Chapter 514 The Hand That Takes

    “I…”

    Marilyn was furious.

    ? ?

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    She had wanted to borrow money from Elsa–how had it ended with Elsa eyeing her own possessions instead?

    Besides, Elsa knew her situation well. Where was she supposed toe up with that kind of money?

    Still, she didn’t want to lose the support Elsa’s background offered, so she forced herself to sound sincere. “John is unbelievable! Spending money on a woman and then demanding it back… he’s so stingy! Elsa, you should go to Simon. I’m sure he’ll help you repay it. Yes, I’ll call Simon right now and have hime keep youpany!”

    Afraid Elsa might press her for money again, Marilyn called Simon and then hurriedly excused herself, fleeing the hospital.

    Yet even as she left, one thought burned in her mind–how humiliating it was, as the futuredy of the Luke family, to not have a single piece of jewelry worthy of her new status.

    But how could she get something valuable enough?

    Then an idea struck her, making her eyes shine.

    Her uncle Greg was a university professor. The Xander family, though not wealthy, had a cultured background.

    When her aunt married Greg, his mother had given her a pair of jade bangles bwith /bexceptional rity as a wedding gift.

    Marilyn had always believed those bangles should rightfully belong to her.

    But then her aunt had adopted Adeline andter given birth to her own daughter.

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    Chapter 514 The Hand That Takes

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    To Marilyn, that was uneptable. Those bangles were hers. She had to im

    them.

    After all, she was marrying into the most powerful family in Capital City. If her aunt and uncle didn’t want to offend the Luke family, they would have no choice but to hand the bangles over to her to curry favor.

    With that thought, she wasted no time, hailing a cab straight to the Xander family vi.

    Lately, Lily and Holly hadn’t been performing opera on stage, but their poprity online had only grown, gaining a wave of devoted CP fans.

    Their fame brought offers–an invitation to sing the ending song of ia /ifilm, and another from a television station to perform at a g.

    Tonight, Adeline and Lily were scheduled to appear on TV together. Marilyn nned to stop by the theater first, then head to the studioter.

    But as she pushed open the vi’s front door, she found Marilyn already there, waiting.

    “Auntie!”

    Ignoring Adelinepletely, Marilyn shoved her aside and rushed straight inside, itoo /ieager to demand the bangles.

    Adeline frowned but followed her into the living room.

    “Dad, Mom, tonight I’m going to watch my sister perform!”

    It was Sunday, so Holly and Greg were home.

    On the couch, Millie clung to Greg’s arm with one hand and held Holly’s with the other, begging them to take her to the show.

    i“/iOf course, we’ll go cheer for your sister together!”

    Holly pinched her younger daughter’s chubby cheek with affection, then turned—

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    Chapter 514 The Hand That Takes

    only to see Marilyn storming in like a whirlwind.

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    Her smile froze instantly, though she still forced a polite greeting. “Marilyn, what brings you here?”

    “Auntie, I’m marrying Victor!”

    Marilyn saw the faint, unchanged look on Holly’s face and knew she hadn’t connected the name to its true weight–the second son of the Luke family, the richest household in Capital City.

    Lifting her chin, she added proudly, “Victor is the second son of the wealthiest family. We’re getting engaged in a few days!”

    “That’s nice.”

    Holly’s expression didn’t shift at all.

    To her, it made no difference who Marilyn married.

    She herself had been born into a family that valued sons over daughters to a brutal extreme. She had studied hard, fighting for a future, but her parents had wanted her to drop out. If not for a teacher’s help, she never would have made it.

    Despite being top of her ss, even being admitted into Imperial University, her parents had tried to sell her to an old bachelor in the vige, taking money to secure a wife for her brother.

    She refused, of course. But they locked her up, ready to tie her down and deliver her to the man.

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    If not for a neighbor girl who secretly reported it to the police, Holly never would have escaped, never would have gone on to university.

    She had never returned home since.

    Adopting Adeline was her choice, partly because she had no children, but mostly because she saw herself in that little girl.

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    Because she had suffered from her parents‘ cruelty, she had once btreated /bbMarilyn /bwith extra care.

    Until the day she overheard Marilyn spit venom at her, saying she hated Adeline.

    That if not for Holly adopting Adeline, she would have had Millie sooner. family’s wealth should have gone to her and her brother.

    At the

    All of it–Marilyn med Adeline for stealing what she thought was hers.