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Chapter 113
The area beneath the staircase buzzed with whispers and murmurs. Voices discussing her were everywhere. "Can you believe her? So stubborn..."
"She's just been spoiled by the Meadows family and is used to strutting around like she's royalty."
"Absolutely ridiculous. Mr. Jacob is a man of stature; how did he raise such a headstrong daughter?"
All these whispers reached Jacob's ears. His face darkened with anger. Neither of them was making his life easy. Couldn't they at least preserve the dignity of the Meadows family without making a spectacle?
With rare sternness, Jacob commanded, "Chloe, I order you to apologize to Linda."Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.
"I will not apologize," Chloe's voice remained firm.
Jacob was frantic now. For the first time, someone dared to defy him publicly, which was like a slap in his face. Others murmured about his lack of control, noting his complete absence of authority in front of his children.
Jacob's voice dropped, heavy with threat and desperation. "Chloe, if you don't apologize today, then you're no longer my daughter."
His words marked the gravity of the situation. The hall fell silent, spectators quietly marveling at the unfolding drama.
Lisa, on the other hand, took perverse pleasure in the situation. She knew that even without her escalating the situation, Chloe's nature meant she would never back down. She was bound to make a scene. Eventually, she would be disgraced and completely forsaken by their father.
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Chloe stood at the top of the staircase, her gaze calm as she watched Jacob. She had never felt particularly close to him, especially compared to Leah. In this family, he was the patriarch, the absentee landlord. He was always busy with business and always entertaining guests. He would buy her expensive gifts but seldom spent time with her. Still, Chloe held a mix of respect and affection for him. After Lisa returned, Leah wanted to sever ties with Chloe, but Jacob stepped in. He declared that Chloe would always be the Meadows family's eldest daughter. Chloe was moved by his words.
But then, one night, she overheard a conversation between Jacob and Leah outside the study. Jacob said that driving her out would only make the Meadows family a
laughingstock. It was better to let her keep the title of the first
daughter of the Meadows veene's
family. To
them, it was no different than having an extra set of cutlery. That night, Jacob also made a will. Lisa would inherit all of the Meadows family's wealth and company shares.
At that moment, Chloe understood Jacob's decision to keep her was not out of fatherly affection. It was merely for the sake of the family's reputation. That was why she had spent the last three years with the Moncadas, rarely returning home. She thought she had forgotten about that incident. She convinced herself that they were good to her and that she shouldn't care about anything else.
But that night's events were no different from what was happening now. Everything was for the sake of the Meadows family's reputation. Chloe's feelings didn't matter; whether she was a daughter of the Meadows family didn't matter. What mattered was that the family's dignity couldn't be tarnished.
Chloe was no longer the same person she was three years ago. She wouldn't allow herself to be wronged again. Chloe slowly descended the staircase. Step by step, she approached Jacob.
Jacob thought she had finally compromised and was ready to apologize to Linda. His gaze softened as he watched Chloe. Unexpectedly, Chloe walked right up to him. Her expression was serene, yet it exerted immense pressure.