Chapter 16
Zoe sat in her hotel suite, her face clouded with fnistration after being abruptly hung up on by Adrian.
The says he’s got it, we won’t need to provide the furniture after all, she muttered under her breath, trying to calm herself
Unbelievable. As if I don’t have enough on my plane! He asked me for money! she thought.
The mere thought made her chest tighten. Giving away money was like giving away her lifeblood.
She had more pressing matters to attend to–like today’s floral arrangement event with Sans City’s most elite women. Even if her home life was in disarray, her social standing was not something she could neglect
What she had neglected, however, was her debts
Unfortunately for her, others had not
Dressed to perfection. Zoe strated into the exclusive event venue. Yet, as soon as she stepped inside, she felt in–eyes lingering on her, whispers just out of reach
Her fingers instinctively smoothed over her designer dress. ‘Is there something wrong with my outfit? Impossible, she thought
Everything she wore was impeccable, down to the Hermes handbag—a gift from Isis.
Just as she was puzzling over the unusual atmosphere, Sarah Myers–a younger woman Zoe had never gotten along with approached, wearing an all–too–pleased smirk.
ry Sarah
Her family was also in the medical business, and she had always been at odds with Zoe. With her impeccable self–care and youthful beauty. had the upper hand in their long–standing rivalry—much to Zoe’s frustration.
“Mrs. Anderson, Sarah drawled, her voice dripping with false sweetness. I’m shocked to see you here”
family had only come into wealth in
Zoe’s jaw clenched. She hated Sarah–her youthful appearance always made Zoe look foolish. The Anderson far the past two year, and Zoe had recently started investing in self–care.
No matter how hard she tried, she could never catch up to Sarah’s youthful glow.
[course, I’m here,” Zoe said, lifting her chin. She flashed the elegant invitation card between her fingers. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Sarah’s smirk widened “Oh. 1 just assumed. Since this is a paid event, I wasn’t sure you’d be able to afford ic”
Zoe’s face darkened “Excuse me?”
Sarah feigned surprise. “Oh! I must be mistaken, then. I could’ve sworn I heard you couldn’t even pay for your meal at Regal Restaurant the other day.
“Toor Hannah had to cover for you! And now here you are, acting like nothing happened?”
hard to pow
Zoe’s stomach twisted.
She had forgotten about that
And then, as if the situation wasn’t bad enough, Hannah herself stepped forward, her expression stony. Zoe, Hannah said, crossing her arms. “Why are you here?”
Hannah’s voice rose, drawing the attention of the entire room. “I trusted you. I personally arranged for your meal at Regal. And what do you do? Skip out on the bill and embarrass me!”
Zoe shook her head. “Hannah, there’s been a misunderstanding-
Hannah was livid. “Scott came to me personally and told me you skipped out on your bill! I was the one who introduced you to that place
El take the blame for miyudging you, but consider that meal my gift to you. From now on, I don’t want to see you again!”
Hannah was truly furious. In all her life, she had never been publicly shamed like this–being chased for a debt was the ultimate humiliation.
She was the one who had organized this flower arrangement event, and as the central figure of Sans City’s elite wives‘ circle, her word carned weight. Anyone who crossed her could forget abour fisting in with high society.
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Chapter In
forget.
ked lowering her wice and humbling herself in an attempt to explain. “No, no, Mrs. White, it was just a mistake–1 was too busy and
Torgot” Hannah let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Scott personally went to your house to collect the payment, and not only did you refuse to pay. but you had him throws out!
“And now you dare to say you forgot?
Zoe flushed with both shame and frustration. She had assumed Scott would go after Isis for the money. She never imagined he’d go straight to
Hannah
If she had known, she would have paid the bill immediately,
Losing face with Hannah over a restaurant tab–only an idios would do that.
But Hannah wasn’t interested in any of her excuses. With a sharp gesture, she had Zoe thrown out of the event without another word.
Zoe stumbled, her carefully pinned–up hair unraveling as she struggled. One of her high heels twisted under her, sending her lurching forward in a humiliating display.
She looked utterly disheveled, but the other women in the room only found satisfaction in the scene
“Honestly, I never wanted to include her in our circle anyway,” one woman scoffed. “What is the Anderson family compared to the rest of us! If they hadn’t latched onto the Moore family, they’d still be nobodies”
“And speaking of the Moore family another chimed in, swirling her wine. I can’t believe their daughter actually married into that bunch.”
Someone leaned in. “Hannah, aren’t you afraid of offending the Moore family by humiliating her like this?”
Hannah scoffed. “You all don’t know, do you! The Moore heiress already divorced their son.”
A collective gasp filled the room.
Wall–whai Are you serious” someone asked.
“Of course I am. My house is near the Moores. I’ve seen their people coming and going for days. When I asked, I found out she left the Andersons and moved back home.”
The room buzzed with disbelief.
How stupid can the Andersons be?” one woman exclaimed. “She was the best thing that ever happened to them, and they let her go!”
Hannah smirked. “Oh, it gets worse. The son cheated on her”
“Who on earth could be better than the Moore heiress? someone asked in shock.
Another woman chuckled darkly. “You kn
“You know what they say–men always think the grass is greener.”
