Chapter 123
123 Public Execution
Finished
“You Joyners really are something. Raising a girl to this level with your resources? That’s already more than generous.”
“You didn’t even need to bother with her anymore.”
“Exactly! She took off with your family’s things honestly, you should’ve just called the cops.
Martha let out a sigh.
“She’s not my biological daughter, but we lived together for so many years… I couldn’t just cut her off.”
“That’s what she’s banking on. She knows you care, so she walks all over you.”
“She used your family’s resources to pull off that big experiment and take the top spot at the medical conference.”
“I heard the Joyners‘ real daughter, Rebecca, tried to make it on her own – and that’s why she failed.”
“Selfish and disgusting. No conscience at all.”
Hearing this chorus of sympathy, Martha relaxed slightly.
Getting those jewels from her? Not so easy. Today, she wasn’t just going to destroy Scarlett’s name – she was going to use those jewels to trap her, to force her into helping Rebecca.
“Thank you all for speaking up. It means a lot. But Scarlett… she doesn’t want to see me anymore, and I…”
Her voice choked up. She leaned into Franklin, looking as if she might collapse at any second.
“Who said I didn’t want to see you?“.
A taxi pulled up to the school gates. The car door opened, and Scarlett stepped out in casual clothes, looking crisp and confident.
“Scarlett’s here!”
“What’s she doing? Coming to beg for stuff?”
“I heard she cut ties with the Joyners. Maybe she’s just pushing them to come crawling back and apologize.”
“What kind of person treats the family that raised her like that? No matter how smart she is, she’s rotten inside.”
“If the Joyners ever stop backing her, she’s no different from a beggar on the street.”
“Scarlett!”
Martha froze for a beat, then rushed toward her.
“You’re here! Thank God. I couldn’t find you anywhere, I was so worried. Maybe I was too focused on Rebecca before, and I neglected you. I’m sorry for that. Please don’t be angry anymore. Come home with
we’re still a family, aren’t we?”
me
—
Scarlett sidestepped her reaching hand, backing up just enough to maintain polite distance.
1/3
123 Public Execution
“No, we’re not,”
Her blunt rejection caused an instant uproar.
“She’s been waiting all morning for you! And you’re still acting like this?”
“Just because you’ve got some success now doesn’t mean you can possible
“The Joyners are too kind for their own good.”
Martha, eyes brimming with tears, seized the moment,
42.3341
Finished
urn your back on the people who made it
“Scarlett, you can’t keep taking your resentment out on Rebecca. She’s in lockup right now because of you. But I’m not blaming you I’m just worried about your mental state. We’ve even arranged for a therapist back home. We want to make sure you’re getting the care you need.”
The implication was clear: her biological daughter was sitting in a jail cell, and yet she was willing to put Scarlett’s wellbeing first.
And in the medical field? No one trusts a researcher with mental issues.
Scarlett let out a short laugh. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the ꜰindηovel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access s of novels early and in the highest quality.
“Maybe the ones with psychological problems are all of you. Rebecca gets hauled into a detention center, and somehow that’s my fault? You think I’ve got that much power over the justice system?”
That line landed. A few murmurs started among the crowd.
“She’s right. People don’t get arrested without evidence. If it’s just a misunderstanding, she’ll be out soon anyway. Shouldn’t the Joyners be focused on fixing that instead of dragging this girl back?”
“I thought it was admirable that they cared about their adopted daughter more than their biological one, but now this is getting weird.”
Martha’s expression faltered. She could feel the mood shifting.
Oliver stepped in front of her, shooting Scarlett a cold glance.
“We all know Rebecca’s innocent. She’ll be out soon. But we’re more worried about you. Come home with us, and we’ll let the past go.”
Scarlett stared at him, amused.
Back when she lived with them, Oliver used his hacking skills to constantly snoop through her computer. Most of her experimental project ideas had been leaked to Rebecca- cleanly, too. There was never any evidence. Even when Rebecca smeared her name with lies, he must have seen the truth. But he still chose to
take Rebecca’s side.
They were siblings – that was expected.
But not at the cost of stabbing her in the back.
“Let the past go? I’m not that noble. I hold grudges. I’m petty like that.”