Chapter 6

Mrs. Wilson bowed respectfully. “Yes, ma’am.”

She led several staff past Carl and straight upstairs.

Carl jabbed a shaking finger toward Susan. “You… you are completely unreasonable!”

But in the face of Susan’s fury, his own anger shrank. He did not dare confront her head-on.

Soon, the staff came back down, arms full of high-end boxes and luxury bags. They dumped everything at Suzy’s feet.

Susan pointed at the pile on the floor and announced.

“Take your things and get out.”

Suzy’s eyes instantly filled with tears. She cried so hard she looked like a helpless little victim being bullied by the powerful Lindsay family.

Zac immediately pulled Suzy behind him.

“Mrs. Lindsay, you don’t have to go this far. If you don’t want her here, then I will take her away myself.”

He paused, then turned to Josie. “What happened today is my fault. I hurt you, and I am sorry. But I won’t change my decision.”

He tightened his grip on Suzy’s hand. “Once I've made up my mind about someone, I never let go. Not ever. We’re leaving.”

He walked off with Suzy without looking back.

Carl stood there, wearing a troubled expression. “Good grief, what a mess this has become…” He hurried after them. “Zac, Suzy, wait!”

Suzy turned back to him, tears still trembling in her eyes. “Mr. Lindsay, I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

Carl immediately softened. “Don’t say that. None of this is your fault.”

Carl stepped closer to Suzy and lowered his voice. “Suzy, don’t forget our agreement. Be at the company on Monday. The Director of Technology position is still yours.”

Suzy nodded obediently. “Yes, Mr. Lindsay. I remember. Thank you.”

Zac and Suzy had barely stepped out the front door when a sudden commotion erupted behind them.

Something hit the ground with a heavy thud. Then another. And another.

Several gift bags and boxes that had been brought down earlier were being thrown out one by one.

One of the delicate jewelry boxes burst open on impact, scattering its contents across the front steps.

Suzy turned back. The jewelry she had cherished over the past six months was now lying in the dust like discarded trash. Her expression wavered between embarrassment and disbelief.

Zac glanced at the mess, then wrapped an arm around Suzy’s shoulders. His voice dropped low.

“Don’t look at it. If you need anything from now on, I’ll buy it for you. Those things don’t matter anymore.”

*

Inside the living room, Susan held Josie tightly as tears streamed down her face.

“Josie, this is my fault. I should have seen through them. I should have protected you. I am so sorry you were hurt like this.”

Josie gently patted Susan’s back. Compared to Zac’s betrayal, it was Suzy’s betrayal that had truly broken her heart. Susan had genuinely cared for Suzy.

“Mom, don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault. Some people simply don’t have a conscience. You can give them everything, and they still won’t see you as family.”

Just then, Carl walked back inside wearing a stormy expression.

He did not even glance at Susan and Josie embracing on the couch. He scoffed coldly and walked straight into his study.

Josie watched him go. “Mom,” she said suddenly, “don’t you think Dad was acting strangely today?”

“He was probably afraid of offending Zac,” Susan replied reflexively, trying to make excuses for him. But even she did not sound convinced.

Josie let out a cold laugh.

Her father had come from a modest background and only rose to his current position thanks to Susan’s family’s support. Even after all these years in the business world, he still hadn’t shaken off some of his old habits.

Yet Josie couldn’t shake the feeling that her father wasn’t as simple as he appeared on the surface.

“Mom,” Josie said carefully, probing for information, “even if Dad wanted to avoid offending the Lucas family, that still doesn’t explain why he ignored me and chose to side with an outsider instead.”