The Real Heiress's New Family Adored By All novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84 Lingering Fear

Getting a fish bone stuck in your throat is an awful feeling.

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Zora had only been five or six years old back then. Terrified, she’d burst into tears and run straight home to her mentor, convinced she was going to choke to death.

Her mentor had managed to remove the bone, but the scare left its mark. After that day, Zora never dared to eat fish on her own again, always afraid of getting another bone lodged in her throat.

From then on, whenever she had fish, her mentor would carefully take out every tiny bone for her.

Now that her mentor was gone, Zora barely ate fish at all.

She feared choking with no one there to help her.

Seacrest never truly felt like home, and she had no one she could fully rely on, no one who would always look out for her.

The Knox family cared little for her well-being, and she hated being a burden to the Marlows.

Kids with no one to protect them learn to steer clear of anything that might put them in danger.

“It’s totally normal to be nervous about that,” Hallie said gently. “This is largemouth bass, the bones are pretty big ones. The belly section only has thick, easy-to-spot bones, but you should still be careful while you eat, Zora.”

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None of them thought Zora was being overly sensitive. Everyone had little fears or things they struggled with.

“You all go ahead and eat. I’ll pick the bones out for her,” Maya spoke in a soft but clear tone.

Quiet and reserved by nature, she was also incredibly thoughtful.

“Maya…” Zora’s heart swelled with a warm, achy kind of emotion.

She hadn’t expected such sincere kindness from someone she’d only known a short while.

Zora never considered herself particularly bright, nor was she good at making friends or keeping up in conversation. Quiet and reserved, she knew most people would find her dull and uninteresting.

Back at the Knox Villa, her family was always quick to criticize her.

“Why are you always so quiet? Can’t you hold a simple conversation? Do you never speak?”

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Chapter 84 Lingering Fear

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Jolie had a bright, charming personality and always knew the right things to say to win people over, making her the family’s favorite.

Zora, by contrast, was quiet and slow to catch on to schemes. By the time she realized when someone was manipulating her, everyone had already labeled her as cold and withdrawn, refusing to believe anything she said.

The Knox family simply did not like her.

At first, Zora had no idea Jolie disliked her, or that she’d been trying to push her out of the Knox household entirely.

Zora was naturally slow to pick up on social hostility. It was only after countless small misfortunes at home were blamed on her one after another, after the Knox family kept scolding her, after their gazes grew increasingly disappointed, and even Holden and the others began showing quiet distaste toward her, that Zora finally realized just how much ill will Jolie held for her.

After that, she grew deeply wary of Jolie, noticed how she kept setting little traps for her, and kept her distance.

Since her efforts to win the Knox family’s trust had gotten her nowhere, Zora slowly stopped caring about their approval.

She would never cling to anyone who did not cherish her.

The group finished their meal at the diner. Before leaving, Zora took two more plates of pumpkin pastries to go, unable to hide the happy glimmer in her eyes.

It was already late by the time they headed back to Havenridge High School.

When they reached their classroom hallway, a girl was lingering outside, seemingly waiting for

someone.

The group walked along chatting and laughing. Easton and Hallie did most of the talking, with Felix chiming in now and then. Zora and Maya were both quiet types, simply listening as they walked.

Their voices caught the attention of the girl waiting in the hall.

“Zora.”

Tessa turned around, and she spotted Zora right away, surrounded by the others and sipping a cup of iced chocolate, looking perfectly at ease.

Maya had bought the drink for her.

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As the old saying went, girls had two separate stomachs: one for regular meals, and another just for sweets and snacks.

Zora looked up in confusion when she heard her name being called.

The girl standing before her was pretty, wearing a blue dress with her long hair tied back in a ponytail. She stood with her hands folded in front of her, carrying a gift bag in one hand.

The others fell silent and frowned the moment they recognized Tessa.

Everyone knew Tessa was Jolie’s closest friend. There was no good reason for her to seek Zora

out now.

“Zora, could I talk to you in private?” Tessa walked over, her gaze fixed straight on Zora.

She recognized everyone else in the group, but not Zora-and this had to be the girl she was looking for.

“Tessa, can’t whatever you have to say wait and be said in front of us?” Hallie raised an eyebrow at her.

Everyone in their social circle knew who Tessa was, the eldest daughter of the Frost family. However, Tessa was a top student and wasn’t in their class, so they weren’t very close.

Ever since returning to Seacrest two months ago, she’d stuck closely by Jolie’s side.

None of them were fond of Jolie, which kept them from having much to do with Tessa either.

“I’d prefer to speak with Zora alone. Is that alright?” Tessa’s expression stayed soft and calm, showing no sign of hostility.

“What do you want to say? Can they hear it? If they can, just say it here,” Zora replied quietly. “If they can’t, then we can go somewhere else.”

She had no idea who Tessa was and had no wish to go off alone with a stranger.

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The Real Heiress s New Family Adored by All