Chapter 8
Moments later, the store manager and sales team, now beaming with enthusiasm, bowed deeply and personally escorted her to
the door.
By the time Adora returned home, the sun had already begun to set.
Lilian’s expression remained unreadable as she took in her daughter’s appearance.
Adora’s hair had been cut short, and she now wore brand–new clothes and shoes.
Designer shopping bags hung from her hands, and even the backpack on her shoulders was a luxury brand.
Lilian quickly pieced it together.
“Adora, you went shopping? Why didn’t you tell us? We were worried about you,” she said, forcing a smile while keeping a safe distance, several steps away from her daughter.
Adora let out a faint, indifferent smile. “Oh? I’m surprised you still remember me.”
Lilian’s expression stiffened, but she quickly regained her composure, her brows knitting slightly.
“Where did you get the money for all this?”
Three years ago, after Adora was taken, they froze and canceled all the bank accounts under her name just in case.
She had only returned yesterday and hadn’t asked them for a cent.
Adora answered plainly, “I sold the jewelry.”
“What?!” Lilian’s face paled before anger quickly took over.
“You… If you needed money, you could have asked! We would have given it to you! Those pieces were valuable. You lost so much selling them secondhand!”
Adora scoffed internally.
If they truly cared, they would have thought of that last night and offered her money themselves.
Yet they expected her to ask?
She met Lilian’s gaze, unbothered. “I don’t like it when people touch my things. It disgusts me. Selling them was the best
option.”
“You-” Lilian was so furious she could barely form words.
But Adora had no interest in arguing.
She had already eaten dinner before coming home, and she had no patience for pointless conversations.
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Without another word, she walked straight through the living room and headed toward the maid’s quarters.
The moment Adora stepped into the room, she froze.
Just two seconds later, she stormed back out, her expression ice–cold, eyes sharp and piercing.
“What happened to my bed?”
Just then, Ruby came down the stairs, cradling a fluffy, well–groomed Bichon Frise in her arms.
Eugene was beside her, though Adora had no idea when he arrived.
The moment he saw her, something flickered in his eyes–warmth, hesitation, something unreadable.
“Adora, you’re back?” Ruby smiled sweetly, her voice laced with fake concern.
“Next time, let Mom know before you go out. She was worried about you all day.”
Adora didn’t even spare her a glance.
She strode forward, grabbed Ruby by the hair, and yanked her toward the maid’s quarters without warning.
“Adora!” Eugene’s expression darkened as he moved to intervene, but it was too late.
“Ahh! What are you doing?!” Ruby shrieked, caught completely off guard.
The dog in her arms tumbled to the floor, letting out a pitiful yelp as it landed with a thud.
The rest of the Matthews family was heading toward the dining room for dinner when the commotion broke out.
They all turned in shock.
“Adora, what are you doing?!”
“Let go of her!”
“Have you lost your mind?!”
Everyone rushed toward them, but Adora was faster.
Dragging Ruby into the small maid’s quarters, she shoved her down onto the bed–her face landing just inches away from a fresh
pile of dog excrement.
“This is your dog’s mess,” Adora said coolly, pinning Ruby’s face down.
“Clean it up.”
The Matthews family scrambled to intervene, but the room was too cramped.
With the bed taking up most of the space and various household items stacked against the walls, only a narrow walkway
remained.
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There was no room for them to squeeze through.
Eugene, closest to the door, lunged forward and yanked Adora off, pulling Ruby upright.
The stench overwhelmed Ruby, making her gag uncontrollably as tears and snot streamed down her face.
“Adora, you’ve gone too far!” Eugene roared, his arms wrapped tightly around Ruby as he trembled with fury.
“This isn’t even her fault! Puppies don’t know any better. They have accidents! If you have a problem, discipline the dog! Why punish Ruby?”
Adora scoffed. “A dog only misbehaves when its owner allows it. If you hadn’t let it roam freely, would it have ended up in my
room?”
She had made sure to close the door before leaving the house that morning.
Still retching, Ruby shoved Eugene away and bolted from the room, her face twisted in disgust.
