The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In novel Chapter 938

**TITLE: She Took 938**
**The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In**

**Chapter 938: The Debt of Gratitude**

87

+5 Pearls

The whispers echoed through the halls like an incessant chant: she owed the Hale family a debt of gratitude. But what of the debt that the Hale family owed her father? That was a conversation no one dared to entertain.

For years, Rianne had been subjected to a relentless cycle of gaslighting, her reality twisted by the so-called “debt of raising her.” It was a burden she didn’t ask for, a narrative crafted to keep her in line.

Madam Linden’s voice trembled as she confronted Rianne, “You… you’re…”

Rianne’s heart raced as she interjected, “Give me back my father’s life! I’ll return every penny you spent on raising me. How does that sound?”

The audacity of it all struck her like a thunderclap. You want to settle the score? Money is a simple exchange. But a life? Can you truly place a value on a life lost?

Rianne pressed on, her voice gaining strength. “Madam Linden, if my father hadn’t saved Mr. Hale… Tempest was just a child back then. Where do you think you’d be standing today?”

Tempest had been so young, so innocent. Had her father not intervened, the Hale Corporation might have been a mere footnote in history, its name replaced by another.

“What would be left for you, Madam Linden? Have you forgotten? Your esteemed title as ‘Madam Linden’ exists solely because my father sacrificed to save it for you!”

With that, Rianne ended the call, her fingers trembling with a mix of anger and sadness.

The phone rang again almost instantly—Madam Linden wasn’t finished yet.

Without hesitation, Rianne blocked the number, determined to reclaim her peace.

Frustrated and desperate, Madam Linden turned to Tempest, her voice rising in fury. “That Rianne… she has no respect for our relationship! She even dares to complain about how we raised her!”

Tempest lay in the hospital, his wound throbbing, signs of infection creeping in. The pain was physical, but the emotional turmoil was far worse.

Madam Linden continued, her voice laced with indignation, “It’s just too much! She let that man hurt you. Even if she doesn’t care about us, what about you? You’re the one who always spoiled her!”

Tempest’s voice cut through her outrage like a knife. “If you ask me, she only turned out this way because you enabled her.”

“She’s not just cruel to William; she has no regard for me either! We never should have…”

Tempest interrupted, his tone dark and serious. “Her father saved our father. We ‘never should have’ what?”

Madam Linden faltered, unable to respond. “But she…”

“And you really didn’t raise her well,” he stated, the finality of his words hanging in the air.

Madam Linden gasped, “You…!”

What was happening? Why was he defending an outsider?

Tempest pressed on, his voice unwavering. “At the very least, you didn’t treat her as the daughter of a savior deserves to be treated.”

“What attitude? Did I starve her? Did I leave her without clothes?”

“No,” he replied coolly, “Everything she ate and wore was arranged by my assistant at the company.”

Madam Linden fell silent, stunned by the revelation.

Tempest’s patience waned. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

+5 Pearls

To Tessa, the assets of the Ashen Pact held little value. Victor had already taken so much from her, and after the paternity test debacle, she felt detached from it all. He was not her father, and she had no desire to claim what wasn’t hers.

Diana scoffed, “What do you mean ‘okay’? Do you have any idea how much I suffered all these years?”

“That man and his lover chased me around the globe, never allowing me a moment’s peace. That was ‘not okay.'”

“Just sign. His current misery is merely payback for the torment we endured before.”

Tessa raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. “Uh, that’s kind of a tongue-twister.”

Diana patted her shoulder affectionately. “Your dad and I are heading to an Ashen Pact meeting. Don’t run off.”

Dad!

With that, Diana strutted away in her high heels, leaving Tessa to ponder the weight of her new reality.

Even though her mother hadn’t formally taken over the reins, Tessa had already been dubbed the Ashen Pact’s little princess. It was evident that anyone from the organization who crossed her path now addressed her with utmost respect, referring to her as “Miss.”

The respect Diana commanded within the Ashen Pact was palpable, a testament to her resilience and cunning.

Years ago, Dale had thrust Diana into a leadership role temporarily to shield Artemis. Little did anyone know that this very act would solidify Diana’s status in their hearts forever.

As Diana departed, Tessa found herself staring at the documents before her, her name waiting to be inscribed.

With a deep breath, she signed, sealing her fate within the Ashen Pact.

**10:35 Thu, Dec 11**