Chapter 169 A Necessary Reckoning
Nolan’s grip was strong–too strong for Zayden to resist. He had no choice but to let go of Eliza.
“You’re out of chances,” Nolan said coldly.
Then he turned, gently pulling Eliza with him. “Let’s go.”
Eliza followed without hesitation, not once looking back at Zayden.
Finished
As they stepped out of the hospital, she said softly, “Even if you hadn’t said that, I wouldn’t have given him another chance.”
“Mm.”
Nolan didn’t look at her. His mood was unreadable, and his driving was noticeably faster than usual.
“Can you take me somewhere?”
“Where?”
“I want to go to the Rivers family’s house. I have some questions I need answered.”
Nolan didn’t object.
Meanwhile, inside the Rivers household, Evelyn had already gotten word of Grace’s death.
News of the Holt family’s downfall was exploding across the media. Headlines accused Grace of attempted kidnapping, extortion, and reckless driving that resulted in a fatal crash. Journalists swarmed for details, eager to ride the wave of scandal.
“She’s dead… she’s really dead! What about our money?” Evelyn’s face went pale with panic.
Their company had been crumbling for weeks. Someone had clearly been sabotaging the Rivers family behind the scenes.
The flu epidemic had already put the business on the brink–now it looked like they might fall off the edge.
“Mom, is the Holt family really done for?” Naomi asked, worried.
She had never fallen out with Zayden completely, hoping one day the Holt family would make a comeback so she could still marry into wealth.
But with Grace dead, that dream had gone up in smoke.
She didn’t believe Zayden alone could save the company.
“Of course it’s over! That mother and son–what a pair of disasters. If I’d known this would happen, we should’ve let that worthless Eliza marry him instead!”
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She froze.
Eliza walked in like she owned the place.
“You’ve got some nerve, Eliza!” Evelyn snapped, storming forward with her hand raised.
But she didn’t get the chance to strike.
A team of bodyguards filed in behind Eliza, and Nolan appeared at her back.
The sight of the Hayes heir instantly silenced Evelyn’s bluster. She backed down almost reflexively.
“M–Mr. Nolan? Aren’t you supposed to have nothing to do with Eliza? Why are you always showing up her?”
for
Evelyn sneered, grasping for some ground. “I’m warning you—this girl is clever. She might be using you for your name.”
Eliza stepped forward, smiling coldly. “Let’s stop playing nice, shall we?”
She raised the electric baton in her hand and brought it down hard on the glass coffee table.
The crash echoed through the house as glass shattered everywhere.
“Ah!” Evelyn jumped back, startled. Even Naomi turned ghost–pale.
“Eliza! What the hell are you doing?! Who gave you the right to wreck things?”
“Oh, was this table cheap?” Eliza asked coolly. Then, without blinking, she turned and smashed a nearby antique vase to pieces.
“My vase! That was an antique! You little psycho–what’s wrong with you? You want me to call the cops?”
Evelyn’s fury shook her voice.
Eliza remained unfazed. “You didn’t seem so calm yesterday when you were yelling outside my place.”
“What do you want, huh? You barge in here with a bunch of men, drag Mr. Nolan along to clean up your mess–don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”
“This has nothing to do with you,” Eliza cut in. “I’m here to talk to my mother.”
She turned to Evelyn with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Mom. Who told you my address yesterday?”
The question made Evelyn’s face twitch. She paused–just for a moment–but recovered quickly.
“What’s it matter? I’m your mother. Why wouldn’t I know where my own daughter lives? And don’t forget, the only reason you got to start those businesses is because of the money we gave you. Now that the family’s struggling, it’s time you handed everything over to your father. A girl like you has no business
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Chapter 169 A Necessary Reckoning
running companies. It’s embarrassing!”
Eliza’s expression turned cold. “So you’re not going to tell me.”
Without another word, she swung the baton and smashed the flat–screen TV.
Naomi shrieked. “Eliza! Are you insane?! Are you trying to destroy the whole house?!”
“Exactly.”
Eliza’s voice was steady, almost cheerful.
Finished
“I asked nicely. You didn’t answer. So now we do it my way. If you still don’t talk, my bodyguards are going to tear this place apart.”
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