Chapter 3
"Don't worry, Cheri, I'll make sure you look absolutely stunning," Eugenie promised.
"Oh, and by the way, Cheri, I'm heading to the company's annual party tonight. You should go to bed early. No need to wait up for me," she added.
I nodded with a smile and proceeded to give myself a second helping of the soup.
An hour later, Eugenie stepped out of our cheap rental room. She had put on an elegant gown and shawl, and her makeup was flawless.
I sat quietly by the window and caught sight of Jenner waiting downstairs next to his blue BMW.
When he saw Eugenie, he carefully helped her into the car, taking care that she didn't hit her head.
My heart hurt so much that it went numb.
It wasn't because of my parents and Eugenie's lies. It was because of Jenner's betrayal.
I never imagined Jenner would be the one to betray me, the childhood friend whom I had known for over twenty years.
Back when I was a kid, Jenner's grandparents found me and took me in. Jenner himself gave me the name Cherilyn Worthing. He told me "Pallister" was his dad's surname, and "Worthing" was his mom's.
He told me we would be family for life.
I never forgot how much the Pallister family had done for me, so when my birth parents asked if there was anything I wanted, I didn't hesitate to ask for a job for Jenner, who had been struggling to get ahead.
And because of that...
Thinking of this, tears streamed down my face.
*****
A few minutes later, I dialed Jenner's number. "Jenner, where are you? I want to see you."
The background noise on his end was so loud I could barely hear him.
It took a while before I finally caught what he was saying.
"We're throwing a birthday party for the daughter of our company's boss. I can't really meet up right now.
"How about this? I'll make time to see you tomorrow?" he replied.
Just then, I vaguely heard people chatting around him and deduced that he was at the Grand Globe Hotel.
So I just went along with Jenner's suggestion.
After ending the call, I quickly got dressed and caught a cab to the Grand Globe Hotel.
On the way, one of my coworkers who did plasma donation with me called. Her voice was shaky, and she sounded like she was crying.
"Cheri, we're done for… everything's over... The needles used at the venue where we sold our plasma weren't clean.
"Someone just tested positive for HIV. What should we do? I'm so scared. I'm still so young. I don't want to die!
"Everyone's heading to the hospital for tests right now. Are you coming?"
I sat in the cab, laughing and crying at the same time. I cried because I was a bad judge of people and because of my unfortunate fate.
I laughed because I thought it would be nice if this damned world could let me off the hook in this way.
When the driver told me we had arrived at our destination, I wiped away my tears.
I calmed myself down before getting out of the cab. I was immediately greeted by rows of flower baskets and photos at the hotel entrance that were full of birthday wishes and greetings for Eugenie.
As I entered, the doorman informed me that the Lyndon family had booked the entire hotel for their daughter's birthday celebration.
I nodded and told him I was looking for the Lyndon family.
The hotel's ballroom was filled with raucous laughter as glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged.
Eugenie had already changed out of the clothes she had put on earlier in her rented apartment. She was now wearing a luxurious haute couture gown and decked out in dazzling jewelry.
Jenner stood beside her in a white suit like a devoted bodyguard.
Weaving through the crowd surreptitiously, I found myself standing behind a pillar right next to them before I even realized it.
I was just in time to overhear their conversation.
Eugenie's voice had returned to the haughty, contemptuous tone I first heard when I met her.
"Jenner, figure out a way to give Cherilyn some money and get her to help me move out of that dump as soon as possible.
"Though I always use business trips as an excuse not to go back, spending even a couple of days there makes me miserable.
"And it's so far from the city center. Every day, I have to wake up early just to make it look like I was going to work. I can't even get a decent night's sleep.
"It's all your fault! You gave my parents the terrible idea of cultivating this ridiculous sisterly bond. You've brought me nothing but misery."
When I heard that, I was so shocked I almost fell backward.
Unbelievably, Jenner was the one who suggested my parents fake their bankruptcy.
The person who pushed me into this cesspit was none other than my most trusted childhood friend.
Although I had long suspected that Jenner, my parents, and Eugenie were somehow connected to this plot, I still found myself unable to accept the truth that had revealed itself.
Jenner was unfazed and offered an apology with a bow of his head.
He said, "Ms. Lyndon, you might not fully understand the meaning of the phrase 'poverty breeds wickedness.'
"But Cherilyn and I grew up together. I know that once people have experienced poverty, they lose all scruples.
"They're capable of anything, but only love and affection can truly hold them in check.
"In time, you will become the sister closest to Cherilyn's heart. Whether you take over the family business or handle any other matter in the future, she will follow your lead without question.”
I couldn't believe my ears. As I stared wide-eyed, I could taste blood rising in my throat.
How could he think of me that way? He was willing to watch me suffer so much hardship just to raise a loyal servant for Eugenie?