《The Disowned Heiress 》全部章節：第 11 章 - 第 20 章

Julia forced her way out through their midst, ignoring their gasps and confused whispers. The crowd watched in silence as she walked confidently toward the stage. Mr. Asher met her halfway, smiling warmly as he stretched out his hand.“It’s unbelievable!” he said, shaking her hand firmly. “Unexpectedly, Merlin High School produced the top student of the nation. Congratulations, Julia.”Julia smiled, excitement and pride flashing in her eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Asher,” she said softly.Mr. Asher turned to the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, “please give another round of applause to this year’s national top scorer—Julia Reynolds!”The hall erupted into applause again, loud and lasting. Some people even stood to clap. Flashlights from cameras glittered across the hall. But the Reynolds stood motionless, their smiles gone, their faces tightening as they watched Julia step to the microphone. It felt as though their world was splitting open right in front of everyone.Julia

“Mr. Reynolds and his family have gone too far,” a woman in the crowd said loudly, unable to hold her frustration anymore. “They gave Bella a house, a car, and tens of millions in cash, but wouldn’t even give Julia an allowance.”Another man nearby nodded in agreement. “It’s true,” he said, shaking his head. “I heard it myself when the maid confessed earlier. They starved that girl while spoiling the other one.”The murmurs in the hall grew louder, spreading like fire. Guests exchanged looks of disgust and disbelief. Some raised their phones to record the scene, others simply whispered behind their hands. The air was thick with judgment.But in the corner, Bella was frantically typing on her phone, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen. Her face was tense, her eyes darting toward the exit once in a while. No one knew who she was messaging, but her nervousness was obvious. No one noticed it either. “We never mistreated Julia,” Bosco’s voice broke through the noise suddenly.

“Of course I won’t let that happen. But you’re not my family,” Julia said, her voice calm but firm. “I only see Sheldon and his family as my own.”Her words echoed through the silent hall. She turned to look at Sheldon, her brightened eyes and faint smile meeting his.Gavin, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke, his voice sharp and cold. “Julia, he’s not related to you at all. Maybe they just bought you with money back then. Do you really want to call those crooks your parents?”Julia smiled faintly. “Though the Hursts weren’t rich,” she began, her tone soft but resolute, “I was happy for all fifteen years I stayed with them. But ever since I came back to you, every single day has been hell. So tell me, who’s really the bad guy here?”The words struck like stones. The Reynolds stood frozen. Megan lowered her head, avoiding Julia’s gaze. Gavin’s lips moved, but no sound came out. Bosco and Elliot looked away, faces tense and flushed. The shame in the air was almost visibl

Then, as if on cue, murmurs began to spread again among the guests — sharp, questioning, confused. Everyone turned to the Reynolds family, waiting for a response.Megan was the first to speak. She straightened her posture, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Of course we’ve prepared gifts for tonight’s event,” she said quickly, her voice too smooth to be natural. She reached into her handbag and pulled out a sleek, cream-colored folder card.“I’ve prepared a four-thousand square feet studio for the celebration,” she announced proudly, waving the folder slightly for the cameras to catch.The crowd gave a faint applause — polite, but uncertain.“Here’s a top-spec Ferrari sports car worth three million dollars,” Elliot said immediately after, eager to follow his mother’s lead. He raised a shiny black car key high in the air for everyone to see, flashing a rehearsed grin.“And I picked out a VanClef necklace set with Nexus diamonds,” Bosco added quickly, stepping forward

Instantly, three beautiful ladies on a single line marched into the hall, each holding a box of gifts. Their synchronized steps drew every eye in the room. The guests, already tense from the earlier confrontations, turned their full attention to the new spectacle unfolding before them.“These gifts are for Miss Julia,” the man in front of the ladies announced as they marched straight to the stage.The hall fell into silence again, that heavy kind of silence that comes right before something unbelievable is revealed. Even the Reynolds, who had been full of mockery and confidence moments ago, felt their expressions tighten. Julia stood still, watching the scene unfold with no clue what to expect, her heart beating quietly beneath her calm composure.As the three ladies reached the stage, they turned gracefully to face the crowd, each box held with both hands, poised and steady. Their faces remained expressionless, but their presence commanded attention. The announcer stepped forwar