From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots

Chapter 166 Reckoning

b“/bbIf /bany of you step out of line while serving the Lane family–if you dare do anything to harm us—bdon’t /bme me for being merciless,” Taylor said coldly, his words echoing like a knife slicing through bbone/b.

Just then, Stanley stepped forward without hesitation.

“I’ll do it. I’ll work as a servant and do my part–anything to make Scarlett happy.”

Everyone turned to look at him.

iSo /iiquick /iito /isurrenderi? /iWilling ito /ibe a servant ijust /iilike /iithat/ii? /i

How ipathetic/i.

Owen’s tone remained calm, but firm. “As long as you behave and fulfill your duties, the Lane family won’t stoop to your level by exploiting your worth.”

Thest trace of color drained from the Joyner family’s faces.

The Lane family wasn’t just retaliating–they were doing it openly, righteously, and without giving them any chance to resist.

It was over.

They had just reached the pinnacle of power in Trenwyn… and now they were being dragged into the dirt, disgraced before everyone.

They nced around the room. No one stepped forward to help them. Not one.

So this is what it felt like–to be utterly alone in a crowd.

And to think Scarlett lived like this for six whole years in the Joyner household–isted, unloved.

“We only have what we do today because of Scarlett.”

“And we lost her. We destroyed the best thing we ever had.”

Oliver murmured the words, his hand clutching his chest as if trying to hold his shattered heart together.

That girl, who had nned and sacrificed so much for their family, had been crushed beneath their boots- and finally left.

Now, he felt as though his veins were running cold, ice seeping through every part of him.

Scarlett, I iknow /iI iwas /iiwrong/ii. /iiI /iireally/i… I’m isorry/i.

This punishment, this humiliation–it was what he deserved.

“I’ll sign,” he said, voice thick with sorrow and regret.

“Good,” Owen responded.

An assistant brought over the contract. Without hesitation, Oliver signed it. He didn’t even nce at the

contents.

Chapter b166 /bReckoning

bFranklin’s /bexpression grew darker by the second.

But he didn’t stop him.

After Oliver signed. Franklin clenched his jaw and spoke again.

“Well then, since my eldest son has already signed, he alone should stay behind to repay the debt. bThe /bbLane /bfamily is a prestigious house–surely you wouldn’t stoop so low as to force the rest of us into servitude?”

Oliver froze.

His eyes widened as he turned back, stunned.

Franklin avoided his gaze.

Martha looked away, silent.

His other two brothers were too shocked to react.

So that was it.

Even now, no one in this family truly cared for him. Not one.

The only person who had ever prioritized him, fought for him, and protected him… was Scarlett.

And he had lost her.

She was gone–and her revenge had cut him to the bone.

He looked toward her, eyes bloodshot, hoping–pleading–for even a single nce.

But Scarlett didn’t even look at him.

To her, he no longer existed.

Scarlett herself was slightly stunned.

She had always thought the Joyners were a united front. That no matter what, they would protect their own.

Like when Reba got into trouble–Oliver took the me, Stanley ran around fixing it, Eugene stabilized her emotions.

-But now? They were turning on each other.

And for the first time, Scarlett saw them for what they truly were: selfish, self–serving, and utterly devoid of genuine love.

All those feelings she had once poured into them were wasted.

Owen was equally disgusted.

Franklin was willing to sacrifice his own son to save himself–a despicable act of self–preservation.

It was clear what he was thinking: iif /iiOliver /iisigned /iiand /ipaid with ihis /iibor/ii, /iithe /iiLane /iifamily /iiwouldn’t /iie /ibiafter /i/bthe irest/i. iOne /iisacrifice /iito /iisave /ithe wholei. /i

Chapter 166 Reckoning

biOne /i/bbison /i/bbito /i/bsave the ifamily /i

bHe /bbwas /bbetting that Oliver’s life was enough to clear the debt–and if not, that at least the Lane bFamily /bwouldn’t pursue the others as aggressively.

b“/bScarlett,” Owen said, turning to his daughter, “what do you think?”

He was ready to unleash more consequences if she felt unsatisfied.

But Scarlett surprised him.

She “softened.”

“Let it be,” she said.

Once, she had been the scapegoat, the one everyone picked on.

Now that they were turning on each other, why end it here?

Let them rot in the chaos they created.

Direct revenge would be too merciful. She preferred cutting slowly–one slice at a time.

She wanted them to live the rest of their lives in anxiety, fear, and regret.

Owen signaled for the contracts to be collected.

But then–Martha suddenly snapped.

She rushed forward and grabbed Scarlett’s arm, desperation shing in her eyes. “Scarlett, it was me. The recognition n–it was all my idea. My fault. Please-”

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