Chapter 134
Presently, Yvette was seated in the VIP waiting room, on the verge of boarding her flight.
Upon hearing Cecilia’s question, Yvette assumed that the former wanted a trip to rx herself.
“Cecilia, did you change your mind and decide to travel with me? I can change my flight ticket and wait
for you.”
Cecilia hadn’t expected Yvette’s call toe at such a perfect moment, so she let out a sigh of relief.
“Yvie, reconsider your trip ns. Juliana is dead because of me, and you might be the next
target.”
Yvette was confused when she heard that. “Ceci, what do you mean?”
Just as she asked that, the announcement in the waiting room red, reminding passengers to board
the ne.
“Yvie, head back home for now. I’ll exin everything to youter.”
“But I’ve already made arrangements with my travelpanions, and the itinerary is fixed. Breaking
ourmitment now wouldn’t be fair,” Yvette exined.
“Yvie, listen to me!”
Cecilia’s stern tone made Yvette realize the gravity of the situation, and she promptly agreed, saying,
“Okay, I’ll be right back. Please don’t be upset.”
“I’m not angry. I just don’t want anything to happen to you because of me. I’ll make it up to you by
apanying you on another trip in the future,” Cecilia reassured Yvette.
Yvette was delighted to hear that and simply replied, “Okay.”
“Take care on your way back, and please let me know once
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you’re safely home.”
“Okay. I’ll see youter.”
After the call had ended, Cecilia stared at the darkened screen of her phone, torn about calling the
Yancey family or not.
She was reluctant to involve herself further with them, yet she couldn’t bear the thought of being the
reason for their potential demise.
Whatever debts the Yancey family owed Cecilia, she had resolved to settle them on her own terms.
She refused to resort to the enemy’s hand bringing harm to them.
Thus, in the end, she decided to call Sophia herself.
Sophia was both surprised and delighted when she saw Cecilia’s call.
She hastily grabbed Gordon, who was preupied with raising money, and eagerly showed him the
screen of her phone.
“Ceci is calling me. I think she changed her mind and wants to help us.”
The sadness on Gordon’s face vanished, reced by a glimmer of hope. “She has finallye to her
senses. Answer the call,” he urged.
Sophia nodded. Her fingers slid across the green answer button, and she then put it on speaker.
Under the watchful gaze of everyone in the Yancey residence, Cecilia’s cold voice reverberated
through the living room.
“Juliana is dead. She was thrown into the hospital’s furnace room after being dismembered and
burned.”
After those words fell, the already hushed living room descended into a chilling silence.
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An unsettling image involuntarily shed through Sophia’s mind, making her feel nauseous.
When she regained herposure, she questioned sharply, o
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“What do you mean? Do you think I killed Juliana?”
She desired Juliana’s demise, but she hadn’t intended for her to die so swiftly.
Cecilia brushed off Sophia’s hostile demeanor and issued a stark warning. “Someone is after my life,
and anyone connected to me is in peril. The same person who killed Juliana is behind this. Take care of
yourself.”
With that, she abruptly ended the call.
Cecilia believed that she had fulfilled her duty by alerting Sophia. Whether or not Sophia would choose
to take the warning seriously was not within Cecilia’s control, and thetter chose to leave it at that.
Sophia stared at the ended call and sneered.
“What is wrong with her? Is she suffering from some kind of victimization paranoia?”
However, Jonathan didn’t dismiss Cecilia’s warning as mere paranoia. He spoke in a deep voice,
saying, “Mom, call the hospital to verify the authenticity of Juliana’s death.”
Gordon nodded in agreement, adding, “Yes, we should call the hospital. What if there’s some truth to
it?”
The mere thought of Juliana being dismembered and burned sent shivers down his spine.
Sophia wasted no time and immediately called the hospital.
The hospital staff confirmed Juliana’s death but omitted specific details.
Sophia persisted, reaching out to the police station for more. information. In the end, she found out that
Juliana had indeed been dismembered and thrown into the furnace, as per Cecilia’s gruesome
ount.
Sophia broke out in a cold sweat, and her hand, which was clutching the phone, trembled
uncontrobly.
