"The reason I hit Hector was to save the Lin family from falling into the mud. I've just returned to the Lin family and haven't even settled in as their daughter. I don't want to become a fallen daughter right away. If the Lin family prospers, so will I. Don't you think I'm right?" Zuri asked with a serene smile, looking at Aaron from a distance.
If she had only said the first part, Aaron would have thought she was insincere. But with the latter part, she seemed genuinely earnest.
People are often like this; they might not believe sweet words, but they will definitely believe harsh ones, and they will remember them well.
Zuri wanted Aaron to remember that she would never do anything against the Lin family, making him believe in her completely.
Whether it was the past or the present, it was all for this purpose. Once he believed in her, the next step would be to bring down the entire Lin Corporation, turning everything they treasured and relied on into nothing.
As for what Zuri just mentioned, it had indeed happened in the previous life, but the Hu family had used their connections to keep the land.
The Lin family benefited and made a fortune.
At this moment, Aaron's mind was no longer on the children's fight but was eager to confirm whether the news was true.
"You're right. You don't need to worry about this; I'll handle it. Also, make sure to spend more time with Azura."
Aaron looked at his graceful daughter, thoughts swirling in his mind.
If Leo took a liking to Zuri and the Lin family allied with the Ye family in the capital, no one in Oceanic City could surpass them.
Aaron's gaze towards Zuri softened. "Do you have enough money on your card? I'll transfer another 500,000. A girl should dress beautifully. I'll have my secretary send over some clothes tomorrow."
Zuri's eyes turned cold.
She could see through his calculations and despicable thoughts, feeling a surge of cold laughter in her heart.
This heartless father had once pushed her into the hands of a maniac for enough profit. Now, seeing her getting closer to the Ye family, he had new schemes.
Disgusting!
The thought made her want to crush his head.
"Okay." Zuri waved indifferently, standing up and stretching. "I'm tired. I'll go rest now."
"Alright. My good daughter, let me know if you need anything," Aaron said with rare warmth and care.
Zuri waved her hand without a word, leaving him with a cool silhouette.
The more Aaron looked at her, the more satisfied he felt. His meticulously groomed daughter downstairs now only made him feel disdain.
Indeed, an illegitimate child will always be an illegitimate child, no matter how much you try to raise them.
Downstairs, Saira had been waiting to see Zuri's downfall, but hearing nothing, she grew suspicious.
Unable to sleep that night, she came downstairs the next morning with dark circles under her eyes, only to see her father warmly fussing over Zuri.
"You like porridge, so we'll have the kitchen keep some warm for you around the clock," Aaron said kindly.
Saira stood frozen, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Why?!
What had Zuri said to their father that not only spared her from punishment but made him even more doting?
She couldn't understand it, no matter how hard she tried.
"Dad, Hector's mom wants Zuri to go to the hospital and apologize to Hector," Saira reminded Aaron softly, hoping to stir some trouble.
Aaron looked up sharply, his gaze piercing. "Apologize? For what? I haven't even addressed Hector laying hands on your sister."
Saira was stunned!
What had happened? Overnight, her father was not only not blaming Zuri but was also defending her. What had Zuri said to enchant him?
"I'm full," Zuri said, standing up.
Saira ignored her, determined to wait for her.
Filled with resentment, Saira deliberately slowed her eating.
Soon, she saw the car that was supposed to take them to school leaving the villa.
"Dad, Uncle Wang sent her to school already. How am I supposed to go?" Saira asked, feigning grievance.
Aaron put down his knife and fork, speaking slowly, "Take a taxi."
With that, he left the dining room, ignoring the seething Saira behind him.
In the evening, Saira left early, getting into the car and ordering, "Uncle Wang, drive."
Uncle Wang didn't move. "Second Miss hasn't arrived yet."
"Zuri told me she won't be coming back. She's going to a friend's house," Saira said sweetly.
Uncle Wang was surprised. "Really?"
Before he could say more, Saira interrupted, "Of course, she told me herself."
"But..."
