Chapter 159
The security guard couldn’t help but smirk when he heard Zinnia speaking in that dead serious tone.
The three Shaw brothers frowned as they heard Zinnia’s words.
Maelis tore free from Yosef’s grip and charged at Zinnia in a rage. The humiliations she’d suffered recently nearly matched all she’d endured in decartes She thought, Zinnia is nothing but a curse.‘
She snapped, “Zinnia! After everything the Shaw family has given you, how dare you act this way?”
Maelis was halfway through her charge at Zinnia when Howard yanked her back.
The security guards formed an impenetrable wall around Zinnia, making it impossible to even touch her. With those towering men blocking the way, all anyone could do was catch fleeting glimpses of her through the narrow gaps between them.
Rubbing his temples, Howard said, “Zinnia, Mom hasn’t been resting well lately. Don’t take her harsh words to heart.” He truly didn’t know what to do
with Maelis.
“Let’s tally up exactly how much I’ve cost your family. I’ll repay every cent,” Zinnia said, her voice calm as still water.
Maelis said, “Repay? Do you even have the money? You grew up in some backwater town, raised in a dirt–poor family. How much could you possibly. have?” She looked at Zinnia with undisguised disdain and mockery.
Yosef felt something inside him snap as he heard Maelis’s mad words. He thought, ‘That’s it. We’re done with Zinnia for good.”
Timothy shouted, “Mom, what are you saying?” He was also taken aback by Maelis’s words.
“Mom, you’re not yourself right now. Let’s get in the car first,” Howard said, not daring to meet Zinnia’s gaze. His heart pounded with panic. He thought, ‘ can’t let Mom stay here any longer. She’s not herself today, saying things like this.‘
“Just tell me how much I’ve spent in the two months since returning to the Shaw family. Whether I can afford it or not is none of your concern,” Zinnia said, her gaze mocking as she looked at Maelis and the others.
“300 thousand dollars! Do you even have that?” Maelis snapped, furious as she wrenched her hand free from Howard. In all her decades of life, no one had ever dared defy her like this.
Maelis shot a glare at the three Shaw brothers and said, “And you three, just keep your mouths shut! Isn’t she so capable? Didn’t she say she wants to cut
all ties with us?
“Fine, let’s settle every single score with her, one by one. She needs to understand that without the Shaw family, she’s nothing.”
Caught between Zinnia and Maelis, the three Shaw brothers were utterly torn, their minds reeling with frustration. They began to think that perhaps coming to see Zinnia today had been a grave mistake from the start.
Zinnia shot Maelis a look of disbelief. She said, “300 thousand dollars? Do I look like a fool to you?”
Maelis spat out, her gaze brimming with unconcealed loathing as she glared at Zinnia. She said, “You’ve been eating our food, using our things, living at the expense of the Shaw family.
“And that’s not even counting your clothes, jewelry, and other luxuries. Consider yourself lucky. If you can’t pay up, just say so outright.”
Zinnia replied, “First, when it comes to meals, l/only ate bread. I never touched your fancy greens, never liked them, and never tried them. For two months, that’s at most 3,000.
“Second, for your toiletries and utilities, even if you add those in, it’s no more than 3,000.
“Third, the servant’s quarters you provided for me, I checked, rent for no more than 2,000 a month, so 4,000 for two months. Fourth, I never wore your
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Chapter 159
clothes or used any of your skincare products.