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“Why would something so horrifying happen? Who has Cecilia offended?”
She attempted to call Cecilia immediately, but her efforts were futile.
That was because her number remained blocked on Cecilia’s phone.
Sophia’s anger boiled over, and she hurled her phone onto the coffee table. Her eyes zed with fury.
“I used to feel a twinge of guilt toward her, but now, I can’t help but be infuriated just by thinking about
her. I don’t care if she keeps harassing us, but how could she attract the attention of such a monstrous
killer and put us in danger? What does she want?”
Gordon gently stroked Sophia’s back, trying to help her calm down.
“Sophie, try to calm down. Something doesn’t add up in
Cecilia’s story. If someone truly wanted to kill her, they would have had the same motive as Juliana.
There’s no reason to kill Juliana.”
Realization dawned on Sophia at Gordon’s reminder.
“Do you mean Cecilia orchestrated for someone to kill Juliana, and now, we might be next?”
Upon hearing that, Jackson intervened, speechlessly stopping Sophia’s wild imagination.
“Mom, if things were as you suspect, why would Ceci call to warn you? We are the ones who have
wronged her and hurt her. It’s unfair to think ill of her and consider another twisted. possibility.”
“She’s hell–bent on destroying the Yancey family, so why shouldn’t I have negative thoughts about
her? Let’s not forget–if it weren’t for her, your life wouldn’t have been ruined!”
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“I ruined my own life. It has nothing to do with Ceci. Regardless of her motives, we should be cautious.
I’ve
withdrawn all my money. There’s nothing more I can do to help. I’in leaving.”
After saying that, he got up and left.
Sophia stopped him angrily, demanding, “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m heading to the racing track to drive a tour bus for
customers. I am fulfilling the promise I made as a consequence of my defeat!”
“Are you trying to embarrass yourself even more? Stop right there!”
Jackson ignored Sophia and strode away.
In his perspective, losing wasn’t embarrassing, but refusing to acknowledge defeat was.
Gordon sighed and gently coaxed Sophia, who was seething with anger. “Sophie, Jack might not be
thinking clearly. Let him be. The most important thing now is to handle Jerry and Jay’s penalty.”
Upon the mention of that, Sophia felt a wave of deep concern wash over her.
Cecilia had taken away the cooperation that the Yancey family had established with Herman.
Consequently, the only recourse left for the Yancey family was to sell its assets in an attempt to bridge
the financial gap.
However, as soon as news of that change in cooperation became widespread, it would undoubtedly
impact Yancey Corporation, shattering the hard–won stability they had achieved.
Jeremiah spoke up, saying, “Mom, Jay and I can leave the Yancey family. We’ll shoulder the debt
ourselves.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? We’ll be a
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Jayden then came up with an idea.
“I can sign a long–term contract with Yates Corporation. I’ll decrease the portion of my film
remuneration in return for Yates Corporation granting us more time to raise funds for the penalty.”
After making his debut, Jayden had no desire to be controlled and exploited, which was why he had
opened his own studio. Although he currently faced a tide of online animosity, he saw it as a passing
phase. It would definitely be a beneficial deal for Yates Corporation to agree to a long–term contract
with him. Sophia considered Jayden’s proposal and felt that his idea might indeed work.
The penalty they owed to Yates Corporation constituted 30 percent of their total debt. Without that
portion, their financial burden would significantly decrease.
“Jayden, call Calvin now andmunicate this with him.”
“Okay. I’ll call him right now.”
The phone was promptly answered, and Jayden directly conveyed his intentions to Calvin.
Regrettably, Calvin rejected his offer.
“Mr. Yancey, given my association with Mr. Christopher Forte, who clearly is going against your family, I
cannot assist you. Additionally, considering your current predicament, it seems impossible for you to
reverse your circumstances. I won’t coborate with you. You’re not worth the risk.”
The final words uttered by Calvin felt like sharp ps across Jayden’s face.
When Jayden attempted to argue, the call was abruptly disconnected.
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Sophia gritted her teeth and made a determined decision. “We won’t seek help. We’ll sell our
properties!”