Chapter 5

Belen looked warmly at the woman before her. "Thank you. Could you please send it to me?"

She took out her phone and received the video that was sent over.

The video indeed captured Jayde grabbing Belen's hand and pushing the wheelchair.

Belen copied the video onto a flash drive and sent it to Lanny's agent.

She attached a tracking number with a message. "The content on it is a birthday gift I prepared for Lanny. Please hand it to him on his birthday. Thank you."

She returned to the ward after she put on a mask to cover her swollen cheeks.

When Ellen asked Belen about the mask, the latter fibbed that she had caught a cold.

Buzz- She received a message on her phone.

It was from her graduate advisor, Andy Walsh. "Belen, could you come to the college? I'd like to hear your opinion on the college anniversary rehearsal."

Belen arranged for a caretaker for Ellen and rushed to the college.

After she entered the rehearsal hall, she saw Jayde.

Jayde stood at the center of the stage in a dazzling dance costume. She looked pitiful and striking.

"I've been planning the anniversary celebration for three years, and there's never been a last-minute addition like this," said Andy while looking at Jayde sternly. "I know you're talented, but this is our fourth rehearsal. Your solo dance performance was added out of nowhere..."

"Professor Walsh, it's the board's decision," the department head said, trying to placate the situation. "Alright. Jayde's dance is only two minutes long. It won't have much impact."

Andy's expression remained sour as she turned to see Belen arriving hurriedly.

Belen nodded to greet Andy.

"Professor Walsh, if you have something against me, just say it," Jayde said, biting her lip. "When it comes to adding performances last minute, you always do it. Didn't you add Belen's solo dance at the welcome party?"

"Nonsense!" Andy was furious. "Belen was filling in that evening. What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Jayde, you're accusing me without knowing the facts. Do you think you can act recklessly because you have a backer?" Belen said, narrowing her eyes. "Don't do something you'll regret."

Jayde's gaze lingered briefly on a figure entering from the hall's entrance before she leaned close to Belen's ear and whispered, "I heard from the doctor today that your mother's lungs are damaged from water inhalation. She won't live long..."

Boom! Belen felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded over her head. Jayde's sneering face was frightfully close.

Almost instinctively, Belen pushed Jayde away forcefully.

"Ah-" Jayde's scream echoed through the expansive hall as she tumbled from the three-meter-high stage.

At the same moment, Lanny was walking next to the president of the college. He suddenly halted.

His face turned ashen as he saw Jayde's forehead bleeding. Then he slowly lifted his gaze and looked at Belen coldly and sharply. He thought she was the culprit.

"Belen, you just wait," he said.

Then he carried Jayde in his arms and left hurriedly.

Belen was lost for words at that moment.

Her mind buzzed as if a string was pulled taut in her heart.

She stumbled out of the campus. As soon as she stepped through the gate, she was forcibly pushed into a car by two of Lanny's subordinates.

She was doomed.

Belen's heart raced with fear.

She remembered Lanny's last sentence earlier, which sent chills down her spine.

The car drove into the villa.

Belen was dragged out and brought before Lanny.

He sat on the sofa, and his legs were crossed. He was holding a black leather whip.

"Belen, you have some nerve to push Jayde." With that, he rose slowly and raised the whip and lashed it across Belen's back.