Trenton returned home half an hour later.

The housekeeper came up to him and Trenton handed him his coat. "Where are madam and miss?"

"They are in the room," the housekeeper replied, putting the coat on her arm.

Trenton grunted as a reply and went upstairs.

Inside the room, Mrs. Gardner and Makenna were sitting at the end of the bed, looking at an album next to each other.

Makenna pointed at herself in the picture. "Mom, do you still remember this picture?"

Mrs. Gardner caressed her long hair lovingly and replied, "Of course. This photo was taken when you were six. I still remember when you played hide and seek back then. I couldn't replace you anywhere and I was scared to death. I thought you were missing. It turned out you had hidden in the attic and fallen asleep."

"I remember that. When I woke up and came down from the attic, I saw you crying and you had even called the police." Makenna recalled.

Mrs. Gardner's smile faded a little, and there was a trace of hatred in her eyes.

Why did she call the police when she couldn't replace her? Because she thought her little daughter had been kidnapped by Hugo Reed too.

But luckily, it was just a false alarm in the end.

Makenna turned to the next page. A yellowing photo suddenly fell to the ground from the album.

She stooped and picked it up. There was a baby girl, which was about a few months old, in the picture. She was grinning, looking extremely adorable, which would soften people's heart at first sight. But for some reasons, Makenna didn't like her at all. Instead, she held a bit of hostility and even hatred towards the baby in the picture.

However, she didn't show it. She gave the picture to Mrs. Gardner, smiled and asked, "Mom, is this my elder sister?"

Mrs. Gardner caressed the picture and nodded with teary eyes. "Yes, she is your sister, Makayla."

Seeing Mrs. Gardner miss the baby girl so much, Makenna couldn't help feeling jealous.

She took the photo back and put it into the album again.

She then took Mrs. Gardner's arm, placed her head on her mother's shoulder and said in a hushed voice, "Alright, mom, you become sad every time you mention Makayla, so let's not mention her anymore. I believe Makayla won't want to see you unhappy either."

'A dead person dared stealing mother's attention from me?' she thought to herself.

No way!

"Okay, let's not mention her anymore." Mrs. Gardner said with a doting smile. She didn't know Makenna's real intention, but thought that her little daughter was worried about her being too upset. Just then, the door opened and Trenton came in with a long face.

Makenna spotted him first. She released Mrs. Gardner's arm and waved at him. "Hi dad."

However, Trenton only took a glance at her and he ignored her.

Makenna's smile stiffened, and she bit her lip with grievance. "Dad, what have I done wrong?"

"Oh, honey." Mrs. Gardner looked at her husband discontentedly. "Why are you so cold to Makenna? She didn't offend you."

"She didn't offend me? Ask her what she's done!" Trenton pointed at Makenna.

Mrs. Gardner immediately looked at Makenna.

Makenna looked puzzled too.

Noticing that she really had no idea about it, Trenton decided to cut to the chase, "I've already known about your little plot to harm Amber in the resort."

Makenna immediately evaded his gaze. "Dad, how did you know?"

"How did I know?" Trenton snorted. "Someone has posted the picture of that land on the Internet and meant to embarrass me. What do you say? For God's sake, can't you make a better plan next time? Now someone's got the goods on you and threatened us with that. We lost the land because of you..."

He was so enraged that he couldn't continue his words.

Makenna lowered her head, knowing that she was wrong.

Mrs. Gardner hugged her daughter tightly and she snapped, "Alright, alright, it's just a piece of land. Why are you being so fierce to her?"

Just a piece of land?

Trenton trembled with fury when he heard his wife's words. "Do you know how important that land is to us? We have invested in that land, and we could start the construction the moment Jared gives us the title deed. Yet now the land is gone, and all the projects are suspended. We can't afford the loss!"

The Trident Group had started to go downhill in recent years, so he wanted to develop a first-class villa area and restore the Trident Group back to how it was in its heyday.

But now, everything was in vain.

Makenna knew nothing about business, so she didn't regard it as a huge problem. She stood up and said calmly, "Jared said that the land in the north of the city will be given to you." Trenton almost fainted. "What would I do with that land in the north of the city? It's in the wilderness. Who will buy a villa there? I'm still gonna lose money if I can't sell the house out!"

Would it be that serious?

Makenna finally panicked. "Dad..."

"Don't call me dad." Trenton began to speak recklessly. "You've been blackmailed for what you've done to others several times. This time, you've even forced the Trident Group and the Gardner family to the brink of the cliff. You're so stupid. No wonder you're not my daug..."

"Honey!" Mrs. Gardner's expression changed and she hurriedly interrupted him.

Only then did Trenton realize his almost slip of tongue. He shut his mouth in time and spoke again after a while. "So, all in all, I want you to flatter Jared during this period of time. As for Amber, I'll deal with her. You're not allowed to take action on her in the future or else she might blackmail you again. Do you hear me?"

Makenna agreed in a hushed voice as she drooped her head.

Without saying anything further, Trenton left.

After he left, Makenna took Mrs. Gardner's hand and asked, "Mom, what was dad trying to say just now? That I'm not his...?"

A voice told her that this was something she had to replace out.

Otherwise, the result must be unbearable.

Evasiveness flashed across Mrs. Gardner's face, but she quickly adjusted her expression, smiled and stroke Makenna's hair. "It's nothing. Your father was just talking nonsense, you don't have to care about it. Alright, have a rest now. Aren't you going out for dinner with Jared in the evening? I'll have a conversation with your father."

With that, she left.

Makenna stared at the door with brooding eyes.

Since her mother was not going to tell her, she would investigate it herself and replace out the truth.

As for Amber, she didn't die last time, but she won't be so lucky next time!

At the Goldstone Co.'s building, the moment Amber and Cole came out of the conference room after a meeting, Sheila stopped in front of them and blocked their path.

She secretly stole a glance at Cole first. Having hidden away her feelings, she put on a straight face and reported to Amber, "Miss Reed, the Trident Group just called and said that Mr. Gardner wanted to see you."

"Trenton Gardner wants to see me?" Amber raised her eyebrow.

"Yes, he is on his way now."

Cole sneered. "He didn't even give you a chance to refuse, darling. By the way, did he mention what he wanted to do with my baby?"

"Well, no, he didn't." Sheila shook her head and answered. Her voice was a little softer than that when she talked to Amber.

But neither of them noticed it.

Amber nodded. "In that case, let's meet. Sheila, please make the tea."

"Okay." Sheila nodded.

Amber and Cole walked towards the office.

Cole stroked his chin. "Could it be that Trenton is coming to you for that land?"

"It should be, I can't think of any other reason." Amber pushed the office door open.

Cole fell one step behind and he closed the door. "I think he probably wants that land back."

Amber smiled and as she was about to answer, Sheila pushed the door open slightly and poked her head in. "Miss Reed, Mr. Lyon, Mr. Gardner has arrived."

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