Back in Norava, Amelia took out her mother’s last letter to read again.
In her previous life, when she and Zachary went to William to claim the inheritance, there was only the safe deposit box, but she had no idea there was a letter inside.
‘Could my travelling back in time have changed the inheritance itself? That’s impossible…‘ Amelia thought. ‘My background couldn’t have just changed out of nowhere. So, did Zachary take the letter and hide it from me?‘
Amelia racked her brain, trying to remember. Suddenly, she recalled that Walter had also been there the day she claimed the inheritance in her previous life.
‘He was even holding the tiara, putting on a show with a few cal
tears. It was him. He took the letter!‘ The realization finally dawned on Amelia.
Her hatred burned even fiercer in her heart.
“Don’t be sad,” Landon said as he gently patted her hand, thinking she was missing her mother. “From now on, you have your husband and brother by your side.”
“Yeah, having you two is all I need.” Amelia carefully tucked the letter away. “I’ve figured out how Zachary died.”
“Huh?” Landon’s heart skipped a few beats, a wave of unease washing over him.
‘Did she find out Porter is in Pinecrest?‘ Landon wondered.
“Zachary tracked down William for the tiara,” Amelia explained, “but someone was trying to block me from uncovering the truth and killed him.”
Landon secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, ‘Thank God, she didn’t connect this to Porter.‘
“But I’m so curious about the person who fired the gun. Walter is in prison. Who could have hired a killer?” Amelia frowned, still pondering.
Landon, terrified she might guess the truth, quickly interjected, “Carlo killed Zachary. He got what he deserved, so stop overthinking it.”
“Carlo?” Amelia gasped. “He has a gun?”
She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘If we ever face off again, will my hidden blades even stand a chance? No, that’s not enough. I need to learn how to handle a gun, too. I’ll have Landon get me one…‘
Landon looked at his timid–yet–brave wife with amusement and said, “He’s gone. He won’t come and bother us anymore.”
“What?” Amelia gasped again, startled.
“I taught him a lesson he won’t forget,” Landon said flatly.
Not knowing what to say, Amelia placed a hand on her chest and snuggled into Landon’s arms.
‘These past few days have been like a total rollercoaster,‘ she thought. ‘So many shocks and surprises. What a wild ride! Surely things will be smooth sailing from now on, right?”
“Daniel’s coming back tomorrow. I’ll let him get checked out,” Amelia said, her voice laced with concern.
“Okay, I’ll make the arrangements,” Landon said.
Daniel was still sitting alone in the coffee shop at ten o’clock at night.
Lost in thought, his handsome face was tinged with melancholy.
1/3
Chapter 166
The place was closing up. All the other customers had left. He was the only one left.
The manager of the coffee shop walked to
and said, “Sir, we’re-”
“Wait.” As the manager was about to step forward and ask Daniel to leave, a woman in a beige trench coat strode into the café and interrupted him.
It was none other than Giovanna.
The manager turned to her and said, “Miss, we’re about to close.”
“Stay open late tonight. You can take tomorrow off,” Giovanna said.
The manager looked stunned. “And you are?”
“A relative of the owner. I’ll let him know,” Giovanna replied.
“Understood, thank you,” the manager said and left.
Giovanna ordered a coffee and sat across from Daniel.
“Giovanna?” Daniel gasped, instinctively straightening up.
‘Oh, the tyranny of family hierarchy strikes again…‘ Daniel thought.
Giovanna gave him a measured glance while stirring her coffee. “How much longer are you planning to sit here?”
“I’ll head back tomorrow.” Daniel looked around warily. “Giovanna, what brings you here?”
“I’m here for Amy,” Giovanna said.
Daniel relaxed slightly. “Grandfather… What does he say?”
“Of course, the Hughes family will take care of their kids,” Giovanna said with a cold laugh.
“Don’t worry, Giovanna. I won’t tell others about Amy’s background. I’ll let her and Landon live their quiet life in Norava,” Daniel said reassuringly.
Giovanna’s smile grew even colder. “With the Kington Gang involved now, do you think she can still have a peaceful life?”
“What?” Daniel’s expression instantly darkened.
Giovanna took a sip of coffee, set the cup down, and fixed Daniel with a steady gaze. “Daniel, you’d better start preparing yourself. Your stepmother won’t give up without a fight.”
“Landon has pretty much dealt with the Meyers family. When I get back, I’ll send Joanna out to rest,” Daniel said.
‘I’ve seized most of the power in the Zuckerberg family. It’s time to let Joanna retire,‘ Daniel thought.
Giovanna asked, “Do you miss your dad?”
Disgust flashed in Daniel’s eyes as he turned his head away sharply. “No!”
“Do you hate him that much?” Giovanna asked.
“How can I not hate him?” Daniel let out two bitter laughs, raising his eyes to meet Giovanna’s gaze directly. “Giovanna, you’re acting strange today. Have you seen him?”
Giovanna nodded. “Yeah.”
Daniel hesitated, then asked, “So, about Amy’s true parentage…”
2/3
08:05 Tue, 24 Jun
Chapter 166
“What parentage?” Giovanna asked.
Daniel took a deep breath and said, “Amy is my full–blooded sister.”
Giovanna’s eyes went wide with shock.
‘That’s not what Porter told me the other night,‘ she thought. ‘All this time, I thought Amy was Aunt Catherine’s child with Caesar!
“He’s a coward, a spineless coward who couldn’t even protect his wife and child!” Daniel spat bitterly. “It was bad enough that I ended up in my stepmother’s clutches, but how could he just stand by and watch Amy suffer under her foster parents?”
Giovanna said, “Maybe he didn’t know Amy was being mistreated…”
“That’s still no excuse for abandoning his wife and daughter.” Daniel’s voice rose with emotion, his head beginning to throb again.
He pressed his temples, exhaustion washing over him. “Giovanna, I can’t talk about this anymore,” he said wearily.
“Alright.” Giovanna elegantly crossed her legs. “I’m heading back to Lunova tomorrow. What about you?”
“I’ll go back to Norava to see Amy first and put off returning to Lunova for a few days,” Daniel said. He couldn’t help but think of Edith as he spoke.
‘I can’t believe the pampered lady from the Meyers family is going to teach piano in a backwater like Pinecrest,‘ Daniel thought..
“Suit yourself,” Giovanna said, not pressing him further. “You haven’t come home in years. Come back and visit when you have time. Grandfather misses you very much.”
“Alright.” Daniel let out a long, heavy sigh, as if expelling years of pent–up frustration.
He had deliberately kept his distance from the Hughes family to avoid raising Joanna’s suspicions all these years.
‘Now, it’s finally time to return and make amends with Grandfather,‘ Daniel thought.
Daniel’s head still throbbed with a dull ache. He lifted his hand to press his temples again.
Giovanna finally noticed something was wrong. She asked with concern, “Is your head okay?”
“It hurts…” Daniel murmured weakly.
“Still hurts?” Giovanna’s face turned pale. She shot to her feet and reached for Daniel’s pulse.
Daniel brushed her hand away dismissively, but suddenly, his vision went black, and his arm dropped limply to his side.
“Daniel! Daniel!” Giovanna called anxiously.
Daniel felt Giovanna’s frantic cries grow distant as darkness swallowed his consciousness.
AD
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