Chapter 3
Stacey was on a contract basis from an outsourcing company, and she had been trying to secure a permanent position in the company. When Cecilia went on maternity leave, Stacey would have a chance to take over her position.
What I said changed Cecilia's and Stacey's expressions. Cecilia snorted and headed out with her phone. Stacey seemed to be in deep thought.
I shrugged and headed to the washroom.
Not long after I entered the washroom, I heard footsteps entering before hearing Cecilia's voice.
"I told you: she isn't fooled at all! What do you want me to do? If you don't have money, just go borrow it. That stupid girl is a careful one, always so cautious about me. She's not getting duped at all!"
'Stupid girl'? Was Cecilia talking about me?
I quickly took out my phone as I heard her say softly in the next cubicle, "I know, I'll find another chance later. That Stacey looks dumb enough, so we'll target her. My child will definitely be worth more than a hundred fifty thousand dollars!"
My heart sank when I heard that.
No wonder she had to pester me in her past life. She even extorted me for 150 thousand dollars in compensation. It was all for money. What a cruel woman; she would not hesitate to hurt her own child for money!
I heard Cecilia put away her cell phone and left.
I waited for another 10 minutes before I left the washroom. I took a detour to the sales department to collect some data before returning to my workstation.
When I got back, a sweet smell lingered in the office. I noted several fruit platter boxes in the bin.
"Oh, you're back!" said Stacey sarcastically. "We've finished eating and forgot to leave some for you."
"I heard that the fruit platter is usually cut from rotten fruit. Be careful not to eat them, or you will get an upset stomach," I reminded Stacey.
Stacey merely sneered, "I bought imported fruit, and they're very expensive. How could there be rotten ones?"
No one in the office said a word.
Cecilia went to the washroom at that moment. She came out a while later, crying, "Ah! Help! What should I do? I'm bleeding!"
She cried and sat on the ground, clutching her stomach. Everyone panicked and called an ambulance immediately.
Stacey anxiously held Cecilia tightly. "Help me! Go to the hospital with me."
I urged, "Go with her. Aren't you two besties?"
Stacey did not think twice about that. She got in the ambulance together once it arrived. I smiled as I watched them leave. I asked for the rest of the day off immediately and followed them secretly.
Once they arrived at the hospital, Cecilia's family had arrived too.
When the family learned that Cecilia had a miscarriage after eating the fruits Stacey had bought, Stacey's mother-in-law, Laura Newman turned and charged toward Stacey, slapping her tightly.
"You wretch! What did you do?! My precious grandson is gone! You have to compensate me for this loss!"
Stacey, stunned by her slap, clutched her cheek and cried, "I… I didn't! It wasn't me!"
"Who else, then? Cecilia said it was you who bought the fruit platter! It was you!"
I stood in the crowd and excitedly watched the drama unfolding.
The skinny old lady ignored what Stacey said. She grabbed her hair and slapped her more than a dozen times, which caused Stacey's face to swell and redden. She screamed and fell to the ground.
At that moment, Stacey spotted me in the crowd.
Stacey pointed at me and screamed, "It's her! She did it! Don't let her run away!"
Cecilia's family all looked over instantly and surrounded me.
"So it's you, little rat!"
The old lady slapped me without a reason. I lay on the ground and cried, "Murder! The old woman sneaked out of the mental hospital and is killing people!"