Chapter 447

Kayla sneezed twice upon arriving home. After the day's events, she attempted to eat the takeout she'd purchased for dinner, but after only a few bites, she pushed her fork away. "Ugh! This is horrible!" she exclaimed.

Accustomed to a life of luxury, the decline in her lifestyle felt like unending torment. Following last night's incident, she also felt unsafe in her apartment, vulnerable should the thugs return. Desperate, she considered who she could trust with the map to maximize its value.

Curling up on the couch, Kayla listlessly poked the plush toy beside her. She briefly considered contacting Arnold, but dismissed the idea. Arnold, having failed to secure his place as heir to the Lawson family, had been banished abroad by Mike, permitted to return home only under duress. Melvin was another possibility, but she quickly rejected that as well. He had once been her devoted admirer, but now, seemingly having moved on, he had even acquired a girlfriend.

Men, she concluded, were utterly unreliable.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. Startled, she nearly tumbled from the couch, hastily grabbing a fruit knife from the coffee table. Were the thugs back?

Barefoot, she cautiously approached the door, peering through the peephole. To her surprise, she saw Howell and Tabitha, her biological parents.

What could they possibly want?

Kayla initially refused to answer, but their persistent ringing and shouts of "Hey, Kayla darling, open the door! We're your parents!" finally wore her down. Enraged by their audacity, she flung the door open, knife brandished. "Get lost! How dare you call yourselves my parents? You reek of poverty! You disgust me!"

"Child, put down that knife," Howell said, his face crinkling into a seemingly amiable smile, though a cunning glint flickered in his eyes. Tabitha mirrored his expression. "We're here with good news!"

Kayla was bewildered. Since Shawn's arrest for murder, Howell and Tabitha had relentlessly harassed her, even threatening her life in revenge. Their sudden change of demeanor was unsettling.

With icy disdain, she demanded, "Spit it out! I haven't got time for your games."

"What a thoughtless child," Tabitha remarked, but sensing Kayla's rising anger, quickly added, "Alright, alright. My cousin—your aunt—wishes to see you."

Kayla paused, momentarily stunned. Then, a derisive laugh escaped her. "Are you people insane? Who is this supposed relative, and why should I care? Who does she think she is?"

Howell glanced nervously over his shoulder before cutting her off. "Nonsense! Your aunt is a very important person!"