Chapter 20
Jane exhaled slowly, a subtle smile forming on her lips as she relished the astonished expressions on the faces of the two individuals standing before her.
“This is impossible! You must have resorted to underhanded tactics!” Annie stammered, unable to fathom how Jane could afford such a rare necklace–one of only five.
Accusing her of theft seemed to be her only explanation. However, Annie’s efforts to uncover Jane’s past five years had yielded no results. She remained clueless about Jane’s life during that time. Perhaps Jane had been living a frugal, hidden existence. How else could she have obtained such a luxurious piece?
“What seems to be the problem? Can’t bear to be proven wrong? Can you not withstand the weight of your own accusations? Please, read aloud. Is your name engraved on the back of the gem?” Jane taunted with a self–assured tone.
“You must have another necklace hidden somewhere!” Annie huffed, attempting to inspect Jane’s clothing.
“Back off!” Before Annie could invade Jane’s personal space, Zachary stepped in, pushing her back and causing her to stumble a few steps.
Annie raised her hand to slap him, but realizing Drake’s presence, she halted mid–air. With a bitter swipe, she vented her frustration into the empty space, rolling her eyes dramatically while tears welled up. “Zac, I’m your mother! Yet you defend an outsider over me?” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with disappointment and hurt.
“The ‘outsider,‘ as you call her, is my teacher. She has proven that the necklace is not yours. Why are you causing such a commotion?” Zachary responded assertively. Beautiful Teacher Jane was his destined lover. He couldn’t stand idly by while others attacked her!
“What did you say?” Annie sputtered, almost choking on her anger. Could this be the infamous mother–son linkage? It seemed straight out of a melodrama. She turned to Drake, seeking support, but to her dismay, he stepped forward and callously pulled her behind him, shielding Zachary.
Drake could only imagine the pain Zachary would have felt if Annie’s slap had landed on him.
“Dad, Teacher Jane has been tutoring me. She didn’t have the time to steal any necklace. Are you going to let her continue this charade?” Zachary asked, his eyes filled with nothing but disgust for Annie. He never considered this woman as his mother.
Annie paled, nervously swallowing. Jane glanced at Annie and Drake before turning her attention to Zac. With a deep sigh, she finally comprehended the reason behind Zac’s mercurial nature. Throughout their time together, she had observed that he was far from stubborn. In fact, he was obedient, sensible, and bright. The contempt in Annie’s eyes was far from what one would expect from a loving mother.
“Annie, do we really need more of these tragic theatrics? I can prove my innocence,” Jane’s voice was icy cold. Instead of engaging in a verbal battle with them, she swiftly made a phone call. She only provided the person on the other end with her address before dropping the call.
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“Let’s see how long you can keep up this act!” Annie huffed, crossing her arms defiantly. Twenty minutes later, a visibly concerned Miss Lea rushed in. “Mr. Warner, there’s a man outside. He claims he has something for Miss Bentley.”
Upon hearing it was a man, Drake’s expression hardened. He calmly instructed, “Let him in.”
“Miss Bentley, here is what you requested,” the man said, approaching Jane with a series of gift boxes.
Seeing the gift boxes, Annie smirked. “What trick are you trying to pull now, Jane?”
Ignoring Annie, Jane nodded to the man, who proceeded to open all the gift boxes he had brought. As the boxes were unveiled, the room fell into stunned silence.
Drake looked at Jane, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.
Meanwhile, Zachary’s admiration for Jane grew even stronger. This was the woman he had fallen in love with!
When the final gift box was opened, Annie rose abruptly, her eyes wide with disbelief. On the table lay an array of limited edition necklaces and bracelets, some so exclusive that money alone couldn’t purchase them.
“This is impossible!” Annie stammered, struggling to regain composure. “How could you possess so many limited edition pieces? Are these cheap imitations? These are designs by Charlotte. How could you possibly afford them?”
Four years ago, Charlotte had become a sensation in the fashion industry. Her designs were all limited editions, and owning any of them was a symbol of wealth and privilege. But how could Jane, an average earner, possess such a collection?
Jane instructed the man to pack away the jewelry, then turned to face Annie. “The designer you so admire is me. As for your necklace, the so–called limited edition, I initially intended to release only five at that time. However, I have many more in my possession.”
Jane turned to glance at the silent Drake. “I didn’t expect the dignified president of the Warner family to be so easily manipulated by an ignorant woman. It appears that the president is losing his authority.”
Without lingering further, Jane left, leaving a somber Drake staring after her. The once gentle and demure Jane had transformed into a formidable woman, akin to a wild rose bristling with thorns.
Zachary also promptly stood up, his young face displaying sternness. “Some people may be born as young ladies, but their behavior is no better than that of commoners.” Without sparing Annie a glance, he ascended the stairs with pride.
Drake remained, and all Annie could do was curse silently. She tried to cozy up to Drake, kneeling beside him and placing her hand on his knee. “Drake, Jane can’t continue to be Zac’s tutor. Look at what she’s turning Zac into. She’s even arguing with me in front of strangers.”
Unmoved, Drake sipped his tea Miss Lea had just poured and looked at Annie indifferently. He stood up, and Annie’s hand slipped down.
“I have urgent matters to attend to at the office. You should leave. Your persistent visits
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Chapter 20
here are detrimental to your reputation.” He walked away without a backward glance, leaving a seething Annie behind.
Her upcoming wedding with Drake was on the line, and she wouldn’t allow anyone, especially Jane, to ruin it.
Elsewhere, Jane sped home, driving at top speed. As soon as she entered her house, she slumped onto the sofa and covered herself with a pillow.
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