Chapter 3

I stood in the center of the living room, stunned by Scott's words.

Could my future really be mine to decide?

Scott simply left me with one short but meaningful sentence. "When you have thought it through, come see me."

Michael opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but Scott's indomitable presence forced every word back down his throat.

"Dad, I'll never…" My protest was cut off by a sudden, frantic pounding on the door.

The door was forced open, and Fiona stumbled inside, clothes torn, face covered in bruises, utterly disheveled.

"Dad, please… Save me…" Fiona sobbed, her tone and eyes full of despair.

When our eyes met, something dark flashed inside hers. It was a mix of resentment and regret.

Michael looked at her with pity. "Fiona? What happened to you?! How has your mother been raising you? How could she let you end up like this?!"

My fists clenched at my sides, nails dug deep into my palms, and the pain kept my mind clear.

"Mom… Mom told me to sleep with some old men so that I could support her…!"

The memories rose like a breaking wave. In my previous life, she had done the same thing to me. I had escaped just like Fiona. I had sought Michael and begged him to take me in, but he had pushed me out without a second thought, not even allowing me to step through the gates of the Howard estate.

"Dad, let me stay here… Please… I can't go back anymore... She'll kill me eventually…" Fiona's voice trembled as she looked like a cornered animal, terrified and helpless.

Michael stared at her, a hint of rage and disappointment flashing in his eyes. "That woman… Even an animal wouldn't treat its own offspring like this. She's worse than an animal!"

At that moment, Zoey slowly came down the stairs. She was dressed in a perfectly tailored evening gown as she looked down at Fiona from above.

Fiona seemed frightened by her presence, and she lowered her head as she whispered, "Mom…"

A faint, mocking smile tugged at Zoey's lips. "At least you know how to greet properly."

She said nothing more, but that silence was as good as permission for Fiona to stay. Michael, of course, could not have been happier.

However, Fiona didn't seem to appreciate this opportunity. Maybe she already believed that the Howard family was doomed to go bankrupt in this timeline, too.

During the days she stayed, she showed respect only toward Scott. However, she acted proudly when she spoke to others. She had to have an entourage before she left the estate, and the servants had to bow when speaking to her. That was enough to make everyone have complaints about her.

Zoey pretended not to see any of it and never said a word to Fiona, and that only emboldened Fiona. It wasn't long until she began eyeing Zoey's clothes and jewelry. Those pieces were worth tens of thousands at the low end, and the most expensive ones were worth millions. Fiona took them one by one, convinced Zoey had not noticed anything missing, and her brazenness grew.

Until the day she stole several of Zoey's purses and dresses and tried to sell them. She was even caught on the spot.

Zoey looked at her in her usual composed stance. "I was wondering who had such nerves. So, it was you. Do you have any idea that these alone are enough to throw you into prison for the rest of your life?"

Fiona's face instantly went pale.