Chapter 616

Josefina replied, "Yes, thanks for the effort."

Messages kept popping up on her phone, including one from her martial arts mentor, Stan: "Josie, heard you're back in Westwood? I'll swing by in a couple of days. How about I treat you to something delicious?"

Josefina couldn't help but smile at her phone. "No problem, master. I know a couple of great diners around. I'll take you there."

After replying, Josefina saw a message from Albert: "Ms. Josefina, aren't you coming to the Saturday game?"

Thinking of the match reminded her of Reid, who was all in, losing sleep and skipping meals for the game.

She didn't want to mess with Reid's game mindset, especially knowing that if Reid learned she was his opponent at such a crucial moment, he wouldn't be able to keep his cool.

Josefina replied, "I won't join you guys. Tell them, even if they see me there, pretend they don't."

She had to protect her secret identity.

After replying, Josefina picked up her pen to work on her design sketches.

...

Downstairs, Garrett had just come back. Hattie gave him a look, and they went to their room together.

Hattie filled him in on everything.

Garrett frowned, clearly worried. "Your niece Mandy is supposed to be in Shanghai. What's she doing in Westwood all of a sudden?"

"I have no clue," Hattie said, holding her phone but unsure of what to do next.

"Putting Josie in such a tough spot," Garrett said. "How about this? First thing tomorrow, I'll go with you to your parents' place."

"Josie said the fewer people know, the better for us. You want to go without telling Josie first? You're not worried our girl will get upset?"

Garrett fell silent.

Their daughter was the priority.

Hattie sighed, "Let's just do as Josie said for now. If anything changes, we'll figure something out."

Right after Hattie finished speaking, her phone rang. It was her mother, Alivia. Speak of the devil.

Hattie answered, only to be greeted

by Alivia's angry voice, "Hattie, where's Lena? Even if you found your biological daughter you can't just push Lena aside. I've watched that girl grow up. She's good-natured. Isn't it nice to have another daughter who respects you?"

Not even Alivia, let alone they themselves, had expected Lena to be the one sabotaging them.

After eighteen years of peaceful coexistence, Lena knew exactly how to win everyone over.

If not for undeniable evidence, who would have believed it?

Hattie tried to explain, "Mom, I know you like Lena. She... she just went abroad for research. Said she couldn't use her phone for a while, to avoid leaking secrets."

Alivia snapped, "Don't you try to fool me. What kind of research can't involve a phone? Have Lena call me, or I'll come to your house and drive that Josefina away myself!"

Hattie sighed, "Mom, Josie is my biological daughter. No one can mistreat her. She's been throug

lot. She's a pure and kind-hearted gid. You'd like her if you met her."

"Hattie, I don't want to hear it. I just want to see Lena. Have her call me back, or I'll come to Westwood myself! You know I have heart problems, and yet you upsete. Do you wish your mother dead?"

Hattie glanced at Garrett, at a loss. "Mom, please listen to me..."

But Alivia had already hung up, refusing to hear her out.

Hattie, looking helplessly at Garrett, said, "What do we do now? I can't just conjure

up a Lena for her, can I? What are we going to do?"