The Real Heiress's New Family Adored By All novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9 The Knoxs Don’t Want Her? The Marlows Do!

“Zora, buckle your seatbelt. Let me help you, okay?”

Jensen’s black Mercedes was parked right outside. They got in quickly, and he turned to Zora in the passenger seat, speaking softly.

Finished

He’d been thinking about how Zora had grown up in some run-down little village, supposedly so poor that the fanciest vehicle around was an electric scooter.

Jensen just wasn’t thinking straight. He’d only pictured Zora living in the sticks and completely missed the obvious-Zora wasn’t an idiot.

Even if she’d been raised in a village, she’d been back with the Knoxs for ages. There was no way she didn’t know how to use a seatbelt.

He was simply letting his worry get the better of him, automatically treating Zora like some clueless kid.

Zora inwardly rolled her eyes at his baby-talk. She felt like he was treating her like a total moron.

She reached out, pulled the belt across, and clicked it into place.

Jensen felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of being snubbed by the girl beside him.

“Alright, Zora, we’re heading out now.”

With that, he started the car, pulling smoothly out of the gated community.

Zora watched the trees blur past and felt exhausted. She let out a small yawn and curled up on the passenger seat, falling asleep.

She wasn’t feeling well. She’d had medication, and her body was weak and sore; she needed proper sleep.

At the hospital, she’d been too focused on leaving the Knoxs to rest properly-sick and upset, she’d barely slept a wink.

Jensen glanced over at her small, curled-up figure sleeping peacefully, and something soft inside him melted.

The girl could be fierce when she wanted, but when she was quiet and vulnerable, she made his heart ache.

He’d never met Zora before. When she’d been found, he’d been overseas handling the branch office.

He’d only rushed back yesterday after his grandparents bombarded him with calls, saying her birthday was coming and he had to be there no matter what.

When he got back, he’d gone with his grandparents to his aunt’s house-but never even saw Zora.

Jolie had said she was probably upset that they hadn’t thrown her a separate birthday party.

Jensen had frowned then. It wasn’t like they were short on money. What was wrong with two parties?

Zora had just come home. For her first birthday, a separate celebration was only normal.

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14:46 Mon, May 25 M

Chapter 9 The Knoxs Don’t Want Her? The Marlows Do

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The Knoxs had thrown Jolie 16 birthdays in a row. Why couldn’t they do one for Zora? The girl had never had a real birthday before. She deserved her own.

There was no reason to lump the two girls together.

Zora’s real identity hadn’t even been announced publicly. Everyone at the party thought they were there for Jolie.

When his grandma found out, she’d gone to talk to his aunt, suggesting two parties. But his aunt had said they were born on the same day-no need for the hassle. She claimed they were celebrating Zora too, and Jolie wasn’t upset, so Zora wouldn’t be either.

Opal had been speechless at how clueless her daughter was. She’d asked where Zora was, and the Knoxs had said they didn’t know.

Opal had only come for Zora. Unable to find her and annoyed by her daughter’s attitude, she’d grabbed his husband, Floyd Marlow, and left.

They’d come to see Zora, not watch Jolie show off all night.

Once his grandparents left, Jensen left too.

He had no idea about the pool incident later-he only heard about it this morning. As soon as Opal got the news, she sent him to the Knox Villa immediately.

Jensen was relieved he’d gone. If he hadn’t, Zora might have disappeared for good.

Honestly, when he saw her dragging her suitcase to leave, he’d felt like if they didn’t stop her, they’d never get her back.

He noticed her bright red cheeks. Remembering Mae saying she had a fever, his chest tightened.

He touched her forehead-burning hot.

He’d thought she was just flushed from anger. He had no idea her fever was this high.

Jensen turned down the AC, grabbed a blanket, and draped it over her. He stepped on the gas and pulled out his phone to text his younger brother, Kian Marlow.

Kian was a doctor. Their cousin had a fever-he needed to get home.

Jensen already considered Zora family.

The Knoxs didn’t want her. The Marlows did.

No one was ever going to hurt Zora again.

When they reached the Marlow Manor, Floyd and Opal were already waiting outside.

Zora was so sick she didn’t wake up when Jensen carried her inside. Her breath came out hot and heavy.

Floyd and Opal stared at the frail, pale girl in his arms, their eyes full of concern.

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Chapter 9 The Knoxs Don’t Want Her? The Marlows Do’

“She has a fever. Grandpa, Grandma-has Kian gotten back?”

Jensen explained briefly as he hurried inside.

“Take her up to the second-floor room.”

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Kian was already in the living room. He saw the panic on Jensen’s face, glanced at the sick girl in his arms. and pointed upstairs.

Jensen hurried up, Kian following close behind. Floyd and Opal trailed after them, worried.

“102.2°F. She already had a shot earlier. Too soon for another. We can only do physical cooling.”

Kian checked her temperature with a thermometer, his gentle face showing worry. He placed a cooling patch on her forehead.

Jensen dabbed a cold cloth on her neck and arms, trying to bring her fever down faster.

Opal’s heart broke at how weak Zora looked. She held a cup and slowly gave her sips of water.

“How did this happen? How were Wayne and the others looking after her? We told them they couldn’t care for her properly, that they’d never be fair. We offered to take Zora, but they refused. Now she’s burning up with a fever and no one even noticed.”

Floyd stood nearby, tense.

Such a sweet girl-broken this quickly.

He didn’t want to criticize his daughter, but he had to call out Wayne. His daughter was being foolish, but so was Wayne.

“Enough. Zora’s with us now. We’ll take good care of her. The Knoxs can’t do it, Wendy can’t focus on her- I’ll do it.”

Opal was furious at her daughter’s carelessness.

“Grandma, Zora told me Aunt Wendy was going to send her away. When I got to the Knox Villa, she was ready to leave. I told her you weren’t feeling well to get her to come back. Don’t let it slip when she wakes up.”

Jensen re-wet the cloth and kept dabbing her skin. The fever had turned her whole body pink, and it hurt to look at.

Opal, who was perfectly healthy, blinked in confusion. Well, he certainly is my clever grandson.

“W-wait. You said Wendy was going to send her away?! She’s truly lost her mind this time!”

She’d been so focused on Zora, she hadn’t processed it all. Now it hit her, and she was fuming.

How could her own daughter be so reckless? She was going to send her own daughter away?

Jensen had no idea what his aunt was thinking. It made no sense.

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Mon, May 25

The Real Heiress’s New Family Adored by All