The Whims of Fortune

Fiona stared at Zoey in terror, her eyes full of despair. She tried to deny it, but Zoey's cold gaze and unquestionable tone made her completely lose her composure.

"I… I didn't…" Fiona's voice trembled as she desperately held on to her last hope, but Zoey did not give her that chance at all.

She turned her head slightly and said to the servants, "Take her away."

Fiona tried to struggle free, refusing to go.

I didn't move, and I felt absolutely no sympathy for her. A faint smile formed on my lips as I quietly shook my head.

Oh, my dear sister. She'd lived under the same roof as Zoey for two lifetimes, yet she still honestly thought she was that easy to fool. A woman who raised a son as calm and capable as Scott would never be a fool.

"Zoey, how could you drive Fiona out? She's my daughter…" Michael's voice pleaded as he tried to speak up for Fiona, but Zoey cut him off with a single, icy look.

"You remember she is your daughter, I see? The fact that I've tolerated her stay in the Howard household this long is already more kindness than she deserved." Her voice was calm and resolute with no hesitation. "Besides, we don't give out charity. We would never keep someone this greedy around."

Michael's face went pale. He clearly did not expect Zoey to be so determined.

He opened his mouth wanting to say more, but Zoey had already motioned to the servants to take Fiona away.

"No! Dad! Help me!" Her cries echoed through the living room as she tried to grab onto her last lifeline.

Just then, Scott appeared in the doorway. He wore a sharply cut suit, his expression cold and unreadable. His eyes swept the room once over everyone, then stopped on Fiona.

"What's happening here?" His voice was low and steady, seemingly able to reach everyone's heart.

"Someone really thought this was her own house and had the guts to steal my things." For the first time, Zoey's tone showed the ruthlessness of someone who was at the top of the hierarchy.

Scott looked at the items scattered across the floor and understood immediately.

"Security!" Scott said coldly.

Michael dropped to his knees and groveled at once. "Mr. Howard, please! Please spare Fiona just this once for our history's sake! She's still young! She doesn't understand…"

Fiona knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face. She looked up at Scott, her eyes full of desperate pleas. "I was wrong, Scott. I'll change, I promise! Please don't throw me out…"

I had wanted to remain calm as I watched from the side, but Michael suddenly grabbed my arm and tried to drag me down too. "You useless girl! Hurry up and beg for your sister!"

His hand had barely brushed my sleeve when Scott's frigid gaze stopped him. "Enough!"

Scott's voice boomed through the room like thunder. "I don't intend to interfere, no matter how much of a failure of a father you are, but her behavior has crossed my bottom line. The Howard family is not something she can step on."

Michael's expression darkened as he tried to plead again, but Scott had already lost his patience. He raised his hand briefly and gestured to the servants. "See them out."

Fiona's greed and ignorance, along with Michael's weakness and indulgence, only filled me with helplessness.

With Michael and Fiona both gone, would there still be a place for me in the Howard family?

I turned, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Zoey and Scott. "Thank you for everything you have done for me during this time. I… I'll find a way to repay you in the future."

Without them, I would never have been able to finish school. From here on, I would simply have to rely on myself.

I took a deep breath and was just about to turn and leave when their voices rang from behind me in unison. "Wait."