Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 400

I stared down Gemma, not leaving her a sliver of space to counter. "Marissa was quite the schemer, playing both sides with those Wilson brothers, stirring up storms as they plotted to take over my company, wreaking havoc among my executives. Her misdeeds are too numerous to document. But do you know what happened to her in the end?"

I pressed in, eyes narrowed maliciously at Gemma, a sneer spreading across my face, "She gambled away that precious child of hers, trying to save her own skin, never expecting that it would cost the kid's life. And what she least expected was that she'd end up dead!"

My words were casual, almost as if I was recounting a joke.

"You're lying. That can't be..."

Gemma's eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze turning venomous as she stared at me. "You're lying. Marissa took her child on a trip abroad. Stop cursing her. You're nothing but a sickly mess on death's doorstep. Don't think just because your family has money, you can look down on everyone. Jealousy is an ugly thing. But no matter how rich you are, it won't save you. You're just a..."

Before she could continue, Hannah had had enough. She raised her hand and slapped Gemma across her chubby cheek. The sharp crack of the slap echoed, silencing the room.

Mom looked on with approval at Hannah's action, pride glittering in her eyes.

Dad remained stoic, acting as if nothing had happened.

Hannah shook out her hand, her voice filled with righteous indignation, "You better retire to jail and enjoy your golden years!"

The slap did more than sting Gemma's face; it shattered her bravado. She collapsed, kneeling on the floor. Now she understood the stark difference between her position and Hannah's.

Gemma seemed to sense something amiss, her eyes pleading as she knelt, "Miss Wilburn, please, I haven't done anything wrong. I've served your parents faithfully. I've been nothing but diligent. For the sake of the two months of service, you can't let the police take me away. I've worked hard, if nothing else!"

"Worked hard?" I scoffed coldly. "Do you even know what that means? Tell me the truth. Did you really do nothing?"

This was her last chance.

She straightened her back, defiant, "I did nothing!"

"Fine, then tell me, who did you send those photos to?" I asked pointedly, tired of beating around the bush, my mind preoccupied with Catherine.

"I didn't send them. I wouldn't send them to anyone!" She was still sticking to her story.

"Then you can explain that to the police!" My patience had run dry. "You've squandered your last chance!"

"I haven't broken the law." She looked to my father for support. "You can't do this to me!"

Without a word, I played back the recording of her conversation with Jaylan. It was crystal clear - she had taken Jaylan's money and had even plotted to drug my mother!

Hannah slapped her once more, demanding, "Did you hear that clearly? Did you really do nothing?"

Gemma's face turned pale, her eyes glazed over like those of a dead fish, shaking uncontrollably.

"With just this recording, you could be in jail for a very long time. Marissa really did pick a fine dining spot for you before checking out herself. You better start thinking about how you're going to spend your days behind bars," I said, cutting her no slack.

"No, please, I beg you, don't do this," she wailed, turning to my parents, "I made a mistake. It... it was Jaylan who made me do it! It wasn't my intention... I've never wronged you. I would never..." She was slippery, trying to play the sympathy card.

My mom snorted, "If we hadn't caught on early, you would have drugged me, wouldn't you? Gemma, did you actually think you could play us? That we'd be puppets in your little games?" My mom's words were sharp as knives, her gaze icy.

"Don't even think about it. We've known all along what you've been up to. Every corner of this house has cameras. Your every move has been recorded as evidence. Remember this - you reap what you sow, and justice, though its wheels grind slowly, misses nothing. The wicked will get their due, and you will pay for your actions, just as Marissa did for hers. We may be kindhearted, but we will not harbor snakes in our midst."