Chapter 35
“Those kidnappers must’ve been paid off by you, right? This whole thing was your plan all along, wasn’t it?” Stan demanded, his voice full of anger. The kidnapping had gone too smoothly, and now that he thought about it, a lot of things didn’t add up.
He had underestimated Tiffany.
Tiffany responded with a sweet, innocent smile. “Stan, you’re really something. Are you saying I forced you to steal that one million and two hundred thousand dollars? That I made you kidnap me? Your accusations are absurd.”
“You!” Stan’s face twisted with rage as he glared at Tiffany.
He wanted nothing more than to lash out at her, but he knew his situation was already dire. Doing anything rash now would only make things worse. Sandra was his only hope, and he had to keep his temper in check and wait for the right moment.
“Let’s go!” he snapped, standing tall and marching toward the exit of the Kelley estate with as much dignity as he could muster.
Tiffany, still smiling, called after him, “Stan, don’t forget to pay back the one million and two hundred thousand dollars. Oh, and I know things are going to be tough for you two, but don’t take it out on Selena. Be sure to treat her well,”
Stan nearly stumbled when he heard the amount. He had no way of repaying that much money. Beside him, Selena was still in a state of shock, struggling to understand why they were suddenly being thrown out when it was all Stan’s doing.
But when she heard Tiffany’s words, something snapped. If Stan had stolen such a large sum and never given her a cent, she saw no reason to stay with him.
“I want a divorce! Right now!” Selena said coldly.
Stan and Selena began arguing as they walked away, their voices fading into the distance. Tiffany watched them go, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips. She felt quite pleased with the outcome.
After taking a day off, Tiffany was called back to school. With finals approaching and the holidays around the corner, this exam was crucial. Tiffany’s grades had never been great, and while her teacher had wanted to arrange some tutoring for her, she had turned it down. There was no point in making an effort with classmates who didn’t care for her.
But ever since she had traveled back to the past, Tiffany had put in the work. She was much more knowledgeable now, though no one else seemed to realize it.
Lately, Sandra and Kenneth had been inseparable. Sandra’s left arm was still in a cast, so Kenneth was helping her with everything, from eating to carrying things. The two looked like the perfect couple, and everyone around couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Tiffany, who’d been publicly cheated on.
“Honestly, having your fiancé flaunt his new girl right in front of you? Only Tiffany could put up with that”
“Well, what can she do? Mr. Harper’s not into her, and she just won’t let go. She’s practically asking for it!”
Two girls snickered, clearly trying to provoke Tiffany.
But Tiffany just glanced up and said, ‘Are you trying to get me to hit you?”
The girls quickly-shut their mouths and hurried away.
Sandra, overhearing, immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Tiffany, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just got hurt, so
Kenneth is helping me out. Don’t take it the wrong way, really!” Sandra said, feigning innocence.
Hearing this, Tiffany paused in her work and burst out laughing Playing the victim again, Sandra? Please, give it a rest. It’s getting old. Tiffany shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Sandra immediately squeezed out a few tears, casting a helpless look at Kenneth.
Kenneth frowned deeply and snapped, “That’s enough, Tiffany! Don’t be so cruel. Sandra got in that accident trying to help you. How could you talk to her like that?”
Tiffany laughed so hard. The story of her kidnapping had spread, but Charlie, in an effort to protect the family’s reputation, hadn’t revealed that Stan was the one behind it. As a result, everyone assumed Sandra’s accident happened while she was rushing to save Tiffany.
Once Tiffany had her fill of laughter, she didn’t bother to explain. Instead, she crumpled up her test paper, tossed it across the room, and watched as it landed perfectly in the trash. Then, without another word, she walked out of the classroom.
On her way back to the dorm, Tiffany received a call from Caleb. The company was gradually getting back on its feet, and within a short time, Caleb had managed to land a small advertising gig. It was just a low-budget clothing ad for a minor brand, and the payment was meager.
However, this first contract after their comeback wasn’t about making money. It was about announcing their return, creating a buzz, and showing everyone that they were back with determination, ready to do even better than before.
But the road to recovery was anything but smooth. The second-rate model they hired for the ad demanded an outrageous fee and, sensing the company’s vulnerable position, began acting like a diva. Caleb had poured his heart and creativity into this project and wasn’t about to let it be ruined by a difficult model. So, the collaboration fell through.
As Tiffany listened to Caleb’s explanation, she frowned. “You want me to be the model!”
“Exactly!” Caleb replied. Hiring outside talent had proven costly and frustrating. But Tiffany was a different story-she was the boss, stunningly beautiful, and far superior to any of the self-important models they’d considered.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
The only question was whether Tiffany would agree to step in.
Tiffany wasn’t exactly thrilled at the idea. But she understood that Caleb wouldn’t have called her unless he was out of options. Resigned, she nodded, “I’ll do it, but I won’t show my face
“Great!” Caleb exclaimed.
With the plan settled, Tiffany didn’t bother returning to the dorm. Instead, she slipped out of school, hailed a cab, and headed straight to the outdoor shoot location Caleb had arranged.