Chapter 136 The Murderer
Yasmin's helplessness, grievance, and suppressed emotions were written all over her face.
She continued, turning to Geraldo: "Mr. McGinnis, no matter what Amelia told you, all I can say is that I'm innocent. If she has something to say, she can say it to my face instead of badmouthing me behind my back."
With that, her eyes reddened as she turned to leave.
Kyle panicked and grabbed her hand.
"Yasmin, don't go. Let me explain everything."
Geraldo looked at their clasped hands, wanting nothing more than to slap Kyle across the face.
But remembering what Amelia had told him about her plans, he held back.
After steadying Yasmin, Kyle turned to Geraldo: "Grandpa, Yasmin told me everything about what happened when you had your episode. She was just too nervous, that's why she accidentally dropped your medicine."
"So you're saying I deliberately framed her?"
"No."
"Then what are you saying?"
Kyle thought of Amelia.
He immediately said, "You were still recovering from your serious illness, your mind wasn't clear enough, so you were manipulated by bad people. Yasmin is very pitiful. Please don't believe other people's rumors. She's a good girl."
A good girl...
Geraldo's heart raced—with anger.
Yasmin spoke up again at this moment: "Mr. McGinnis, I know you don't like me because of Amelia. I can stop being your student. But please don't break up Kyle and me. We truly love each other."
Kyle nodded.
"Grandpa, we truly love each other! No matter how you misunderstand her, I'm going to marry her! And I'll help prove her innocence."
Geraldo's expression changed drastically, almost unable to breathe.
Even though Amelia had warned him beforehand, he was still overwhelmed with anger.
"How did you become so unable to tell right from wrong?"
Geraldo couldn't understand.
"Grandpa, you love me the most. How can you believe that awful woman Amelia instead of me? Would I really try to hurt you?"
Geraldo's breathing caught.
He felt like he was about to pass out from anger.
Kyle noticed Geraldo's expression and quickly stepped forward.
"Grandpa, are you feeling unwell? I'll stop talking. Please don't be angry..."
But at that moment, Yasmin spoke again: "Mr. McGinnis, the plagiarism incident was a setup by Amelia. She forced me to plagiarize during the Luminance Art Gallery competition, making me lose face in public and permanently lose my qualification to compete. She's a bitch. She's just jealous that I got support from the Richardson family."
Yasmin had confirmed that Geraldo was indeed Amelia's student.
And Geraldo respected her greatly.
Speaking badly of Amelia in front of Geraldo would definitely make him furious.
"Yasmin, stop talking..." Kyle worried about Geraldo's health and quickly tried to stop her.
"No, I have to say this. If I don't say it now, who knows if Mr. McGinnis will even see me again."
She continued, adding fuel to the fire for Geraldo.
"Mr. McGinnis, do you remember what I told you before about being framed by my sister and kicked out of the family?"
"That sister was Amelia! She's really not a good person."
"Think carefully about when you had your episode."
"I really didn't drop the medicine on purpose. It was just an accident."
"Amelia just can't stand seeing Kyle and me happy together. She deliberately made up lies about me when you weren't thinking clearly, making you confused about your own memories."
"Don't believe a word she says!"
While saying things to anger Geraldo, Yasmin watched his expression carefully.
But she saw that Geraldo showed no signs of having an episode. He just stared at her coldly.
Yasmin froze.
What's going on?
Why isn't Geraldo reacting at all?
Weren't her words harsh enough?
He looked like he couldn't breathe just moments ago. Why is he suddenly so calm?
What Yasmin didn't know was that when Geraldo felt he might lose control of his emotions, he pushed the needle Amelia had placed on him a bit deeper.
As soon as he pushed the needle, he suddenly couldn't hear anything.
He could only see Yasmin's mouth moving.
When he could hear, he found Yasmin's words infuriating.
But when he couldn't hear anything, he just found her appearance ridiculous, like a clown.
So not only was he not angry, he even wanted to laugh.
Thank goodness for Amelia, who left him this needle.
Otherwise, he might have really fallen for Yasmin's scheme.
Though this scheme was dirty, it was deadly effective.
Even with full mental preparation, he almost had an episode!
Seeing Geraldo's increasingly calm expression, Yasmin grew more anxious.
Geraldo had to die today!
Otherwise, Kyle would eventually become suspicious of her.
After all, they were blood relatives.
"Mr. McGinnis, I've said so much. Do you still not believe me?"
Just as she was about to continue, Kyle's parents returned from their discussion at the doctor's office.
They immediately noticed Geraldo's poor complexion.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Kyle's father asked.
