The Real Heiress's New Family Adored By All novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Raised Wrong, Turned Wild

“Zora, take this. You haven’t had breakfast.”

Mac slipped a sandwich into Zora’s hand as she came downstairs, hiding it from Holden’s sight.

Finisher

Miss Zora Knox suffered so terribly last night. Now Mr. Holden Knox suddenly calls her downstairs. No idea where he’s taking her, but judging by his furious expression, he will never let her eat breakfast before they leave.

“Thanks, Mae.” Zora held the warm sandwich, her heart softening. She gave a small, sweet smile.

Her parents and brothers didn’t care for her, but Mae and the other staff were kind.

Mae’s chest ached for Zora. She watched them leave, seeing Holden snap at her impatiently. Zora was too gentle to fight back-she just took it.

Mae couldn’t understand. Zora was so sweet, so why did no one in the family like her?

Holden glanced back and frowned at Zora’s soft smile. She never smiled that warmly at any of them.

“Let’s go!” he snapped.

Zora’s smile faded. She clutched the sandwich and followed unsteadily.

If she refused, Holden would only keep pushing.

Her head throbbed worse.

This family never believed her.

A dull ache tightened her chest. Her mentor had said they’d love her… but that wasn’t true.

They don’t trust me. They look down on me. They don’t want me.

Stupid mentor, leaving me all alone and running off. I’m not gonna trust you anymore!

“Hurry up! Don’t waste time.” Holden’s scowl deepened when her smile disappeared.

She could grin at the help, but act cold around him.

“Get in.”

They stepped outside, and the driver waited by the car.

Holden stood guard, ready to stop her from running.

Zora reached for the front passenger door.

“Back seat!” Holden frowned.

Zora’s hand froze. “…You never let me sit with you.”

They’d never let her sit with them.

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14:45 Mon, May 25

Chapter 2 Raised Wrong, Turned Wild

Finisher

They’d only said it once, on the day of the DNA test, but their cold, distant gaze still pierced Zora’s heart.

“Just get in. Quit complaining. Hurry.”

Holden’s face tightened. Avoiding her soft, calm eyes, he pulled open the rear door for her.

Zora pressed her lips together and slid in, staying as close to the door as possible to keep out of his way, afraid she’d get dumped halfway.

Holden stared at her; she was practically pressed against the other side. His jaw twitched. Irritation burned.

What’s Zora’s problem? I’m not even looking down on her-so why is she acting like she’s repulsed by me?

He opened his mouth to snap, then shut it-her blank, empty face stopped him.

The car’s AC was mild. Having slept poorly the night before, Zora felt heavy-headed. She leaned against the window and drifted off into a daze.

Holden glanced at her sleeping reflection and fumed.

Is she a pig or something? She’s been sleeping all day long. I just got her up a little while ago, and she’s dozing off again already.

She pulled that awful stunt and yet she can sleep soundly without a single guilty thought.

Meanwhile, we’re the ones tossing and turning with all this weight on our minds.

Despite his anger, he stared at her flushed, sleeping face, gritted his teeth, and didn’t wake her.

Remembering her ice-cold hands, he tossed a blanket over her.

Zora curled into the warmth, pulling the blanket over her arms.

Holden watched her, confused.

How could someone with such an innocent face be so rotten?

The mix-up wasn’t Jolie’s fault. Jolie didn’t take anything from her. So why can’t she stand Jolie and keep trying to kick her out?

She’s just so petty and selfish.

Zora shifted, like she felt his stare.

Holden quickly looked away, pretending to stare out the window.

She inched even closer to the door, pressing herself against it.

The car pulled up smoothly at the hospital.

As soon as it stopped, Zora rubbed her burning eyes and woke up.

Holden’s rebuke died in his throat.

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Chapter 2 Raised Wrong. Turned Wild

They went inside, straight to the 17th floor-SVIP wing.

72

Finished

Jolie had been in the pool for barely a minute-she wasn’t even fully soaked. Yet she’d been rushed here, checked by every specialist, and kept overnight.

The whole family had dropped everything to fuss over her.

And every conversation blamed Zora-jealous, selfish, intolerant.

“Jolie, honey, Zora just came back. She was raised rough in the country. Please go easy on her.”

Wendy Marlow’s voice reached them as they stepped off the elevator.

But her tone was tired and resigned.

She hadn’t expected her long-lost daughter to be so wild, so jealous.

Not raising her herself-she’d been ruined by others.

She’d need etiquette tutors. The family could tolerate her, but outsiders wouldn’t.

High society was cutthroat. One wrong move and she’d make enemies, and they wouldn’t always be there to protect her.

She couldn’t disgrace the Knox name.

A scandal would ruin the other kids’ marriages too.

Already, everyone whispered about the wild country girl in the Knox family.

At first, Wendy had felt guilty and wanted to make it up to Zora.

She’d planned to teach her gently, no tutors needed.

But Zora’s jealousy was too much.

If word got out that she attacked her sister, no decent family would want her.

Thinking about the daughter taken away due to her carelessness, Wendy felt guilty and drained.

She wanted to teach her slowly, but years in that remote village had ingrained her ways too deeply.

“Mom, it’s okay. I know Zora didn’t mean it. She just lost her temper. I’m fine.”

Jolie listened to Wendy’s defense of Zora and smiled softly, her pale face looking fragile.

“Go easy on her? Mom, Zora’s been back two months and she’s still a brat! She pushed Jolie hard-if Jolie couldn’t swim, who knows what would’ve happened! She turns this house upside down. Send her to live alone, before she hurts Jolie worse.”

Anton Knox scowled, his voice sharp with annoyance.

Ever since Zora came back, the house had been in chaos.

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14:45 Mon, May 25 M

The Real Heiress’s New Family Adored by All