Mia had been staking out the neighborhood for what felt like an eternity since she returned to the States, without taking a single day off.


    She couldn''t get into her brother''s mansion, so she camped out at hispany, figuring Zoey would eventually show up to meet someone there, given her once-close rtionship with Maja. Fate finally smiled on her relentless efforts when she spotted Zoey.


    Before Zoey could even react, she saw a woman striding quickly towards her and dousing her with a cup of coffee.


    "You think you can hide with that scum? Let me tell you, even if you bore my brother a child, the Haskins family will never ept you. Back in the day, you were so pathetic, begging for my brother''s love like a lost puppy. And what did he do? He personally had you thrown into jail. Oh, how miserable you must have been! It''s a pity, really. He doesn''t love you. If it weren''t for Nn, that little bastard you birthed, he would have forgotten about you years ago. You think he''s had a change of heart? No, he just doesn''t want Nn to grow up motherless. You''re nothing but a tool!"


    Mia spat out her venomous words, her eyes filled with malice as she red at Zoey.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    All Zoey could smell was the aroma of the coffee, her mind buzzing.


    Despite the chaos around her, she clearly heard every word Mia said.


    Standing beside Mia was ady, the same one who had visited the other day.


    Sharon, sighing, grabbed Mia''s hand.


    "Mia, why did youe back here? Your brother told you not to stir up trouble with her. I despise her too, but with your current situation, I''m worried he might send you away again."


    "Mom, what''s there to be afraid of? Even if my brother sends me away, I''ll live the high life abroad. But this lowlife? How does she even dare to step foot into the Haskins family? I just want to make it clear to her that, child or no child, she''s nothing but scum!"


    Mia, fueled by rage, grabbed a vase nearby, aiming to smash it over Zoey''s head.


    Zoey, however, was quicker,nding a kick in Mia''s stomach.


    Why should she tolerate coffee being thrown at her or any physical assault?


    Clearly, Mia hadn''t expected Zoey to fight back. She stumbled back,


    die dreng from the paine


    disbelief in her eyes.


    Wo


    Zoey grabbed some napkins to wipe the coffee stains off her hair.


    Seeing her daughter hit, Sharon was furious and raised her hand.


    "You lowlife! Do you know who you just hit?"


    Before she could finish, she was pped across the face.


    Zoey, not satisfied with just one p, delivered another.


    Sharon, now with a swollen cheek, covered her face, never having felt so humiliated.


    Zoey smirked at her, "Who did I hit? Fitch''s sister? Fitch''s mother?"


    Sharon trembled with rage, "You know?


    somit ou know and you still ! The Hask bet


    to hit


    never acknowledge you!"


    Zoey wiped her palms clean of coffee stains.


    "Ma''am, I hit youst time too. I asked Fitch if it mattered, and he said you were just an irrelevant person."


    Sharon''s face paled at those words.


    Mia, having been kicked, struggled to get up.


    "Zoey, you darey hands on me! After being disgraced in the Haskins family, have you forgotten the p my brother gave you? How lowly you mere dog, while I am ady


    were,


    amere


    of high standing. How dare you


    strike me! I''ll kill you! I''ll kill you right here and now!"