Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 530

The phone barely had time to ring before Janice picked up on the other end, her voice bubbling with excitement, "Aaliyah, you're back?"

I let out a gentle chuckle, "Back? I'm still kicking around Silverdale City."

Janice's tone instantly dripped with disappointment, "Well, I thought you'd made your way home!"

"Nope, just calling to check in. How's Janetta holding up?" I asked her.

Janice, deflecting my question, shot back, "What's up?"

I sighed, "I ran into Nettie here in Silverdale. She's with Irving, talking big business with VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals. I'm looking to catch up on the gossip of the Bradlee family about Nettie."

At that, Janice snorted with disdain, "Nettie? The Bradlee's precious little princess? That family is like a picture-perfect postcard with all smiles and harmony."

A weight settled in my chest, a stubborn hope flickering, "She hasn't visited her mom?" The minute the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Just days ago, I'd asked Nettie the same thing. The message she had me pass to Janetta spoke volumes that she hadn't been anywhere near her.

"She regards Olivia as her mother sees her every day. How could she care about Janetta?" Janice snapped, "Ingrates. I sleep better not thinking about it."

"But Janetta, she's not...?" I ventured, worried that Janetta might be taking it all to heart.

"She's more open-minded than most, always telling me to chill out. As long as she's happy, that's all that matters," Janice said, frustration coloring her voice. "But behind closed doors? Well, that's her business."

"I noticed Irving is keeping her close. Is he grooming her for something?" I prodded.

Janice let out a sardonic laugh, "Grooming her? Hardly. That's all her own wishful thinking. You don't know Irving like I do. The man's got trust issues a mile wide and a streak of cunning to match. He only trusts himself."

"But he's got her by his side constantly," I pressed, confused.

"That's just for show! After all, Nettie is a woman, while Irving prefers sons to daughters. If my elder sister didn't give born to Nettie, she could set her feet on the family longer." At the mention of this thing, Janice was seethed with anger.

If Olivia didn't have a son for Irving, she would not be married to Irving who only loves himself. Olivia totally depended on his son to have her current status.

Nettie's just a pawn in his game to cover the truth for him. She's his perfect little prop, parading behind him, ready to be manipulated like a marionette. What she does is all to craft his image. As for her dear old dad? She knows the score better than anyone."

Piecing together their behavior, I had to admit Janice's words rang true.

Janice continued, with her anger unabated, "Even if Irving was too old to play the game, he'd pass the torch to his son, not Nettie. Unless his boy dropped dead, he wouldn't give her the time of day."

Her words cast a somber mood over me, but deep down, I knew she was right.

"Does Nettie even want to go back overseas?" I asked, digging for more.

"Who knows? She's cut off her own mother. We're the last to understand her whims," Janice retorted, her voice thick with exasperation.

"Right. Did Logan fill you in on what he's dug up lately?" I switched topics, hoping for a lighter note.

After Logan had shared the dirt on Irving, I'd left for Silverdale City without a chance to catch up with Janice.

At the mention of Logan, Janice perked up, "New information from Logan? He didn't say a word. What's up?"

I hesitated, "Maybe give Logan a call. He's onto something... not looking too good for Nettie. I guess he's still on the case, otherwise he'd have reached out."

Silence settled on Janice's end before she finally asked, "Something's wrong, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Get the details from Logan. He mentioned wanting to talk to you," I relayed his message.

Just then, Hannah strode into the room, and I wrapped up the call with Janice, "Let's catch up later. I might head back to Goldenvale Town soon. We'll have a proper chat then." "OK," Janice agreed, without further prying, and hung up.

I furrowed my brow and thought about Nettie. Her sudden interest in meeting up meant she had something to say. And I intended to find out what it was.