The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 95

3/3

Chapter 95 Blood Isn’t Always Family

The word “family” meant to sting.

Every line carried the same message: Venus was just an outsider. She had no right to interfere.

Ava’s brother was here. Venus should get lost and stop butting in their business.

Mark caught on fast. His face twisted in anger, and he berated, “Wow! You’re not crazy, huh? You’ve been faking it! You little liar. Why are you hanging around my sister? Are you trying to scam her money? Get out of here!”

He shoved Venus fiercely, eyes burning with rage.

“MARK CLAYTON!” Ava shouted his name with every ounce of strength she had left. “If you dare insult the woman who saved my life, you’ll regret it!”

Mark glared at Venus viciously before forcing a fake smile. He turned back to Ava’s bedside, putting on an act of concern.

“Come on, Ava. Let’s go home. You know Linette. She doesn’t care if you live or die. All she thinks about is Mia’s settlement money.

He spoke softly, voice dripping with false affection.

“We’re family and connected by blood. Others may turn their backs on you, but I’ll never do that. Just sign those papers, and I’ll take you home to recover. Okay?”

If Ava hadn’t lived through being kicked out by him-homeless and desperate-she might’ve believed his words.

“Forget it,” Ava said coldly. “You’re not getting a single dollar of the settlement.”

Mark’s face darkened instantly. He asked panickedly, “If you won’t give it to me, who are you giving it to? Linette? Don’t be stupid! Have you forgotten what she did? She threw you out after your husband died and stole the compensation! Now Mia’s gone too. You think that witch will ever care about a daughter-in-law who’s basically a stranger? Dream on!”

Ava looked him straight in the eye. Her voice was calm. “The one dreaming here is you, Mark. Need me to remind you what really happened?

“After Gregory died, Linette kicked me out. I had nowhere to go with Mia, so I came to you just to borrow the old house that was sitting empty. I said I’d stay there for a short while until I found a job and got back on my

feet.”

Her tone hardened. “Do you remember what you said to me?

1/3

“You said a married woman is no longer family. You told me nothing in the family is mine.”

Tears streamed down Ava’s face. “You’re my brother, Mark! When I got married, you took all my wedding gift money of 88,000 dollars! You said it was for Mom’s retirement fund. But when she got sick, did you ever spend a dime on her?”

Her voice broke into a sob. “You just stood there and watched her die in pain. You didn’t even tell me after she was buried! Mark, you’ve lost every shred of decency you ever had!”

Her anger burned hotter. “And now you’re still thinking about Mia’s compensation money? Keep dreaming!”

Ava’s voice rose higher and higher until her face turned frighteningly pale.

Venus quickly stepped forward, holding Ava’s arm.

She pressed lightly on a pressure point, and Ava’s breathing slowly steadied.

Vienna noticed the move, her expression darkening even more.

Mark, meanwhile, puffed out his chest. “Mom had cancer! It wasn’t curable anyway. What did you expect me to do? Throw away everything I had? I’m your brother! You’ve lost your husband

your child. Without me to look after you, who’s going to care for you?”

and

He smirked, his tone growing more self-righteous by the second. “Sure, you’ve got money now, so you think you’re too good for me. But don’t forget, I’m still the man of the family. That money should go to me to raise your nephew.

“If you don’t, when you’re old and gone, who’s going to bury you? How pitiful would that be?”

Mark’s chin tilted high, a smug grin on his face-like a man proud of his shamelessness.

Ava was so furious she could barely breathe or speak.

Mark snatched the paper and the ink pad from the lawyer’s hands, shoving them right in front

of her.

“Sign it!” he barked.

Ava felt her chest tighten with rage, almost ready to cough up blood.

The sight of her brother shamelessly forcing her to forgive her daughter’s killer made her want to leap out of bed and slap the document right across his smug face..

“Go on, sign it! What are you waiting for?” Mark sneered. “Like it or not, I’m all you’ve got left to depend on.”

2/3

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify