Chapter 156
Maisie left Norava with Joanna; Landon didn’t attempt to stop them. After all the power struggles, this was the best outcome for everyone involved.
Landon fixed Jonas with a steely gaze. “Jonas, start the treatment. Immediately.”
Jonas eagerly rushed over, eager to please. “Right away!” he said, appearing every bit the sycophant.
Amelia’s eye twitched. ‘Jonas isn’t that bad. It’s such a shame–a talented and handsome young man like him ended up as Kenneth’s lover. How did that happen?’ she wondered.
Joanna’s palm struck Maisie’s cheek sharply as they boarded the plane, her body finally having recovered from the antidote. Maisie clutched her face, her eyes filled with hurt. “Mom…”
Joanna’s face contorted with fury as she spat through clenched teeth, “Why did you come to Norava? You fool! Do you have any idea how much you’ve disrupted my plans?”
Although they were in the first-class cabin, it lacked privacy. Joanna’s outburst attracted uncomfortable glances from many of the other passengers.
“I wanted to remove Amelia from the situation so that Daniel wouldn’t have to keep worrying about her,” Maisie whispered.
Joanna asked, “What happened next?”
“I–I got myself into trouble…” Maisie mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Seeing Maisie’s innocent, pitiful expression only intensified Joanna’s anger. “How could I have given birth to such an idiot like you?”
“Mom, I’m sorry… I didn’t realize how powerful Landon was,” Maisie said, her head hung low.
“Who is Landon Kingsley, exactly?” Joanna asked. That impressive wheelchair, along with his agile skills, showed he was no ordinary man; if it weren’t for his legs, no one knew how formidable he would be if he ever made a full recovery.
“I’m not sure, but I feel like he’s not someone we should mess with,” Maisie said. “Mom, let’s just steer clear of him. Besides, Amelia isn’t planning to assert her status. Let’s act like she doesn’t exist!”
“Do you think the Hughes family will just sit back and do nothing? Eventually, they will force her to claim her status!” Joanna’s beautiful face twisted with venomous hatred.
Joanna continued, “Once the Hughes family identifies Amelia, the truth about Catherine faking her death will be revealed, leading to the ruin of our family’s reputation.”
“Dad’s already been baptized–what reputation is there left to worry about?” Maisie interjected. “Mom, just drop it!”
The mention of her husband only intensified Joanna’s resentment. She couldn’t comprehend what Catherine had that she didn’t. Porter would rather be baptized than spend another day with her.
“Mom, can’t we just live like this? You, me, Daniel, and Grandma–our family together in harmony…” pleaded Maisie.
“Harmony?” Joanna scoffed, curling her lips in derision as she glanced at Maisie like she was a fool. “Maisie, you’re far too naive! If we can’t keep Daniel in check, we’ll be left with nothing!”
“That won’t happen,” Maisie said, shaking her head. “Daniel loves me the most; he would never hurt us.”
“Such pathetic naivety!” Joanna thought as she realized she could no longer engage in the argument. Yet, she firmly refused to sit idly by. Everything in the Zuckerberg family belonged to her and Maisie.
Reading her mother’s icy stare, Maisie fell silent, guilt gnawing at her. She could only hope that Joanna would never uncover her true intention for coming to Norava–that she had walked into this trap on purpose, all for Daniel.
However, things didn’t unfold as she had anticipated. After joyfully returning home, before Maisie could even boast to Daniel, she was confronted by Tyler, whose face was dark with anger.
“Mais, have you lost your mind? You failed to steal the Velmira, so you staged your kidnapping?” Tyler said.
“What?” Joanna exclaimed, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
Tyler said, “I saw the footage and learned that Mais tried to steal Velmira a few days ago! When she failed, she flew to Norava and is staying in a presidential suite–she’s being treated well! It was all part of Mais’s plan! We were all fooled!”
“Maisie!” Joanna shouted in anger as she kicked her to the ground.
Maisie didn’t dodge the blow; instead, she dropped to her knees and defiantly declared, “Yes, it was my plan. I didn’t want Daniel to suffer!”
“Who is causing him so much pain? Edith loves him deeply,” Joanna said.
