Chapter 86


    Chapter 86


    But Zoe didn’t stop.


    Their parents watched her as sheunched into a rant about


    how cheap Grace was, how shameless she was to set foot


    in the designer store, and a litany of other grievances that


    sounded hollow at best. And of course shetched onto him


    writing Grace a check for millions.


    He hoped she cashed it.


    It was a sizable chunk of money and it could get her back on


    her feet.


    And it was probably the only gesture standing between him and Jason Reed breaking down the door to


    their house right


    now.


    “Mom!!!” Zoe railed. “He pped me! In public!”


    Sean knew the real root of the problem was that Zoe had taken a hit socially when Grace hadthe


    ident-they all did. And him hitting her… if that went viral, he’d all but kill his sister’s social life again.


    “I warned you,” Sean began,


    But Zoe went apeshit as soon as he said it, and he opted not


    to bother trying to reason with her.


    She was unreasonable even on her best days.


    Would Grace ept the money? he wondered again.


    That check was enough that it could be considered


    Not all of her injuries…


    That niggling voice came from the back of his psyche. Where at the oddest times he recalled the prison


    and everything that


    had befallen Grace.


    Punishments he himself had seen to.


    He didn’t feel guilty about things per say, but he did think that he could have left things alone, not


    encouraged Lily so much


    nor tried so hard to stay in the Reed Family’s good graces.


    But that was all in the past.


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    Not after today…


    “…it might not be a lot of money to us,” Zoe went on. “But that golddiggin bitch doesn’t deserve a


    penny!”


    “Sean, surely Zoe is mistaken. You wouldn’t make such a mistake,” Mrs. Stevens stared at her son


    anxiously.


    “You should ask Zoe what she did,” Sean replied instead. “She


    told Grace to choose a dress from the shop to buy for her


    and Grace chose a couture dress. I was just cleaning up Zoe’s


    mess.”


    “Just because she chose it, you had to give it to her?!” Zoe retorted insolently. “Brother, why didn’t you


    say that you still have feelings for Grace?”


    “I’m saving your life!” Sean shouted. He was itching to p his sister again.


    “Oh please.” Zoe’s hands shot to her hips. “What is Grace,


    the sanitation worker, going to do to me? Do you even hear yourself right now?”


    “That’s right. Sean, you’ve gone too far, hitting your sister


    because of Grace. That woman is a curse. If it weren’t for her,


    would our family have to be so wary of the Reed Family and afraid of offending them?” Of course his


    mom defended his


    sister. She always was her favorite.


    “Mom, it’s not what you think it is…”


    “Then what else could it be?” his mom replied. “That Grace is


    still unwilling to give up. You’re already getting married and


    she’s still inserting herself in your life? Trying to take your


    money!? How dare she!”


    His mom’s eyes were glowing with rage and he watched as


    she worked herself into a full-blown meltdown. Sean stood up abruptly. “Mom, why don’t you ask what


    Zoe did to Graceter? She intentionally tripped Grace and caused her to fall


    down the esctor!”


    “So what?” Madam Stevens said dismissively. “What’s the worst that could’ve happened? She got


    hurt? Big deal. The Stevens Family canpensate for any amount of medical fees. Did you really


    have to hit your sister over something like


    this?”


    Sean took a deep breath. He reminded himself that he had information that his family did not. If Grace


    wasn’t supported by Jason Reed, would he be agonizing over these things and going out of his way to


    help Grace? Probably not.


    But he couldn’t tell his family the truth, not without risking Jason Reed’s wrath-the one thing all of his


    efforts were


    intended to avoid.


    “We are better than this,” Sean said neutrally. “Should a video surface of Zoe intentionally tripping a


    woman down a flight of stairs, we will create a PR nightmare for Stevens Corporation!”


    “Oh, please. Do you think I’m stupid? I already paid to have


    the mall surveince deleted.” Zoe huffed. “And what about


    the situation you’re creating with Lily?” Zoe shot back.


    A fair point. “You just let me worry about my fiancee.” Sean


    turned back to his parents. “Anyway, Mom, Dad, look after


    Zoe. Don’t let her create any trouble…”


    Just then, his father’s phone rang suddenly. Dad answered


    the call and after listening for a few moments, his face


    immediately turned pale.


    “Dad, what happened?” Sean asked quietly.


    “The bank has suddenly closed on our loans,” his father said in


    a shaky voice.


    “How could this be? Didn’t the bank say that there wasn’t


    a problem before? Why don’t you call Bank Manager Chasetao?” his mom hastily suggested.


    “It’s no use. Bank Manager Chasetao was the one who called me,” his father replied.


    Sean took a deep breath.


    He needed to think. This situation called for damage control.


    He’d already tried to make good on his sister’s actions, but


    clearly it was not perceived that way. Maybe the slight


    would’ve gone unchecked but tripping her down the


    esctor… Zoe had gone too far.


    And, really, was his sister-and mother-so stupid to think that


    Grace couldn’t have died? She could have broken her neck or


    bled internally.


    Sean’s whole body broke into a cold sweat.


    Stopping the loans would impact the operating revenue and


    diminish the flow of funds for Stevens Group. Was this the


    bacsh?


    Or was Jason just beginning?