Chapter 20
In Zoey’s mind, rich people from prestigious families all lived in huge mansions or sprawling estates. Who would live in a high–rise apartment complex? After a pause, Zoey added, “Besides, Mr. Horton, you’re always so busy. You’re nothing like those rich people I saw on TV”
Walking beside her on the sidewalk and holding her hand, Levi smiled even brighter at her comment, “Oh? How am I different?”
She replied, “Look, rich people on TV never work. They’re always busy fighting over inheritances, looking for illegitimate kids, or dealing with mistresses. But none of that happens around you.”
Zoey thought back to the over–the–top dramas she had seen–none of them fit Levi. He had a regular job and didn’t spend his days orbiting the heroine’s life like some billionaires.
Plus, when she attended his family gatherings, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, nothing like those TV dramas where siblings turned against each other and fought for wealth.
So, she couldn’t believe she’d gotten so lucky to marry a stranger in a flash wedding, only to find out he was some kind of famous tycoon. That was just something out of novels. No way that would happen in real life.
Levi shook his head helplessly and said, “You should cut back on those dramas. They’re not good for your eyes.”
Zoey playfully stuck out her tongue and replied, “I see.” It wasn’t like she could watch them right now anyway. She mostly just played them to listen while doing other things.
Levi had expected Zoey to be upset, maybe even crying after being slandered. But to his surprise, she seemed to be in good spirits, and she even hummed a tune on their way home. Surprisingly, he asked, “Aren’t you bothered by the rumors?”
“Not at all. It’s all lies. Lies will never become truth,” Zoey said confidently and stood a little straighter.
“But what about the people who misunderstand you?” Levi asked, curious about her nonchalant attitude.
Zoey shrugged it off and said, “As long as the people I care about believe me, I don’t mind what the others think. They can think whatever they
want.”
Levi’s gaze lingered on her for a couple of extra seconds, and his smile deepened. ‘Looks like she’s not as clueless as she seems,‘ he thought. ‘She’s got more sense than most people.
Two days later, news spread that Aiden had been forced to leave the school. Most people were thrilled by it, and another round of discussion started in the group chat.
[He deserves it. He slandered Zoey without knowing the truth, and we all got dragged into it and scolded by our advisors.]
[Seriously, what kind of grudge does he even have against Zoey to spread such nasty rumors? What a low move.]
[Who would ever want to be friends with someone like him? Definitely not me. I’m worried he’ll stab me in the back and spread lies about me next,] another girl commented.
Aiden hadn’t left the group chat yet, and when he saw the flood of messages, his face turned livid with anger. He blamed everything on Zoey.
‘It’s all Zoey’s fault. All I did was post a few things. Did I really deserve to be kicked out of school for that? Who’s backing her up? Who’s protecting her like this?‘ he thought bitterly.
Aiden messaged Ellie: [What’s Zoey’s deal? Is someone backing her up?]
Ellie: [What? No way. She’s just some poor country girl. How could she have anyone back her up?]
Aiden: [But I just got expelled. What am I supposed to do now? If my dad finds out, he’s gonna kill me.]
Ellie: [If you can get Zoey kicked out of Brandor, I promise I’ll take care of your school situation.]
Aiden didn’t know Ellie’s true background. He believed she was the biological daughter of the Cooper family. And if someone from the Cooper family spoke up for him, his dad probably wouldn’t be too hard on him.
After thinking it over, Aiden’s eyes glinted with malice. He replied: [You can count on me. This time, I’ll make sure she’s out of the university for good. She got me expelled, and I’ll make sure she pays, I swear!]
Ellie felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her as she read his message. Lately, she hadn’t been sleeping well. Zoey’s face kept haunting her dreams because Zoey looked far too much like her adoptive mother.
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Chapter 20
Ellie had only been adopted by the Cooper family because she bore a slight resemblance to their real daughter. That resemblance had gotten her out of the orphanage and into a life of luxury. But she didn’t even want to think about what would happen if the Coopers’s real daughter came back.
If that day came, her adoptive parents would care less for her, her already cold brother would despise her even more, and she might be thrown out of the Cooper family to be a nobody.
The mere thought of it drove Ellie to the edge of madness. She couldn’t go back to that life–she refused to live in poverty or as an ordinary person. She had to be the only daughter of the Cooper family. So she must kick Zoey out of the city and the Coopers‘ lives forever.
Zoey had no idea that someone was plotting against her. Right now, she was more concerned with how to convince Levi to stop buying her all these expensive supplements. She said to Levi, “Mr. Horton, you need to support the family, so just don’t waste it on me.”
Levi was reading a cutting–edge financial report. When he heard her, he glanced up and said coolly, “It’s a waste? I don’t think so.”
Zoey sat at the dining table, all prim and proper, looking like a kid afraid of getting in trouble. In front of her was a bottle of nutrient drink, flown in from overseas.
She thought it was just something Levi had someone casually pick up, but what she didn’t know was that the formula had been specially made for her, based on her health report.
Zoey pouted and complained, “But it tastes really awful.” She had just taken a sip through the straw and immediately scrunched up her face from the bitterness. If Levi weren’t sitting across from her, she probably would’ve spit it out.
“It’s good for your body, you know? You’ll recover faster with this,” Levi said casually.
“Can I just stick to drinking goat milk?” she pleaded. Goat milk had a strong flavor too, but it was way better than the bitter nutrient drink.
Levi put down his magazine and looked at her with interest. He then replied in a firm tone, “No.”
Zoey looked like she’d lost all hope in life. Seeing her expression, Levi flashed a brief grin, but he immediately put on a stern face. “Regret eating too little food, huh?”
Levi thought, ‘She’s been deprived of proper nutrition for over a decade, and with how little she eats, when can she ever catch up?”
“I promise I’ll eat more healthy food, okay?” Zoey pleaded while blinking her eyes.
“This is what the doctor recommended. It’s good for your eyes too, so keep drinking it,” Levi said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
With a resigned sigh, Zoey mumbled, “Fine.” Giving up on the straw, she pinched her nose and downed the entire glass of nutrient drink in one go. The moment she finished, she ran to the kitchen and gulped down a big glass of orange juice to wash away the taste.
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