“Edith isn’t good enough for Daniel!” Maisie glared at Joanna, her eyes filled with pain. “Are you blind, Mom? They look ridiculous together! If Daniel marries her, he’ll be a laughingstock for life! You always say you treat him like your own son, so why are you pushing him to marry Edith?”
“Edith is warm-hearted and genuinely devoted to your brother,” Joanna explained.
“That’s right! Edith is kind, but you’re all just taking advantage of her kindness!” Maisie shouted, her voice raised.
“This isn’t about Edith’s happiness. You want her to marry into the Zuckerberg family and have a child, all for your gain!” Maisie fired the words in one breath, but it still wasn’t enough–her chest rose and fell with fury.
Joanna, who had plotted for years, was now trembling with rage–her ambitions exposed by just a few words from her daughter. Fortunately, there were no outsiders present; otherwise, her carefully crafted image as a good Samaritan would have been shattered.
“You’re all so terrible…” At that moment, a shaky voice pierced through the silence.
Joanna and Tyler’s faces went pale as they turned around. Edith had appeared without them noticing, her face ashen and her eyes filled with grief and anger. Gripping the doorframe, her curvy body swayed unsteadily, struggling to remain upright.
“Edith?” Joanna called out as she hurried towards the door.
“I hate all of you!” Edith cried out in deep distress before turning away and running off.
“Edith!” Joanna and Tyler rushed after her while Maisie sank to the cold floor, sobbing silently.
‘With Mom on one side and my brother on the other,’ she thought, ‘No matter who I choose to help, the other will end up resenting me. Why do the two people I love most have to be on opposite sides? Why does it have to be like this?’
“Mais.” A large hand rested on Maisie’s shoulder, causing her to jolt. She gasped between sobs, “Daniel, I’m sorry…”
“It’s not your fault. None of this is on you,” Daniel reassured her as he helped her up. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Daniel…” Maisie threw herself into Daniel’s arms, allowing her tears to flow freely.
Daniel gently comforted her, holding her close until her sobs faded. Then he whispered, “No matter the grudges between the adults, you will always be my sister.”
“Daniel…” Maisie sobbed.
“Amelia is also my sister,” Daniel said gently, using a tissue to dab her tears. “She called me and told me how grateful she is that you saved her.”
Maisie snorted with disdain and crossed her arms. “I don’t care about her gratitude.”
“Do you care about mine?” Daniel asked softly as he pulled a pink diamond necklace from his pocket.
Maisie’s eyes instantly sparkled with excitement. “Wow! Isn’t this the necklace I wanted at the auction?”
“It is.” Daniel nodded.
“But it wasn’t for sale! How did you get it?” Maisie admired the necklace from every angle, clearly delighted. ‘This necklace is truly one of a kind, just like the love Daniel has for me. My little stunt paid off!’ she thought.
“If my sister wants something, I’ll always find a way,” Daniel said affectionately.
Maisie felt that her relationship with Daniel had finally returned to what it was before Amelia arrived. She was filled with joy; however, whenever she thought about her family and Edith, a sense of unease washed over her.
“Daniel, now that you are finally free from their control, will you take action against the Meyers family?” she asked.
After all, that was her mother’s side of the family. Her grandmother and uncle had always treated her with such kindness–she honestly couldn’t imagine hurting them.
Daniel said, his expression becoming serious, “The Meyers family has offended Landon.”
Considering Landon’s ruthless methods, Maisie asked, “Daniel, who exactly is Landon Kingsley?”
“He’s probably someone we should all avoid,” Daniel reflected. “Just steer clear of him from now on.”
“As long as he doesn’t hurt Mom, I’ll keep my distance. Daniel, I don’t want to put you in a tough spot. I want you to be happy,” Maisie said gently.
“Yeah.” Daniel affectionately ruffled Maisie’s hair, just as he used to do when they were children.
Maisie could be headstrong yet compassionate, but she was the only one in the family who genuinely cared about him. After everything they had experienced together, she had finally matured.
“Alright,” Daniel said as he stood up. “You should get some rest. I’m going to check on Edith.”
Maisie grabbed his arm and said, “Daniel, please tell me you’re not falling for Edith!”
Daniel gave a wry smile. “Of course not. She’s simply an innocent soul who should never have been entangled in this situation. I owe her an apology.”