Chapter 171 The Truth Burns
Nathan and Evelyn went pale.
They had never told Naomi the truth about Eliza–not directly.
Naomi sneered, “You’re just a burden. If Mom and Dad hadn’t taken you in, who knows what kind of gutter life you’d be living now? Eliza, you should be grateful. Every cent they spent on you over the last eighteen years–you owe it all back, because none of it belonged to you!”
“Grateful…”
Eliza repeated the word softly, like it was a cruel joke.
Grateful for what?
For never once feeling loved? For growing up walking on eggshells and still being met with cold indifference and criticism?
For being sacrificed in her past life–pushed out to take the fall for Naomi?
She had died thinking it was her fault they didn’t love her.
Now, she finally understood.
She was never their daughter to begin with.
No wonder. No wonder their eyes had always looked past her.
A sharp laugh burst from Eliza’s lips.
It made Evelyn’s stomach twist, but she still forced herself to bark, “Naomi’s right! We raised you! You owe us! After everything we did for you, this is how you repay us? Smashing up our home?! Fine! If you give us the money you made, we’ll let bygones be bygones. But if you walk out now, we’re calling the police!”
Disgust crawled across Eliza’s face as her hand clenched into a fist.
At that moment, a large hand closed gently over hers.
Nolan.
His voice came cold and unwavering: “Tear the Rivers family down.”
The guards looked at each other, unsure.
“I said tear it down.”
The command landed like a hammer. The guards snapped to attention. “Yes, sir!”
They charged upstairs.
Nathan lunged forward to stop them, but Nolan’s men blocked his path.
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“Call the police! Now!”
Nathan scrambled for his phone–only for Nolan to grab it and toss it to the floor.
“Who the hell are you?! This is my house! Who are your parents?! Give me that phone!”
“You’re not even qualified to know who I am.”
Nolan seized Eliza’s hand. “We’re leaving.”
Evelyn lunged, blocking their way. “Eliza! You can’t just leave! You trashed our house! Make them stop!”
But before anyone could answer, a man in a suit walked through the door.
“Sir,” the man greeted Nolan.
“Handle this.”
“Yes, sir.”
At the sight of the lawyer, the Rivers family’s faces drained of color.
Just as Eliza stepped out, she paused and turned back.
“Wait for it. Your family’s bad luck is just beginning.”
Nathan’s face contorted. “Eliza! What are you trying to say? What are you planning?!”
Before he could finish, Nolan had already led her out. The guards upstairs followed shortly behind.
“Darling… what does she mean? She’s not really going to try to destroy us, is she?” Evelyn asked, her voice shaking.
If she was serious…
Would the Rivers family end up like the Holt family?
“Mom, don’t be ridiculous! What kind of power could Eliza possibly have? I don’t believe she could do anything. She’s just bluffing!” Naomi snapped.
But even she didn’t sound fully convinced.
The lawyer stepped forward calmly. “We’ll be sending a formal compensation plan for the damages to your property within the next two days.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed as he spotted the insignia pinned to the lawyer’s chest–Hayes family crest.
His heart sank.
So the man who had stood beside Eliza… was the heir to the Hayes family?
Who would dare demand compensation from them?
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Chapter 171 The Truth Burns
“Fine, then! We’ll tally up every single broken item! You’ll get the full damage report!”
Finished
Evelyn was seething. Her priceless collectibles, her cherished antiques, the damage on the second floor- they wouldn’t just let this go.
But the lawyer merely replied, “We’ll conduct our own professional assessment. If your compensation demand doesn’t match ours, we’ll proceed with legal action–for extortion.”
That shut Nathan up completely.
Everyone in their circle knew: when the Hayes family set their sights on someone, they never failed.
“You… you can’t do this! You’re the ones who started it!” Evelyn screamed, on the verge of hysterics.
But the lawyer and the rest simply turned and left.
“Darling, we can’t just let them walk all over us. Do something!”
Nathan could only clutch his aching head, already overwhelmed.
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