Chapter 2192


    Exiting the pantry, Ste hadn''t gone far when she abruptly halted.


    Jaylene stood silently at the corridor''s bend, observing her.


    "Ste, there are some things I shouldn''t say, but I can''t hold back. Are you really encouraging


    someone to cut ties with their own mother?"


    Ste replied casually, "If you know it''s best not to say something, then just keep quiet! What do you


    really know? Who are you to judge me? Just because you chipped in some money for Dahlia''s debt?"


    Jaylene’s expression hardened. "So you were aware Aunt Dahlia waited for you all day yesterday, and


    you intentionally avoided her."


    Ste nodded. "Yes, but I didn''t anticipate you''d be so generous as to lend her money."


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    Jaylene shot her a disdainful look. "I''m not as cold-hearted as you, ignoring people in need! You im


    to love Keegan, yet you treat his mother so cruelly. Is that what you call love?"


    Ste chuckled, "I''m certainly not as noble as you. I care for Keegan, but not to the point of losing my


    sanity, using my family''s hard-earned money to settle his uncle''s gambling debts. Keegan doesn''t care,


    so why should I?"


    Jaylene was taken aback. "What gambling debts?"


    Ste pretended to be surprise. "Dahlia didn''t tell you?"


    "Tell me what?" Jaylene''stone grew anxious. "Quit beating around the bush! R


    Ste smiled faintly. "If you want to know, go find out for yourself. But since you adore Keegan so


    much, you shouldn''t mind."


    With that, she turned and left, leaving Jaylene stunned in ce.


    ke''s gambling issue wasn''t a secret among their circle.


    Jaylene could easily glean ke''s character by asking around.


    Darcie Arnold was affluent, but she always tightly controlled Jaylene''s spending because Wenham


    Saun wasn''t one to splurge.


    Her restrictions were ultimately to please Wenham.


    So the twenty million lent to Dahlia nearly depleted Jaylene''s funds. She lent it to ingratiate herself with


    Dahlia, hoping to improve her standing with Keegan. But if this money was for gambling debts with no


    intention of repayment, Ste doubted Jaylene wouldn''t feel anxious.


    Word of ke losing tens of millions in the underground gambling den quickly circted among their


    circle, almost coinciding with Dahlia''s borrowing. Jaylene finally panicked.


    But before she could call Dahlia, Dahlia called her first.


    After exchanging pleasantries, Dahlia exined the purpose of her call.


    She wanted to borrow another ten million. "Jaylene, I know this puts you in a difficult spot, but I didn''t


    expect those people to demand such high interest rates. I..."


    Jaylene cut in, "Aunt Dahlia, do you know your brother lost tens of millions in the casino?"


    "Millions?" Dahlia was furious. "Who fed you that lie? Is it Ste? Jaylene, don''t listen to Ste''s


    nonsense. She resents me, so she wants me to fail in borrowing money. She wants the Crosby family


    to go bankrupt!"


    Jaylene''s expression darkened. She hadn''t expected Dahlia to resort to lies at such a critical time.


    She said sternly, "Aunt Dahlia, with such a big problem in the Crosby family, why didn''t you go to


    Keegan instead of Ste?"


    Dahlia hesitated, "Keegan has been deceived by Ste and refuses to see me."