Chapter 158 Family Reunion
"What happened?"
In the study, Zachary's face was stormy. Lucas stood before the desk, hands at his sides.
"I checked into it. Ms. Elikin's mother went to the police station yesterday and cancelled Ms. Elikin's identity information again."
Fury flashed across Zachary's face. His fist slammed down hard on the desk. This family was like a pack of vampires—never satisfied. Did they think he was their personal ATM?
"Mr. Jennings, should we use our connections?"
Lucas asked tentatively, his own expression darkening.
Zachary didn't respond right away. After a moment of silence, he asked, "What's the deal with Dennis getting scammed?"
The question alone made Lucas want to curse. "He wasn't scammed at all. He's hooked on online gambling. All the money you gave him before? Gone. This restaurant thing is just a cover—the guy's drowning in gambling debts."
"I don't know how Ms. Elikin ended up with a family like this. Her mother's got zero sense, and her brother's a gambling addict. If Ms. Elikin knew about this, it would break her heart."
Frost spread across Zachary's features. If they weren't Quinley's family, he'd have countless ways to deal with these leeches. But for Quinley's sake, he had to show restraint.
"Find a way to preserve Quinley's identity information."
"Yes, sir."
Lucas started toward the door but paused at the threshold. "Mr. Jennings, maybe hold off on bringing Ms. Elikin back to the company. If they find out she's alive, I'm worried they'll use her again. Ms. Elikin's been through enough—she shouldn't have to suffer more."
Lucas's voice was filled with indignation on Quinley's behalf.
"I know."
Zachary leaned back in his chair. The Elikin family had cancelled Quinley's identity, expecting Zachary to take the bait again. But their scheme fell flat.
A week passed, and Zachary acted like he had no idea. Marlee couldn't hold out any longer. She showed up again.
"Mr. Jennings, about what I mentioned last time—when do you think you could arrange it?"
"When there's an arrangement, we'll call you."
Zachary kept working, not even looking up. Marlee stood there awkwardly but refused to leave.
"Mrs. Elikin, Mr. Jennings is extremely busy today. Why don't you head home and wait for our call?"
Lucas gestured toward the door, trying to usher Marlee out.
"Mr. Jennings, please, just do us this one favor. Let Denny start work tomorrow, won't you? A company this big must have some position for him. Mr. Jennings, all you have to do is say the word and it's done."
Marlee's eyes reddened, her voice choking with emotion. Zachary set down his pen and looked at her sharply.
"Mrs. Elikin, the company has its own rules and regulations. Everyone has to follow them—including me. You're putting me in a very difficult position."
"Mrs. Elikin, let's go."
Lucas stepped forward, grabbing Marlee's arm to escort her out of Zachary's office. Suddenly she wrenched free and rushed up to Zachary.
"Mr. Jennings, just this one last time. Help my son one last time, and I'll give you Quinny's identity back."
She was trying to make a deal. But she'd forgotten—Zachary was Rosewood City's sharpest businessman.
He remained unmoved. Lucas spoke up. "Mrs. Elikin, you should keep it yourself. Mr. Jennings already has a fiancée. What would he need Ms. Elikin's identity information for?"
Marlee froze. "You don't want Quinny's identity information anymore?"
"Didn't you go cancel it at the police station again? If it's cancelled, it's cancelled. She's dead anyway—what use is it?"
Lucas added. Marlee was at a loss. She'd planned to use this as leverage, but now it was completely worthless.
"Mr. Jennings, are you really this heartless? Quinny was your mistress for three years. You owe her so much. Now that she's gone, isn't it right to compensate her family?"
Marlee tore away the facade. But underneath, all that remained was ugliness.
Zachary looked up at her. "Haven't I compensated you enough already?"
"One last time. I promise it's the last time."
Marlee held up one finger. She feared Zachary, but she was bold enough to keep trying to negotiate.
"I'll think about it."
Zachary didn't commit. "Mrs. Elikin, Mr. Jennings already told you he'll consider it. You should leave now. Unless you want me to call security?"
Lucas said bluntly. Marlee had no reason to stay. She slunk away.
The moment she left, Lucas couldn't help venting. "Mr. Jennings, these parasites need to be taught a lesson. I can't even imagine how they used to bleed Ms. Elikin dry. She's so pitiful."
Through it all, Zachary remained silent. People couldn't choose their origins or their parents. But at least he and Quinley had grown up in that environment without becoming like them.
"Alright. Don't let Quinley know about any of this."
Zachary reminded him again.
At the South District apartment, Quinley had just returned from a failed interview for a stock clerk position at a supermarket. As she approached the building entrance, the security guard waved her over.
"Miss, someone's here to see you."
The moment he finished speaking, Marlee and Dennis appeared. Marlee was short and haggard, wearing the outfit Quinley had bought her a month before leaving.
"Ms. Promise, I hope we're not bothering you. Denny and I were passing by, and Mr. Jennings mentioned you live here now, so we thought we'd drop in to see you."
Dennis stood behind Marlee, holding a plastic bag with a few apples and pears inside. He looked thinner, darker, his eyes more defiant than ever.
Quinley could tell immediately—they hadn't just been "passing by." They'd been waiting for her. And them waiting for her meant nothing good.
"Ms. Promise looks a bit like my sister."
Dennis said it out of nowhere. Marlee immediately chimed in.
"Yes, yes! She does. Ms. Promise, the first time I saw you, I thought you had some resemblance to my Quinny. It's just that my Quinny didn't have your good fortune. You look like someone who's truly blessed."
Marlee laid on the flattery. Quinley's chest tightened. This was her mother and brother. So close, yet worlds apart. She was Quinley, but they only saw a resemblance.
"Come up for a bit."
Quinley extended the invitation.
"Oh yes, yes. We are a bit thirsty. We'd love some water."
Marlee immediately agreed. When they reached Quinley's current apartment, Marlee walked in and immediately surveyed everything.
"Ms. Promise, your place is so beautifully decorated. My daughter used to have an apartment in this complex too, right across in that building. This is the most expensive area in Rosewood City. You're so lucky to have met a wealthy man like Mr. Jennings."
Marlee kept gushing. In the kitchen boiling water, Quinley's heart ached. Several times, she almost confessed her identity to Marlee. But in the end, reason held back her emotions.
From the moment they'd entered, Dennis had plopped down on the sofa playing games on his phone. Marlee whispered something in his ear, and he put down his phone and walked toward Quinley.
"Cindy, let me help you."
He called her Cindy warmly, stepping into the kitchen and taking the kettle from her hands, pouring the boiled water into a thermos. The warmth in his eyes as he looked at her reminded Quinley of Dennis before everything happened.
Back then, his eyes had that same warm light. He'd been obedient, sensible, hardworking, and studious.
Before Quinley could process it, Dennis moved closer.
"Cindy, since you look like my sister, how about this—from now on, I'll treat you like my real sister. What do you say?"
Dennis said sweetly. Quinley's eyes immediately welled up, but she fought desperately to control herself.
Just then, Marlee suddenly walked over too. She threw her arms around Quinley and started sobbing.
"Cindy, will you be my daughter from now on? After Quinny left, my heart's been so empty. After seeing you that one time, I keep feeling like my Quinny came back to me."
When she cried, Dennis cried too. Tall as he was, he spread his arms and pulled both Quinley and Marlee into his embrace.
"Cindy, our family is finally together again."