Chapter 321 The Jimenez Family's Past
Emerald City was a modern metropolis that had developed too rapidly in recent years, so there weren't many cultural relics in its museums. That was why today's show was scheduled at the museum in the neighboring city.
After a three-hour drive to their destination, the museum had already cordoned off the exhibition hall reserved for their filming.
"Touch up my makeup a bit more, don't make it too eye-catching. Tonight's all about the veterans - I'm the newbie," Thalia reminded.
"Got it," the makeup artist immediately agreed, not daring to waste a moment as she quickly got to work.
Thalia was stopped when she tried to pick up her coffee cup for a sip.
"Makeup first."
"Shouldn't I drink water first?"
"Thalia, the company atmosphere has been really bad lately. You know why, right?"
Thalia knew it was because of her.
"Layla said your bookings today aren't even a third of what they were in previous years. If you don't work harder, the company's going to lay people off. Thalia, I'm still saving up to buy a house with my husband. I've been in Emerald City for almost five years, married for three, and we're still renting. You can't let us starve."
"How about I buy you a place? In exchange, you work on Layla from the inside?"
Anyone could see this girl had clearly been brainwashed by Layla and was now here playing the sympathy card.
Caught red-handed, the makeup artist awkwardly touched her nose. "Makeup first."
Someone knocked on the van door. John checked the rearview mirror, saw it was Luca, and asked Thalia before opening it.
"Thalia, Gregory bought some fruit, said the filming might run late tonight, so have a bite."
"Thanks, Gregory's so thoughtful."
"Of course, Gregory's really good to people. Thalia, are you done with makeup? Can we come sit for a bit?"
Luca wore a fawning expression, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Thalia.
"Come on in!"
When Gregory climbed into the van wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, Thalia was drawing her eyebrows. Perhaps because they were filming at the museum today, her makeup was especially understated and elegant.
For a moment, Gregory lost himself staring. Luca caught his expression and broke the quiet atmosphere in the cabin. "Didn't Layla come with you?"
Thalia had noticed Gregory's gaze long ago, but was too embarrassed to open her eyes. In the adult world, there are plenty of things too awkward to acknowledge or put into words.
Protecting each other's little secrets was something everyone tacitly understood.
"She went to say hello."
As soon as Thalia opened her eyes, the makeup artist stepped back. "Done, you can drink water now."
Thalia picked up her cup for a sip of water and glanced at Luca. "You guys go sit outside for a bit? I want to talk to Gregory."
"You got it!"
"But..." the makeup artist hesitated.
Layla had warned her not to let Thalia be alone with Gregory in an enclosed space, saying there would be tons of Kian reporters tonight, and if they got photographed, it would be game over.
"Come on, we just won't close the door, right?" Luca pulled the makeup artist away.
Sure enough, leaving the door open made it acceptable.
"Why the serious face? What's wrong?" Gregory asked.
Thalia said, "I want to ask you about the Jimenez family."
"You and William..." Gregory had looked into it. The fact that William was the first child of the Jimenez family's eldest daughter wasn't a secret in the Jimenez family - a little money could get you that information. With Thalia getting involved in this matter once or twice, did it mean she really had close ties with William as the rumors suggested?
If so, it would only hurt her, not help.
"Allies," Thalia replied.
"Do you know how deep the Jimenez family waters run? Getting involved in this will only hurt you, not help. So-called allies could very well become stepping stones."
"It's not about whether I want to be involved - I'm already in the game."
"I can't just sit back and protect myself while people scheme and plot against me, can I?" Thalia said, handing Gregory the medical records. He took them and glanced over, his expression turning cold when he saw the word "poisoning."
"If it's inconvenient, you don't have to tell me."
Thalia took a step back to move forward. "This really has nothing to do with you, I just..."
"There's nothing I can't tell you."
"The Jimenez family waters run deep. Steven had a bad relationship with his first wife. After having a son and daughter, they separated. The eldest daughter stayed with her mother, then he had another wife. The son stayed with his father. After his ex-wife died, Steven brought his daughter back to care for her, but those years the climate was bad, with corruption everywhere. Steven walked a dangerous line, constantly on a knife's edge. To avoid causing him trouble, his eldest daughter wrote a report letter planning to turn him in."
"Steven discovered it and sent her away, publicly claiming she'd eloped with someone. Actually, he sent her to Emerald City and married her off to William's father."
"Not long after the marriage, the political climate improved, and she left Regal City, whereabouts unknown. She only resurfaced in Regal City in recent years. After appearing, she publicly confronted Steven at a banquet. In all of Regal City, she's the only one who dares to embarrass Steven in public."
"The Jimenez family's eldest daughter has been undermining the Jimenez family all these years. Steven probably wants to bring William back to Regal City to counter his own mother."
"And in Regal City, plenty of people don't want him to return."
Thalia went to put down her coffee, but didn't set it down properly - it fell to the floor. Luckily, she dodged quickly enough to avoid getting it on her clothes.
"Of course, all this is just Regal City gossip. The specifics depend on what Steven really means."
"Just speculation?"
"Yeah," Gregory took in Thalia's reaction, concealing the deeper meaning in his eyes.
...
"Mr. Brown, we've got him. On our way back now."
After searching Regal City for several days, Finn and James finally found their man. The moment they caught him, they shoved him in the car and drove through the night back to Emerald City.
"No need to bring back the whole body."
Finn's brain clicked.
Got it.
"I'll give you an address, send a gift over."
"Understood."
As dusk fell at the Jimenez Mansion, Steven was cooling off in the yard while his wife fanned him with a palm-leaf fan. The two were chatting.
"Do you think that child will still acknowledge us?" his wife asked.
"We're his family, how could he not acknowledge us?" Steven's voice was strong and vigorous - clearly not someone on death's door as rumored outside.
"Mr. Jimenez, someone sent a package with your name on it."
"What is it?"
"Not sure, it's sealed really tight, looks like seafood."
"Could it be specialty products the kids sent back from their trip?" Eileen Jimenez's eyes lit up, her mind full of thoughts about her wonderful son.
Steven didn't think much of it and waved his hand. "Bring it in quick, let me see."
The servant brought in the styrofoam box. Eileen quickly called for someone to bring scissors.
Just as they cut open the box...