Chapter 229: The hidden mission
Gina came to the Reid family mansion with a mission in her mind. She found Claudia in the hall, casually chatting on the phone.
The moment Claudia noticed Gina, a warm, welcoming smile lit up her face. "Gina, my darling! Come, sit with me," she said cheerfully as she ended her call, gesturing toward the sofa beside her.
Gina felt a pang of disgust twist in her stomach. She couldn’t believe how effortlessly Claudia wore the guise of a caring, affectionate woman, all while scheming behind the scenes. Gina wanted nothing more than to confront her, to demand how she could treat Theodore the way she had. But Theodore’s warning echoed in her mind—she had to play it smart, bide her time.
Forcing a smile onto her face, Gina sat beside her, pretending to be carefree. "Who were you talking to?" she asked, injecting a note of curiosity into her voice.
"Oh, just a friend," Claudia replied. "They’re organizing a kitty party this evening."
"Are you going?" Gina asked with an air of excitement, hoping this would be the perfect opportunity to sneak into Claudia’s room and find the videotape Theodore was desperate to recover.
"I haven’t decided yet," Claudia said.
"You should go and have fun! It sounds like a good time," Gina suggested, anticipation brimming in her eyes.
However, Claudia’s response disappointed her. "Since you are here, I won’t go. We’ll have dinner together. I’ll cook for you."
Gina’s face fell, her smile disappearing. If Claudia didn’t go out, how could she carry out her plan? "No...I don’t need you to cook for me," she blurted out.
Claudia’s smile faltered, her hand that outstretched to pat her head froze in the mid-air. "Why? You won’t eat if I cook?" she asked, clearly caught off guard by Gina’s abrupt response.
Gina instantly realized she had overreacted. She couldn’t afford to raise suspicion. Forcing a nervous laugh, she took Claudia’s hands in hers, trying to appear as earnest as possible. "No, no, that’s not what I meant! I just don’t want to ruin your plans. I want you to enjoy yourself with your friends. We can have dinner another time, right?"