Chapter 8

Lucas and Nelson jolted and quickly separated. "Zia, why are you here? Don't misunderstand. This has nothing to do with that. We were just figuring out how to avenge you," Lucas quickly explained. Zia's tears kept streaming down. "You were figuring things out? You mean deciding which one of you gets to have her? "Didn't you both say she disgusted you? Then why are you fighting over her now? Or are you about to be stolen away by her, too, just like how she stole my entire life back then?" Her voice grew shriller with every word. Then she broke down completely and ran out, sobbing. Across from the villa, Natalie leaned against a black Maserati, watching everything unfold with a faint, unreadable smile. Could it really have been that easy to break Zia? Then how would she react when the truth finally came out? … The day before the birthday banquet, the police knocked on the Shaw residence's door. "We've received an anonymous tip suggesting Zia Shaw may be connected to the deaths of her adoptive parents. Please come with us." By the time Natalie returned home, Zia had already been released on bail. She sat on the couch, crying uncontrollably. "My adoptive father wanted to… harass me before selling me. I didn't know what else to do, and that's why I picked up the hammer. I had no choice…" she revealed. Benedict and Sapphire stroked her trembling back, eyes full of worry. They kept murmuring reassurances, telling her it was okay. Natalie stood there, stunned. She never imagined that Benedict, who had always valued the family's reputation above everything, could tolerate a murderer. Back then, when Natalie had been falsely accused of bullying a classmate, Benedict and Sapphire hadn't even looked at the evidence. They condemned her for disgracing the family name and punished her without mercy. She'd spent half a year in the ICU before being discharged. What was that, then? Natalie wondered if it was all because she wasn't part of the Shaw family. She thought she was already numb to it, but a dull, crushing pain spread through it once again. Unwilling to watch this warm, loving scene any longer, she turned and went inside. Sapphire called out as she avoided meeting Natalie's gaze. "Natalie, Zia had no choice back then. She made a terrible mistake. "Please… I'm begging you. Will you go to jail for Zia? You took over 20 years of the good life that belonged to her. This is what you owe her. "Don't worry, we'll make arrangements accordingly. You won't be in there long. But if Zia goes to prison, her entire life will be ruined…" Every word seared itself into Natalie's already frozen heart. "So my life deserves to be ruined?" she asked. Her vision blurred, and her voice trembled. Benedict lifted his gaze coldly. "So what if it's ruined? You've enjoyed enough luxury because of the Shaw family! "You pay for your father's sins. Your parents left behind a legacy of crimes, and now it's your turn to atone." Tears slipped down Natalie's face as she put on a bitter smile. That was ridiculous. These were the people she couldn't let go of before leaving. She wiped away her tears, turned silently, and went back to her room to pack for her trip to Middleton the next day. "You won't be able to bring that much stuff into prison." Zia leaned against the doorway, fanning the stale air of the cramped room with obvious disdain. Natalie didn't look up as she folded her clothes calmly. "I know you went to Cedar Ridge. And I know you're the one who tipped off the police." Zia bent closer, her eyes gleaming with smug triumph. "So what? I'm the Shaw family's real daughter. Everything you've done will only land you in prison. "Oh, and those two bastards from the Moore family. I'll admit that you played that perfectly. "But last night, they kneeled at my door and swore they only did it to make me happy. They were just competing to humiliate you." Zia lifted Natalie's chin, smiling cruelly. "At tomorrow's birthday banquet, Mom and Dad will make sure you're brought in smoothly. You'll settle just fine. "Your grades, your opportunities, your parents, and your fiance are all mine from now on."