The conversation erupted in speculation and laughter, the Andersons becoming the hottest topic in Sans City’s elite circles.
Three days later, Sophie walked into the study and asked. “Miss, the deadline’s up. The Andersons haven’t paid. Should we start tearing it all down?”
Isis, lounging in a reading chair, looked up from her book. “Let’s be polite–give them a final warning”
Sophie nodded and walked away to
to dial Zoe.
After all, the divorce was final–Isis had no intention of having anything to do with Adrian ever again
Zoe was drowning in frustration. The scandal had spread like wildfire through the socialize circles–whispers about her dining and dashing and her son’s infidelity. So when her phone rang and she saw Sophie’s name, she unleashed all her pent–up rage.
Zor shouted before Sophie could even speak. “Tell that heartless witch Isis that I never expected her to be so low Spreading lies about my family?
“Tamishing my son’s reputation She’s nothing but an ungrateful snake! She lived off us for years, and now she dares to stab us in the back? Shell get what’s coming to her You all will!*
Sophie yanked the phone away from her car,
er ear, but Zoe’s shrill
shrill voice still cut through.
Sophie had heard enough. Her patience snapped. “Shut your mouth, you crazy old bat! I’m not here for your damn theatrics.
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Chapter 10
“The three days are up. Are you paying or not? Because if you’re not, we’re stripping that house to the bones”
Zoe was sill in the middle of her tirade when she suddenly caught wind of what they were saying they were planning to tear down the renovations. Het fury skyros kried
The whole darn city was already laughing at them for being forced to live in a hotel after their fumiture was taken. “And now these vultures have the nerve to bring up a she thought
“Money” You want money! Keep dreaming” Zoe spat into the phone. “Go ahead and tear them down if you dare!”
Sophie didn’t back down. Tine! Just you wait, you old hag!” she snarled before slamming the phone down
Fuming, she turned to Isis, her face burning with rage. That woman is out of control!
Let’s do it Let’s tear every last piece of that dama house apart–not a single scrap left behind for those ungrateful leeches
Is watched as Sophie fumed Tearing down the renovations sounded like exactly the kind of catharsis she needed.
She crossed her arms, nodded once, and with a sharp, decisive voice, echoed, “Tear it all down!”
Zoe had been seething ever since she hung up.
Renovation money! Like hell they’re getting a dime!” she sneered.
No way in h
hell wall Isis go through with it, she thought. Tearing out renovations was nothing but a money pit
Unlike furniture, one couldn’t resell drywall or ripped–up tiles.
She has to spend money to hire people to tear it down. No s sane person would go
go that far: Zor
far Zoe thought.
She severely miscalculated because, within the hour, Sophie and a full demolition crew arrived at the Anderson estate,
Standing at the edge of the property, Sophie surveyed the scene
She smirked, raised a hand, and swung it forward. Take it all down” she barked. “Every last piece–rip it out!”
The workers charged in without hesitation.
The Andersons had locked the gates.
But Isis had paid for that gate.
It was coming down. 100.
The sound of demolition rang through the neighborhood, drawing a curious crowd.
“Weren’t they already cleaned out” someone mummured.
“What are they doing now?” another asked.
Then, as tiles and the ceiling were tossed outside, realization dawned on the onlookers.
I didn’t take long before every last piece of the renovation was stripped clean.
right
on time.
The crew was nothing if not thorough. Not only did they remove everything, but they also made sure to haul it all away–leaving no debris behind.
No furniture, decor, or
or even a single tule was left intact. Just cold, lifeless concrete.
By the time the Andersons rushed to their home in a panic, their grand villa had been reduced to a barren, empty shell.
William nearly collapsed at the sight, clutching his chest as he fumbled for his blood pressure pills.
Zoe, meanwhile, let out a wall of despair, falling to her knees in the rubble. “She’s heartless! Soulless!” she shrieked. “Call the police! This is a crime?” Adrian arrived just in time to hear Zoe’s hysterics. “I told you to pay her! We had a deal! Three days, Mom!
“Why didn’t you give her
Zoe never expected Isis to actually go through with tearing out the renovations. Now, regret clawed at her chest. The Andersons had the money. Zor just hadn’t wanted to hand it over
I do so dures
Chaper 16
When Adrian confronted her, demanding answer she snappedt Visite blaming me I very time something happens, you all come to me for
Am I some kind of ATM? Do you think
can just shake my pockets and rash will fall out! Well, Ldon’t have any! So stop asking!
Het nutburst noly made Adriany’s blood pressure spike. The vein in his forehead throbbed.
He thought. “My mother is impossible. It is just 650 thousand dollars.
11 we are going to renovate again anyway, we have to spend the money irganliess. So why has she refused to pay is Moore in the first place?
Worse, the scandal about her dining, and dashing has alreaily spread, dragging our family name through the mul
And now, because of her sheer stubbornness, we are effectively homeless for a year. A whole year‘
And the timing couldn’t be worse. He and Layla were supposed to have a wedding soon
They needed a proper home
The furniture debacle had been bad enough, and now they had to deal with a full–scale renovation.
But what frustrated him the most was Isis.
He thought, She is so ruthless. She took everything
Meanwhile, the scandal was growing Sophie’s friends i in the neighborhood had wasted no time telling the story to her.
E