Geraldo pulled out the needle at that moment.
His movements were under the blanket, invisible to everyone.
The instant the needle came out, his hearing returned.
"Good thing you came back, or this woman would have made me die of anger!"
Kyle's parents looked at Yasmin in shock.
Yasmin stood there, stunned, looking very awkward.
"Ms. Richardson, what did you just say?" Kyle's father asked unhappily.
Yasmin quickly shook her head: "I didn't say anything..."
Kyle was about to speak up for Yasmin when Kyle's mother frowned and said, "The doctor called us to the office just now to give medical instructions. He said he can't have strong emotional fluctuations right now, or he'll have an episode immediately. So please leave."
"Kyle..." Yasmin turned to Kyle for help.
But Kyle was also very worried about Geraldo's safety.
Given the doctor's warning, he didn't dare let Yasmin continue talking.
"Yasmin, please go out first."
"Make them both leave!" Geraldo commanded.
Kyle's father immediately complied and sent them both out.
The hospital room door closed, and Kyle's parents came to Geraldo's bedside.
"Dad, you might not know this, but while you were unconscious, those two got together. Do you have a problem with that, Yasmin?"
Geraldo said bluntly: "What could I possibly like about a murderer?"
They exchanged shocked looks.
"Dad, what do you mean?"
Geraldo pressed his lips together and told them everything that had happened.
Their expressions changed dramatically.
"Dad, is what you're saying true?"
"Do you think I'm the kind of person who talks nonsense?"
Of course not...
"Should we call the police?"
Geraldo shook his head: "Not yet. You just need to have a good talk with Kyle and make him break up with that Yasmin. She has a bad character. I don't want to be killed by her again!"
Kyle's parents immediately agreed.
They stayed with Geraldo for a while longer, and after leaving, they found an opportunity to call Kyle over and repeat what Geraldo had said.
Kyle's first reaction was still disbelief.
"Yasmin wouldn't do something like that. She already told me it wasn't intentional. She was just too nervous. Anyone would be nervous in that situation."
Kyle's mother said, "So you're saying your grandfather is deliberately framing her?"
Kyle's lips moved: "He's just confused right now, plus with Amelia stirring things up beside him, he misunderstood Yasmin."
Kyle's father laughed coldly: "Confused? You saw your grandfather yourself today. Do you think he seemed confused?"
Kyle hesitated.
Geraldo was in good condition. Though somewhat haggard, he spoke clearly and logically, showing no signs of confusion whatsoever.
Kyle's mother sighed and patted Kyle's shoulder.
"Kyle, your father and I are busy with work. It was your grandfather who raised you. You know better than us what kind of person he is. He's a smart man. You should go back and think about this carefully."
Kyle clenched his fist, then quickly released it and turned to leave.
On the way back, he received a call from Yasmin.
On the other end, Yasmin was crying and complaining about her grievances.
Before, when he heard Yasmin like this, his heart would break and he'd rush back to her immediately.
But strangely, now that he heard Yasmin crying, he found her somewhat annoying.
Kyle didn't know what was wrong with him.
He took a deep breath and said to Yasmin on the phone: "Get some rest. I have something to take care of. I'll come back when I'm done."
With that, he hung up without waiting to hear if Yasmin had anything else to say.
On the other end, Yasmin was furious.
That idiot Kyle was so easily swayed!
But after the rage passed, fear overwhelmed her again.
Kyle didn't believe her anymore. Without this shield, she'd be in trouble sooner or later.
No, she needed to find someone who could help her, and fast.
Yasmin's eyes darted around, and she thought of Steven.
Right now, he was the only one who could help her.
Meanwhile.
After hanging up, Kyle turned his car around and went to Luminance Art Gallery.
As Geraldo's grandson, Brandon received him warmly.
After a cup of coffee, Kyle stated his purpose.
He wanted to know what really happened at the Luminance Art Gallery competition that day.
An hour later, Kyle walked out of Luminance Art Gallery's entrance, looking dazed.
What Geraldo said was true.
Yasmin was a copycat.
She didn't just plagiarize someone else's work at the Luminance Art Gallery competition—she had plagiarized in several previous competitions too.
Yasmin said she was pressured by Amelia to plagiarize at Luminance Art Gallery.
But what about the previous competitions?
Was that Amelia threatening her too?
But back then, Amelia hadn't even returned to the Richardson family yet.
Yasmin had told him that Amelia returned to the Richardson family at the beginning of this month.
But the last competition was two months ago.
The timeline didn't match up at all.
Just then, Kyle received a text message.
The message contained an address for a coffee shop.