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Novel Catalog
Chapter 71: Who Has the Phone?
Ainsley’s mind raced as she considered the possibilities. Kaitlin and Lindsay were at the top of her suspicion list—they both harbored a deep animosity toward her. Cason, while a former ally, had also become a mystery in recent days. His behavior had been unpredictable, and the old trust she had in him was beginning to falter.
After thinking it over, Ainsley decided to confront the Baldry family directly. If anyone had taken her phone, it was likely to be someone from there.
When she arrived at their doorstep, the servant who answered the door seemed caught off guard. Clearly, the tension between Ainsley and the Baldrys had not gone unnoticed within the household.
“Ms. Easton, what brings you here?” the servant asked, a bit surprised to see Ainsley.
Without wasting any time, Ainsley got straight to the point. “I’m looking for Cason.”
The servant hesitated. “Mr. Baldry isn’t home. Perhaps you can come back another day?”
Just as Ainsley was about to leave, a soft voice called from inside the house.
“Who’s at the door?” Kaliyah appeared, her gaze faltering for a moment when she saw Ainsley standing there.
Ainsley wasted no time on pleasantries. “When I attended the banquet yesterday, I left my phone here. I came to retrieve it.”
Kaliyah’s eyes widened. “Ms. Easton, we didn’t see any phone when the cleaning was done yesterday. Maybe it’s somewhere else. You should ask the maid.”
Kaliyah gestured for the maid to step forward. “Did you see a phone yesterday?” she asked, clearly trying to downplay the situation.
The maid thought for a moment. “No, I only cleaned the hall with another person. I didn’t see any phone—just glasses and some snacks.”
Kaliyah gave Ainsley a strained smile. “See? We don’t have it. Maybe you left it somewhere else. You should go and look for it.”
Ainsley’s suspicion grew. She knew something was off, but Kaliyah’s reaction seemed genuine. It was time to leave, but before she could turn away, Kaitlin emerged from another room.
“What are you doing here again?” Kaitlin’s tone dripped with disdain as she crossed the room, clearly irritated. “Yesterday’s drama wasn’t enough?”
Kaliyah looked helpless. “Kaitlin, Ms. Easton says she left her phone here, but I told her we didn’t find it. She doesn’t believe me.”
Ainsley raised an eyebrow. “Do you think we’ll steal your phone?” Kaitlin sneered. “You come here with some ridiculous excuse to get close to my brother, don’t you?”
Kaliyah’s expression darkened slightly, but she said nothing.
Ainsley stood her ground, meeting Kaitlin’s eyes coldly. “If you didn’t take my phone, then I’ll leave. But, rather than wasting time here, maybe you should focus on something more productive. I hear you’re talking about Mollie turning me down. Well, I’ve already invited her, and I’m still waiting for her response. How do you know she won’t agree?”
Kaitlin’s smile faded, replaced by a sharp, mocking laugh. “Don’t get your hopes up. Mollie’s turned down more prestigious universities than ours. Why would she accept your invitation?”
Ainsley smiled sweetly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Perhaps you should pay a visit to the Psychological Counseling Room sometime. I’d be happy to help with your issues. They won’t get any better on their own.”
Kaitlin’s face turned red with rage, and she raised her hand as though to strike Ainsley. Ainsley didn’t flinch. She stepped back, eyes narrowing. “I warned you before. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. I let the last incident slide, but if you lay a finger on me this time, I won’t hesitate to take action.”
Kaitlin’s anger faltered, and she reluctantly lowered her hand. “We don’t welcome you here,” she hissed.
With that, the door slammed shut in Ainsley’s face. Ainsley lingered for a moment, her mind racing. She was certain now that Kaitlin wasn’t involved—her reaction had been too over-the-top, which suggested she wasn’t hiding anything. That left Kaliyah as the most likely suspect.
Ainsley headed straight to a nearby store to get a new phone and SIM card. When she checked the university’s online forum, the situation had spiraled further. The news about Mollie being “invited” had already become a trending topic, with students celebrating Ainsley’s apparent success.
It was all a lie.
Ainsley then tried reaching out to Mollie’s assistant, but she learned that Mollie had no time to commit. It was clear now that her invitation had been nothing more than a pipe dream. With the whole school buzzing with excitement over an invitation that never truly existed, Ainsley felt the weight of the deception pressing down on her.
She needed answers—and fast. Her next stop: the principal’s office.
When Raymond saw Ainsley, he immediately broke into a smile. “Ms. Easton, I’ve heard the news. You actually managed to get Mollie! The students will be thrilled!”
Ainsley’s heart sank as she knew she had to confront him about the growing mess. “Mr. Ford, I need to talk to you about something important.”
Raymond’s smile faded as he sensed the change in Ainsley’s tone. “What is it?”
“Mollie might not come after all.”
Raymond was stunned. “What do you mean? You said you met her yesterday!”
“I did,” Ainsley replied. “But she didn’t accept. She said she’s turned down similar offers before. I think she’s already made up her mind.”
Raymond’s hand trembled as he held his cup of water. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” He sighed, frustrated. “The board has already made this public. The media is all over it.”
Ainsley had been prepared for this outcome, but hearing it aloud made the situation much worse. She was caught in a web of lies, and now, the whole university was expecting something that might never come to pass.
Raymond quickly checked his phone, and his face turned pale. “It’s too late,” he muttered. “The media has already been informed. The board announced it ten minutes ago.”
Ainsley’s stomach twisted as she looked at the screen. The news was already out: The University of Washington will invite psychologist Mollie Randall to judge the Psychology Quiz Show… The headline flashed across every major news outlet, and the Baldry family was the first to release the information.
Ainsley couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. She thought back to her encounter with Kaliyah and Kaitlin. Kaitlin had seemed too quick to dismiss her phone’s disappearance. Kaliyah’s reaction had been more subtle, but Ainsley couldn’t shake the nagging doubt.
Could it really have been Kaliyah? Or had someone else set this whole thing in motion?
