Maybe it was the job that got to Irene, because the next day, she dragged Regina along on a family outing
Irene was so determined. She insisted–over Melinda’s tears and Hugh, Brad, and Clive bitching about it.
Regina lived with the Mitchells for an entire year, and they had always excluded her from everything they did. Whether it was a family gathering or a holiday, she was always asked to eat alone in her room.
feelings
Even on New Year’s Eve, she was left by herself at home, all to cater to Melinda’s f
That one trip she got to go on? She ended up dead with the gunman.
Now, Regina came to the door of Scarlett’s company, waiting.
Scarlett had said she’d be at the office till 8 pan. every night–couldn’t find her at home, hit her up here.
It was precisely 8:00 pam.
She didn’t know Scarlett yet it
in this timeline, but she figured she could talk her into giving her a shot.
Danville was brutal–starting from nothing was a grind she didn’t have time for
No degree, sure, but she knew she had transferable skills. She could hustle from the bottom, no doubt.
But star didn’t have the patience to start at the bottom.
Scarlett could be her springboard to the topi
Standing at the
at the door, she sainted for Scarlett to get off work.
Irene sat in the car distraught, As she glanced casually out the window, her expression changed. “Stop the carf”
Everyone else in the car looked puzzled. “What’s up, Irene? We haven’t arrived yet?
free pumped out and stared across the street at someone there
A teenage girl. She was in a faded blur ter, which stuck out like a sore thumbs in this rich area
She had straight and slender legs and a high ponytail, looking tall and thin. At first glance, Irene knew it was Regina.
“Regio” she yelled,
Hearing Irene’s voice, Regina looked back and save Irene and the others run toward her
She frowned. “Why’s Inne here! She shouldn’t even know I’m her kid yet in this timeline”
Before she could think it through, Irene was on her, wrapping her in a tight hug. “Sweetie. I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through. I know this sounds muts, but I’m your real mom. Those people in the slums! They’re not your blood.”
She clung to Regina like slie’d float away, sobbing, “Come home with me, please!”
Chapter 3
Regina stood there, dazed, staring past Irene.
Hugh was eyeing her like she was a puzzle. Clive and Brad looked sketched out. Melinda just stood there, pale as hell.
Same damın scene all over again.
A flash of fury hit her, and she shoved Irene off. “Who are you?”
Irene stumbled back, tears welling up in her eyes as she clutched her chest and said. Tm your mom. Your real mom!”
Clive stepped up, shocked. “I hate to admit it, but you’re definitely our sister.”
Regina looked exactly like him.
Her facial features resembled trene, Hugh, Brad, and him.
She was even better looking than Brad and him.
Among the rich, the Mitchells definitely stood qu
in terms of appearances; only Melinda was the exception
Clive didn’t need more proof–this girl was his sister for sure.
