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But I felt no pity—just satisfaction.
“You can’t handle one betrayal? I spent my whole life being forced to apologize to the real culprit, thanking you for your so - called ‘help’ while you made me sick to my stomach. Ever stop to think how humiliated I was?”
He looked guilty.“I was just fooled by Lily,thinking you did those things.”
“No,you never gave me a modicum of trust or considered my feelings.Stay away,Ethan,or I’ll hit you harder.”
I left with Lucas,ignoring Ethan’s reaction.
Lucas was in high spirits,humming and insisting on treating me to dinner.
He dragged me shopping,claiming it was for his sister,but lavished me with clothes, bags, and jewelry.
“Little coward’s growing a spine—congrats on dumping the scoundrel!”
Perhaps because he’d realized the situation or was afraid of my retaliation, Ethan stopped bothering me.
I had half a month of peace,but reclaiming my parents’estate hit snags.
Auntie made a scene,refusing to comply with the court.
Uncle claimed he couldn’t control her,as the money and house were in her name—he just didn’t want to pay.
They even procrastinated on Grandma’s surgery fund.
Lily’s car sold for$20,000,leaving$10,000—equivalent to half a year of Grandma’s pension—but they stalled.
Grandma,furious,didn’t survive her surgery.
Without her forgiveness,Lily’s sentence for theft and defamation was heavy.
Uncle and Auntie spent over$100,000 bribing judicial and police official,only to be scammed.
They reported it,but the scammer vanished.
The couple fought daily,even coming to blows.
Auntie ended up in the hospital for days.
But it didn’t change the verdict.
Lily got twelve years.
On sentencing day,Lily’s voice broke from crying,her legs too weak to walk—she was dragged away.
Uncle was soulless,Auntie fainted twice,and their home was shrouded in gloom.
With Lucas,I went to their house.
“When are you returning the house and money?”I asked.
Auntie,seeing me collect,turned red with rage.
“You’re like a debt - collecting ghost!You sent Lily to prison,ruined her life,and now you’re stealing our house and money?Are you human?”
She glared,ready to hit me.
Ethan would’ve taken the hit,apologized,and paid.
But Lucas shoved her back,stepping in front,angrier than me.
“You’ve lied so much,you believe it.Lily stole and got what she deserved—what does that have to do with Zoe?The house and money are hers.You’ve lived off her inheritance for years without paying rent or interest,and you think it’s yours?Have some shame!”
Uncle,seeing Lucas wasn’t as soft as Ethan,acted like a victim.“Zoe,we raised you.Are you really driving us to ruin?”
I stepped forward.“I’m simply taking back what’s rightfully mine. What’s the big deal?”
They wouldn’t pay,so I filed for court enforcement.
I made a slideshow of their actions—stealing my inheritance,slandering and assaulting me,bribing officials—and posted it online,reporting them to their workplace.
Their crimes were severe,and both were fired.
My parents’house was transferred to me.
Uncle and Auntie’s savings,spent on Lily’s case,were gone.Their house was auctioned for$150,000,which went to my account.
They were left with barely$4,000,facing a bleak future.
Ethan,used to my obedience,failed in new relationships.
He tried to win me back.
I leaked his schemes against his dad and brother and reported his company for tax evasion.
He confronted me, looking completely broken.“Why?I gave you everything—how could you do this?”
“Because you’re scum.”
I blocked him.
Swamped with family and company issues,he left me alone.
I dated Lucas for three years,finding we clicked,and we got engaged.
On our wedding day,Ethan’s company declared bankruptcy.
A perfect wedding gift.