Uncle Wang wanted to say more but was cut off.
"Uncle Wang, I'm hungry. I want some of Arianwen's pastries," Saira said, pouting.
"Miss, Second Miss is already on her way," Uncle Wang finally said, seizing the chance.
"R-really?"
Saira turned stiffly, seeing Zuri opening the car door and getting in.
"Uncle Wang, let's go."
"Sure."
Uncle Wang fastened his seatbelt, glancing at Saira and sighing internally.
Having seen all kinds of people in his fifty-plus years, he understood Saira's little schemes but chose not to expose her.
Saira sat uneasily, feeling as if she'd been slapped in the face.
She blamed Uncle Wang for delaying, making her lie obvious. Her image was shattered.
The rest of the ride was gloomy for Saira. The moment they arrived, she jumped out, not wanting to see Uncle Wang.
Entering the house, she saw several luxury brand managers in the living room with rows of beautiful clothes.
Dalia smiled at her. "Saira, come here and choose the clothes you like."
Seeing the clothes, Saira's mood brightened as she inspected them.
One manager smiled and said, "Miss Lin, these are the latest designs of the season, some not even on the shelves yet. Chairman Lin specifically requested them for you."
It was the first time Chairman Lin had made such a request. In the past, it was always Mrs. Lin handling it, showing that despite not being his biological daughter, Miss Lin was still favored.
Hearing this, Saira's dissatisfaction with her father vanished instantly.
It seemed she still held a place in his heart.
Aaron looked up, his gaze sharp. "Apologize? Apologize for what? I haven't even addressed Hector laying hands on your sister."
Saira was stunned!
What had happened? Overnight, her father was not only not blaming Zuri but was also defending her. What had Zuri said to enchant him?
"I'm full," Zuri said, standing up.
Saira ignored her, determined to wait for her.
Filled with resentment, Saira deliberately slowed her eating.
Soon, she saw the car that was supposed to take them to school leaving the villa.
"Dad, Uncle Wang sent her to school already. How am I supposed to go?" Saira asked, feigning grievance.
Aaron put down his knife and fork, speaking slowly, "Take a taxi."
With that, he left the dining room, ignoring the seething Saira behind him.
In the evening, Saira left early, getting into the car and ordering, "Uncle Wang, drive."
Uncle Wang didn't move. "Second Miss hasn't arrived yet."
"Zuri told me she won't be coming back. She's going to a friend's house," Saira said sweetly.
Uncle Wang was surprised. "Really?"
Before he could say more, Saira interrupted, "Of course, she told me herself."
"But..."
Uncle Wang wanted to say more but was cut off.
"Uncle Wang, I'm hungry. I want some of Arianwen's pastries," Saira said, pouting.
"Miss, Second Miss is already on her way," Uncle Wang finally said, seizing the chance.
"R-really?"
Saira turned stiffly, seeing Zuri opening the car door and getting in.
"Uncle Wang, let's go."
"Sure."
Uncle Wang fastened his seatbelt, glancing at Saira and sighing internally.
Having seen all kinds of people in his fifty-plus years, he understood Saira's little schemes but chose not to expose her.
Saira sat uneasily, feeling as if she'd been slapped in the face.
She blamed Uncle Wang for delaying, making her lie obvious. Her image was shattered.
The rest of the ride was gloomy for Saira. The moment they arrived, she jumped out, not wanting to see Uncle Wang.
Entering the house, she saw several luxury brand managers in the living room with rows of beautiful clothes.
Dalia smiled at her. "Saira, come here and choose the clothes you like."
Seeing the clothes, Saira's mood brightened as she inspected them.
One manager smiled and said, "Miss Lin, these are the latest designs of the season, some not even on the shelves yet. Chairman Lin specifically requested them for you."
It was the first time Chairman Lin had made such a request. In the past, it was always Mrs. Lin handling it, showing that despite not being his biological daughter, Miss Lin was still favored.
Hearing this, Saira's dissatisfaction with her father vanished instantly.
It seemed she still held a place in his heart.