Seventy and Swept off My Feet

The woman in front of me wore an arrogant expression, but I began to calmly say, "I'm here to meet my family."Anna folded her arms across her chest and laughed. "Another one? Fine. Tell me which illegitimate daughter of the Slaters you're supposed to be.""I'm your great-aunt," I said firmly after straightening my back.Anna froze. She then looked at me as if I had completely lost my mind. The hall immediately erupted in laughter."I've seen people show up claiming to be a lost daughter or a forgotten son, but this is the first time someone's claiming to be a grandmother!""If she really is Anna's great-aunt, would she strangle Skyler when she finds out that he broke the only portrait of her?"I followed the sound of their mockery and saw a boy sitting apart from the crowd. His delicate features were stained with spilled wine, and his clothes were a mess.He stared at me as if he'd seen something unreal. His eyes were wide with disbelief."Great-aunt Zoe…" he whispered.The c

"I've waited 50 years for my sister. I have one foot in the grave, so I shouldn't continue hoping that she'll come back. I won't press the matter further. Go on now. Don't make this mess any worse," Daniel said.Anna proudly lifted her head. Her voice dripped with scorn as she said, "You're just a scammer. The results won't change, no matter how many tests you take. Now get out of here!"Suddenly, the boy from the corner of the room spoke up. "Grandpa, let her take the test again. She really is our aunt.""Shut up, Skyler. No one asked for your opinion!" Anna roared.Skyler Slater ignored her and stepped closer to Daniel. He dropped to his knees. His eyes were bloodshot as he pleaded. "Grandpa, no one but you and I has ever seen her portrait. You forgot her face because of your illness, but I remember it clearly. I broke that frame myself."Please, let me take the sample back to the hospital and run the test again!"Anna clenched her fists. She stormed forward and struck Skyler h

Anna let out a sigh of relief, but I quickly changed the subject."In the Slater family, we've always been fair. Since Anna made a mistake, she should be punished." I turned to her. "I heard that the second Slater rule states that if you were rude to your elders, you must kneel before them and apologize repeatedly. So let's follow that. Does anyone have an objection?"Everyone glanced at each other, but no one dared to speak."That's great! Well said, Zoe!" Daniel nodded in approval. He even clapped for me. "We'll do exactly as she says. Anna, remember that each apology should be loud enough for everyone to hear. Only then will your apology be accepted."Anna's smile froze. "Grandpa, I…""Enough. We've decided on the punishment." Daniel ignored her and helped me onto the couch instead.As my eyes swept across the hall, I noticed that Michael had slipped away at some point. When I turned my gaze back, the security guards had brought Anna before me, forcing her to kneel with a loud

"I gave you many chances, Zoe. I even warned you with the comments just now, but you never listened. You just had to walk into your own death, didn't you?" Michael remarked.Anna scoffed. "She won't cry until she's on her deathbed. If that's what she wants, I'll give it to her today."When I saw her grab a gun from the table, my whole body froze. Nevertheless, I forced myself to remain calm. "Daniel has treated you so well since you were young. He's innocent in all of this. If you've got a grudge, take it out on me.""Innocent? Him?" Anna cackled like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Zoe, you don't have the slightest clue. Do you know what it was like growing up, always being pressured to be recognized as the heir to the Slater family's fortune?"While other children were out playing, I was locked in my room practicing the piano. To make sure I didn't lose the spotlight, I studied until my eyes burned. I pushed myself until three in the morning without getting an