This Time Hi Be the Villain’s Favorite Daughter novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16 You Smell Like Blood

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What Maya had gone through with the Jacksons had given her a much deeper understanding of how ugly people could be.

To be honest, Maya’s personality was a lot like that of her trashy father.

If it didn’t involve her, she couldn’t care less if the world was burning.

Maya wasn’t some hero who could save other people’s lives.

She could barely save herself.

So she slung her backpack over her shoulder. “I’m heading to school. Bye.”

Toby froze for a second, clearly not expecting her to respond to his veiled malice with such calm indifference.

For some reason, it made him feel looked down on.

As if in front of her, he were the childish one.

“Who wants to say bye to you?” the boy snapped, his voice sharp with embarrassment and anger.

I’m the older one, right? Right?!

Sunlight streamed straight into the living room. Maya nibbled on her teddy bear cookies while sitting squeezed next to her mom on the couch, one glued to the TV, and the other scrolling on her phone.

Watching cartoons had this brain-off kind of happiness. She loved it.

Wendy was scrolling through reels.

Seeing a nasty mother-in-law in one of them, her brows shot up in outrage. “That’s way too much!”

Maya leaned over for a glance. Seeing how genuinely mad Wendy was, she quickly said, “Mom, these are all scripted.”

Wendy was fuming. “But it still makes me so mad.”

The main character was being treated way too unfairly. If it were me, I’d grab a knife from the kitchen and chop them up!

Not wanting to watch something so irritating, Wendy swiped to the next video.

This one was a news report.

The anchor spoke in a serious tone.

“Breaking news: a well-known billionaire was found dead in his home, suspected homicide. His children have already rushed back overnight, and a multi-billion-dollar inheritance dispute is expected.”

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10:13 Fri, May 1

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Te You Smell Like Blood

A photo of the deceased flashed on screen.

The comment section was filled with condolences.

Maya’s ears perked up. She leaned over and suddenly said, “I’ve seen this guy before.”

Wendy’s casual expression stiffened slightly. “Huh? How would you?”

How could Maya possibly know a dead man?

“Dad showed me a bunch of pictures before. He said he was looking for business partners, and I picked him.” Maya sounded a little impressed. “He was worth that much? That’s insane.”

Dad actually had dealings with someone that powerful?

Maybe it had something to do with that grandpa I’ve never met.

But thinking about Raymond’s weird sense of humor, she started to suspect he’d just pulled random photos of successful people online to mess with her.

He’s so lame.

Wendy forced a laugh, realizing this was that idiot’s fault. She pretended to be surprised. “Wow, Maya, your memory’s that good?”

Maya puffed her cheeks slightly. “Yeah, I’ve always had a good memory.

She had always remembered things well.

Just as Wendy was about to come up with some explanation to make this feel less like a coincidence, the doorbell rang.

Like she’d been saved, she rushed to answer it. “Coming!”

The next second, the woman at the door wrapped her arms around the man who had just walked in and planted a hard kiss on him. “Ah, honey, you’re back!”

She even pinched him hard while she was at it.

Raymond walked in without changing expression.

Hearing Raymond was back, Maya immediately forgot about the mysteriously dead tycoon and ran over. “Dad!”

Raymond waved at her.

He looked like a textbook drifter, with messy hair, dark circles under his eyes, pale skin, and a thin frame wrapped in an old coat. Compared to before he left… he looked even more worn out.

Maya walked up and held out her arms. Raymond got the hint and crouched down, pulling her into his

arms.

The little girl was warm and smelled faintly like cookies. Something in Raymond softened.

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