“What did you just say?” Maisy stood up sharply, fury written all over her face. She had never expected Skylar to speak so harshly.
Sadie, who had been feigning illness, still had a hint of color in her cheeks. But now, her expression twisted with anger and embarrassment.
“Enough! That’s no way to speak to your elders!” Jeffrey snapped, his voice thunderous. “Do you even realize what you’re saying?”
Peter followed suit, his tone sharp and disapproving. “Your mother is sick, and you not only show no concern—you barge in and insult her. Who raised you to behave like this?”
Kenny wanted to speak up, but Skylar’s earlier words echoed in his mind. As he looked around the room, watching the way everyone turned on her without hesitation, he began to wonder if Skylar had always been treated this unfairly.
Skylar’s eyes remained cold as her gaze swept over each of them before settling on Sadie.
“I thought you called me back because you finally grew a conscience,” she said flatly. “I thought maybe—just maybe—you planned to let me inherit part of the family fortune.”
The room fell into uneasy silence.
Everyone knew the Williams family was under pressure. The Martin Group’s suppression was already taking its toll, and things would only get worse from here.
That so-called “inheritance”? Skylar didn’t even care for it.
Sadie’s face flushed red as a fit of coughing overtook her, brought on more by rage than illness.
“Mom!” Maisy rushed to her side, gently patting her back in fake concern.
“The Williams family fortune is none of your business,” Samuel growled, his voice thick with disdain.
To him, Skylar wasn’t family. Not really. Not where it counted.
Jeffrey, though clearly angry, still tried to stay composed. “Samuel, enough.”
Skylar let out a soft, cold laugh. Her gaze swept across their familiar yet unfamiliar faces.
They meant nothing to her now.
“Don’t worry. Keep your precious assets. I wouldn’t dirty my hands on something so petty,” she said with mockery in her voice.
Peter narrowed his eyes at her, finally speaking. “What’s going on between you and Paul?”
Skylar raised an eyebrow. “Getting a little nosy, aren’t you?”
“I’m your older brother. I have the right to know who you’re associating with.”
Skylar smirked. “Where were you when your family was buying trending searches to ruin my reputation? Did you fall into a hole? Go deaf? Blind, maybe? But now, suddenly you remember you’re my brother? Isn’t that rich?”
Peter’s face went pale.
“Do you realize what you’re saying?” he barked. “If you had just admitted your mistakes and apologized today, all would have been forgiven. You could have moved back in. We’d have still treated you as part of the family.”
“But instead?” His voice rose. “You’ve done nothing but argue and challenge us. Don’t forget how hard you tried to please us when you first came here. And now, you’re just throwing all of that away?”
“Peter, enough!” Jeffrey scolded, his voice sharp. “You’re not helping.”
Turning to Skylar, Jeffrey softened his tone. “There have been misunderstandings—on both sides. But you’re still my daughter. No matter what happened, I can forgive you. Just… can you calm down, even a little? Come in and see your mom. She’s been sick from missing you.”
Skylar narrowed her eyes.
She could tell they were trying to change tactics now. From harshness to honeyed persuasion. Classic.
“Skylar, come here. Let me get a good look at you,” Sadie chimed in. Her eyes were red, voice trembling. “You’ve only been gone a month, but you look thinner. Are you struggling outside? Come home, child.”
If this had been the past, Skylar might’ve believed her.
But she remembered too well: Sadie had used far more convincing lies before—just to manipulate her into going to the hospital when she was sick, all so they could run blood tests.
Skylar didn’t budge from the doorway.
Just then, a message lit up her phone. It was from Paul.
He had sent over photos of several items her parents had left behind at home, asking for her help identifying them.
As she scrolled through the images, Skylar’s voice turned indifferent.
“Don’t bother playing games with me anymore. I’m done with your cheap tricks. They never change. Just cut to the chase and tell me what it is you really want.”
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