The True Heiress's Return

Shakira typed back: [Weren't you confident about it?]

Xanthe replied quickly: [Who knows? Damn it, Yvette's grandpa actually has a favor from Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce has worked with my family so many times, and to return the favor, he turned us down!] Yvette's grandpa?' A A fleeting cold glint crossed Shakira's eyes. Meanwhile, the impatient Xanthe couldn't wait any longer and called her.

Shakira had no choice but to pick up.

As soon as she answered, Xanthe's panicked scream blasted through the phone, "Ahhh, Shakira, what do I do? I'm going to explode! I can already picture Yvette's smug face!"

Shakira

quietly moved the phone away from her ear. That screech was terrifying. "Stay calm."

Xanthe was anything but calm. "Can't you just panic a bit?"

Shakira smiled lightly, "There's no point in panicking, and Mr. Sullivan gave up that quickly?"

"The old

The I man did say he wants to to keep trying, but I just don't think there's much hope. The Smith family not only has connections but also the Nelson family backing them up. Even a fool would pick them." Well, you're just boosting someone else's ego and killing your own spirit. Not my problem."

Before Xanthe could freak out again, Shakira chuckled, "Have your uncle keep trying. Whether it works or not, just getting under Lago's skin is good enough."

"What good would that do? When they land the project, they'll probably come back and laugh at my dad!"

The taxi sped through the streets of Crescentville. Neon lights flashed by the window, casting shifting shadows on Shakira's face.

Her voice dropped a little, hiding deep emotions. "Lago won't land the project. Just rile him up, put some competitive pressure on him to increase his investment costs, and he'll end up with nothing." Xanthe was confused. "What do you mean? I don't get it."

"Not

t understanding is probably for the best. Just act cute with Mr. Sullivan-that's your job. As for Mr. Sullivan's business, who knows? He might even get lucky and hear good news."

"Huh?"

Shakira didn't care if Xanthe understood. She hung up and messaged Sean, then turned to look out the window.

She rolled down half the window, and the warm summer breeze flowed in, feeling great Shakira lifted her hand, letting her fingers savor the realness of the moment. It felt good to be alive... She intended to get everything back from those who wronged her in her past life, one by one, with interest!

*****

When the three of them got home, Mitchell jumped up from the living room where he'd been anxiously waiting. "Dad, Finn, what happened?"

Yvette followed behind, looking downcast, and couldn't help but quietly complain, "Mitchell, don't let your sister fool you..."

O

Mitchell looked at her. "What do you mean?"

Rebecca and Selena also turned their curious gazes towards her

Yvette bit her lip, her eyes red, and glanced nervously at Finn.

Finn took off his gold-rimmed glasses, rubbing his tired eyes, and quickly summarized what happened.

After hearing him out, Selena was the first to lean on her cane and angrily shout, "This is ridiculous! This troublemaker just won't let us go! I knew she wouldn't easily cut ties with us; she's just trying to wear us down!"

I

"Oh dear, how did we end up with such a jinx? If I had known, we shouldn't have let her grow up!" Rebecca looked a bit Ia bit embarrassed, biting her lip in silence, her face showing anger.

Cody remained serious. "She's just a girl; she can't cause much trouble."

But Mitchell didn't believe that. Similar things had happened too many times before... Every time, they had misunderstood her. This time, instead of joining his family in resenting and doubting Shakira, he believed in her even more. wanted to say something else, but Cody shot him a look. "Business decisions are up to Finn. Stay out of it!" As the eldest brother, Finn said to the gloomy Mitchell, "Come with me." The two brothers went to sit in the pavilion in the backyard. and I looked at his younger brother, curious. "Why are you defending Shakira this time?" believe in her "

Michas much colder a

Finn was

"I just... believe a blind decisions isn't wise."

Mitchell, making blind

"I know, but Finn, don't you find it suspicious?" Mitchell couldn't help but point out, "Shakira is so smart; she's not dumb. If she wanted to hurt our family, she could do it without leaving a trace, so why be so obvious?"

Finn frowned, saying nothing.

Mitchell continued, "And she said it was to return a favor that she told me. I only helped her by chance; if I hadn't gone to her, she might not have given me a hint. Maybe this project really does have issues?" Finn thought for a moment before speaking softly, "I had strong feelings about this project, but after tonight, I've definitely got more doubts." Mitchell pressed for the reason.

Finn shook his head, showing some helplessness on his face. "Like you, it's just a gut feeling." "What?"

"I've never really dealt with Yvette's biological parents. This collaboration is my first time getting deep into it. He came to my office a few times before, and I didn't like the look in his eyes-there's always this greed. And tonight, at the dinner, he was way too eager to please, trying too hard. From my years of experience in business, he seems all about the money and doesn't care about anything else. Sure, having a partner like that might bring in some quick profits, but for long-term -collaboration, you've got to be on guard around someone ke him." Mitchell blurted out, "Finn, you think Lago's not trustworthy too, right?"

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Finn raised an eyebrow. "Really? When have you dealt with him?

Mitchell almost bit his tongue. He nearly let slip about Yvette... He can't tell Finn that Lago has been secretly giving Yvette

M

Shakira's stuff. "I, I can just see it, Finn. We're brothers after all; I can read people pretty well!"

Finn quipped. "You can read people? News to me!"

Mitchell thought, 'Why does Finn's tone sou

just back out of the deal?"

3

just like Shakira's "Since you think Lago's not trustworthy, maybe we should

Finn didn't reply right away, just said, "Let's wait and see." After a moment, he seemed curious, "Weren't you always not fond of Shakira? Why the sudden interest now?"

now?"

princely that I'm interested. I just... feel sorry for her." His voice caught, and he

Mitchell's expression shifted awkwardly, "It's not sounded a bit down, "Yvette is like a litt With foster parents like Lago and Jessie, it's

in our house, but Shakira has never had a good life in the Smith family. no she's got a bad attitude and is rebellious."

onde

Finn was surprised that Mitchell was trying to empathize with Shakira. This was something the pampered younger brother had never done before. He thought for a moment and replied, "I get what you mean. I'll think it over."

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