Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Life Debt Repaid: Kabanata 321 - Kabanata 330

Nancy was still not reacting at all.She stood before Zoe, looming over her as she said icily, "Don't call me that ever again. You're not my daughter."Zoe was taken aback.Even as a kid, no matter what mischief or shenanigans she was up to—no matter how disobedient or what mistakes she made—her mother had never been this harsh to her.Could she really have upset Nancy this time? She reached out to Nancy like a spoiled child, trying to be cute… only for Nancy to shift her hand away, evading her.There was also undisguised contempt in Nancy's eyes.Zoe's heart skipped a bed, feeling that something was out of place right then.No matter what happened, her mother would never be this cold to her.Even if Nancy was really upset that Zoe had been in danger, Nancy should be weeping happy tears and hugging Zoe because she cheated death.But this cold reaction… Zoe somehow felt like she was not Nancy's daughter. "Mom, what's wrong?" Zoe asked gingerly."I'll say it again, Zoe York

So this was what it felt like to fall from heaven to hell… And Zoe thought that this stuff only happened in TV dramas. But for some bizarre reason, it happened to her."Zoe…" Jay said. "Leave," she said, finally turning toward him then and finding him looking so worried."The Levines would be upset if you stayed here. My mom…" Zoe paused for a moment then to correct herself, "I mean, Ms. Levine is an individual who makes her feelings very clear. If she hates someone, she couldn't care less about anything and would destroy anything and everyone around them. Stay with me and you'll become an eyesore." "Even if John will inherit the family estate, their favoritism isn't that obvious. You should also know that since Alan Levine spoiled her ever since she was a child, he would never allow her to be given grief."Zoe was already changing the way she addressed the same people as she worked hard to stay strong and accept everything in the present.Jay watched her silently. She was

Seeing that Jay's cut on the forehead had been bandaged then, John said, "I'm going now. There's still plenty to do for Cordy's trial, so I can't divide that much attention here. Either way, I'll respect whatever your decision may be.""Johnny," Jay said somberly, "Thank you."John clapped him on the shoulder. "We're family, no?"Jay felt touched—John never said much, but he knew everything and would even offer comfort.Those who did not know him well would never be able to tell that he offered warmth despite his might.As John left the hospital in his car, he stared out the window and heaved a heavy sigh.He suddenly remembered how Zoe would always follow him around when they were children, calling his name. And that same brat grew to become an adult…His phone suddenly started to ring, and he answered it."Mr. Levine? We've found multiple outbound transfers from the personal account of Helen Zalenski.""Send it to me.""Yes, sir."John's eyes narrowed.In the end, his p

Cordy was stubborn. "That's my own business.""Yes, but Zoe might not want to see you right now either," John told her. "She just turned from a swan to an ugly duckling—do you think she'd be able to stay composed and face you or anyone else? She might want some quiet time to herself, so let's just give her some space…"Cordy scowled. "John—""The point is, Jay will be taking care of her," John said, cutting her short.Cordy was taken aback and was soon snapping, "Are we really pinning our hopes on Jay now?! He didn't care about her at all when she was still Levine! Do you think he'd take the bullet after what happened to her?! Moreover, your aunt is denying Zoe help. What can Jay do when he's just adopted? Get chased out of the family like Zoe? Would he really go that far for her?!""Like I said before," John said. "Jay was right in rejecting Zoe." Cordy did not respond to that, refusing to listen to any of his explanations although she did not know what he was going to say.Bu

Zoe did not expect that it would still hurt in every way possible."We let you in not out of sympathy but to make sure you understand your status now. Don't appear here ever again for your own sake, because our family will never accept you," Alan said, watching her dispassionately just then. "We wouldn't have been this cold if you weren't Ivan's illegitimate child."Yes.Her fault was being an illegitimate child—her birth was impermissible in the first place. "But is this my fault? Did I get to choose my own birth?" Zoe asked with neither rage nor grief—only confusion. "Why am I supposed to suffer everything?"There was a flash of emotion in Alan's eyes, and he said, "You're not at fault, but it happened to you anyway. And that is why you must endure it."Zoe's tears trickled out along the corner of her eye—so this world was really that unfair.She never hurt anyone, but she had to suffer this anyway. "Is there a reason for our family to accept you? That would be a slap to ou