Chapter 270: She Set Up Gemma Too
“I never expected him to actually go to jail.”
Gemma kept it simple.
Teaching Ashton a lesson was good enough.
The Doltons were far more powerful than she’d imagined.
Even with Cassius pulling strings, some things were easier said than done.
She was satisfied with how things turned out.
“Cassius, I just don’t want him messing with my surgery.”
Last time, that Chavez kid–if Cassius hadn’t noticed the issue and stepped in, the consequences would’ve been unthinkable.
This time, she had a patient lined up for surgery soon. If Ashton stirred up trouble again, who knew what could happen?
A child was a family’s future, their hope.
If anything went wrong, there would be no way to smooth things over.
Cassius frowned.
“You took on a patient?
Got a surgery coming up?”
He didn’t keep close tabs on the hospital. Unless there was a security concern, his people wouldn’t report every little thing.
He made sure to give Gemma her space.
Gemma nodded. “Do you have something planned?”
Cassius leaned back in his seat, saying nothing.
Brooke, on the other hand, was panicking inside.
Why isn’t Mr. Cassius saying anything?!
Say it!
You planned a whole birthday dinner for Dr. Kelestine!
You were gonna have Ms. Kelestine try on a dress!
Say it, man!
In his rush, his finger accidentally hit the car horn.
The sudden honk snapped Gemma out of her thoughts.
“Brooke, what’s up?” She glanced up, puzzled.
He forced an awkward smile.
“Uh… a pedestrian was crossing.”
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Close call!
He’d almost blurted out Cassius’s secret.
Gemma didn’t think much of it–it was rush hour, after all.
Cassius still didn’t speak. Instead, he made a call, pausing the setup of the hot spring he’d been preparing.
If Gemma was about to be swamped with surgery, she wouldn’t have much free time..
He’d have to adjust the plan.
Gemma saw him glued to his phone and figured he was busy with work, so she didn’t interrupt.
When they got back to the estate, Noah ran up and threw his arms around her.
Then he stretched out his hands, revealing a butterfly hair clip.
“Gemma, isn’t it pretty?”
Gemma looked down.
The clip was clearly handmade, probably a kindergarten project.
Colorful clay decorated the butterfly, though its wings were uneven.
Tiny little flowers dotted the surface.
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Chapter 270: She Set Up Gemma Too
Bright. Messy. Full of life.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, absolutely loving it.
“Is it for me?”
“Yeah! I made two–one for Mia, one for you.”
Gemma immediately picked up on the gossip.
“Oh? And who’s Mia?”
Noah’s face turned pink. “She’s… she’s my best friend.”
“Ooooh, your beeeest friend!” she teased, dragging out the words with a smirk.
Noah’s cheeks burned redder.
“Gemma, you’re so mean!”
She put on an innocent face. “What? What did I say?”
Noah huffed and stomped his foot.
“I’m not talking to you anymore! I’m gonna go play with Candy!”
With that, he spun around and ran off.
Gemma laughed and chased after him, their laughter ringing through the yard.
Cassius stood in the courtyard, watching.
The sky was growing darker, and the garden lights flickered on–newly switched to a rainbow glow.
The multicolored lights mixed with the fading sunlight, casting a warm hue across his face.
The next morning, news broke-
Ashton had been released on bail.
Gemma had just arrived at work when she heard. Her mood instantly soured.
She was still brooding over it during her rounds.
Christine, a worried mother, noticed her expression. “Dr. Kelestine, is something wrong with my child?”
Gemma snapped out of it and quickly refocused.
“I just reviewed the test results. Your child is stable enough for surgery. I’ll submit the request now–it’ll be scheduled for tomorrow morning or, at
the latest, midday.”
Christine’s eyes welled up with tears. “That’s amazing news, Dr. Kelestine!”
Gemma waved it off. “It’s all thanks to your child’s good condition.
And you brought them in at just the right time–everything lined up perfectly.
Christine wiped her tears.
“Thank you, Dr. Kelestine! Is there anything I need to prepare for the surgery?”
Gemma nodded. “Yes, but the nurse will go over everything with you. Just follow their instructions.”
Christine thanked her over and over.
As soon as Gemma left the room, Christine shut the door and rushed to the window, dialing Ashton.
“Our child’s surgery is tomorrow morning. Are you coming?
I don’t care if you’re hiding me. I have a child. I don’t need your parents‘ approval.
But this child belongs to both of us. You can’t leave this all on me.
Listen, if you don’t show up tomorrow, we’re done. Our marriage is over.”
She hung up.
Then she turned to look at her sleeping child.
Her child shouldn’t have to stay hidden. The Doltons needed to know–this was the next heir.
And this was the perfect opportunity.
She also knew about Gemma’s issues with the Doltons. So, she’d taken the chance to set Gemma up.
If the Dolton elders acknowledged her child, then Gemma–the rightful heir–would be out of the picture.
As for Kaiya?
Just a distant relative. Not even worth considering.
Sorting
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Chapter 270: She Set Up Gemma Too
At the Dolton estate.
Ashton set down his phone, his face tense. He it a cigarette.
Jarrett, who had just walked in, frowned.
“Seriously? A little girl got the better of you, and now you’re sulking?”
Unlike Ashton, Jarrett had a more refined, upright look-
Sharp brows, piercing eyes, tall and imposing.
“Jarry.”
Ashton handed him a cigarette.
Jarrett waved it off. “I quit. Talk to me. What’s going on?”
Ashton’s heart skipped a beat. Did his brother find something when he bailed him out?
He never wanted Christine to go public. But Bradley, that idiot, had taken the kid straight to Gemma.
If Gemma tampered with anything… what would happen to his child?
To make things worse, Christine had followed them to the hospital.
Now, if he showed up too, everything would be exposed.
The Doltons were already in a messy standoff with the hospital. If he walked in now, who knew what disaster might unfold?
“Jarry, I need a favor.”
Jarrett raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t usually ask so nicely. But I’m in a good mood today. So, what do you need?”
Ashton took a deep drag. “Tomorrow… can you go to Gemma’s hospital for me?”
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