3


    As the scene unfolded, the guests who hadn''t been escorted out gasped in disbelief.


    "Can you believe she actually raised her hand against her own mother? That''s just wrong! But Ms. Yvette Nelson is so nice and understanding-she''s a real reflection of Reba''s proper upbringing. A wild kid like Shakira will never be a match for her." "I heard she used to pull stunts like this with the Smith family too, quitting school just to run off with a gangster." And she was running to Bris. If the Nelson family hadn''t gone after her, who knows when she would havee back? Bris is such a disaster. She must have really lost her innocence over there." than enough


    daughter like that, it might be better to just let her go and not try to bring her back. Having Yvette is more remained


    Shakira


    ained unfazed, the small mole under her eye adding to her mysterious allure. She turned to them, her voice dripped with an eerie calmness. "Are you done? Did you see me firsthand, or are you just hiding under the bed listening in on me and these men? Trying to ruin my reputation without any proof?" You''ve got them in your bed, Shakira. Do you think we''re all idiots?" Shakira shot a nce at him. "So, it seems you''re the real fool here."


    Mitchell rolled her eyes. "Are


    you


    for real?


    "Y-You!" Mitchell''s eyes widened in anger.


    Shakira ignored him, walked over to the bed, and mmed her palm down on one of the three men there.


    The man nearly leaped off the bed, but seeing the crowd, he didn''t feel embarrassed but grinned widely, saying, "Just like a true Nelsondy. This feels fantastic."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow. "Which Nelson are you talking about?"


    "Of course..." the man paused, hesitating. The three of them were only there for the money and knew there was a Nelsondy in the room, but they had no idea which one. They hadn''t seen anyone when they walked in, and since they had taken something strong, they ended up knocking each other out. Now,All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    there were only two young women present, and he nced between Shakira, standing confidently beside him, and Yvette, who was blushing and hiding behind Reba.


    After a moment, his sleazy gazended on Yvette, and a disgusting smirk stered on his face. "Why are you blushing, Ms. Nelson? Weren''t you just begging us to go a little harder?"


    Instantly, Yvette''s expression shifted to pure fury.


    "How dare you nder Yvette! I''ll make you pay for this!" Mitchell charged over and started hitting the guy, leaving him with a bloody nose.


    Yosef''s face darkened as he turned to the security team. "Take them to the police station and figure out how they managed to sneak in here."


    Reba realized the truth and her anger began to crack. She felt somewhat relieved but since Shakira had just disrespected her in front of everyone, she still spoke with a reprimanding tone. "What are you standing there for? Come back here right now." Shakira didn''t move.


    Yvette, pale and trembling, looked at Shakira. "I was so reckless, and it made everyone misunderstand you. I''m really sorry,   Shakira."


    D


    Shakira sneered, "You said I hate you, right? But you took my identity, stole my parents and siblings, and had the eighteen years of life that should have been mine. You talk about leaving, but you''re still stuck with the Nelson family. Why wouldn''t I hate you?" Yvette froze, her face a mix of embarrassment and hurt. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she said, "It''s all my fault. If I just walked away from Dad, Mom, and my brothers, everyone would only need to spoil you, Shakira-just you..." "Don''t listen to her, Yvette. She''s just an ungrateful brat." Mitchell''s heart ached for Yvette. He turned to Shakira and yelled, "We came to check on you because Yvette actually cares about you. If we hadeter, how would you clear your name? You really are ungrateful." Yoseft: d. "Yvette has apologized. You should let it go."


    Reba matched their irritation. "It was a mistake by the hospital staff years ago. Why are you ming Yvette for something she didn''t even know about? We brought you back; what more do you want?"


    Watching them defend Yvette,pletely oblivious to her pain, made Shakira lower her gaze. Her long, curlyshes trembled slightly. "You''re all the same as before. I guess that''s a good thing."


    When she looked up again, a new determination sparked in her eyes. "You can keep treating your precious darling, believing everything she says without question, and regarding her like the golden child of the Nelson family. Don''t worry about me causing trouble or ruining your precious name. And don''t think I''ll take away even a sliver of attention meant for Yvette." Reba frowned in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"


    Shakira opened a recording app on her phone, clearly enunciating her words. "From this day on, I, Shakira Nelson, sever all ties with the Nelson family. I won''t take another bite of food from you, nor will I seek your help again.


    "I''ve only stayed here for about four months, and I''ll pay back every cent you''ve spent on me. I won''t take a single thing from


    you.


    "From now on, whoever the Nelson family''s daughter is, that''s none of my concern. You can spoil Yvette all you want, but I won''t be involved at all. We''ll be total strangers. s back to reality.


    "I''ll send this recording to everyone in the Nelson family for the record. Yosef, you can draft a formal disassociation agreement. Don''t worry. I won''t go back on my word."


    With that, Shakira sent the recording and the notification tone snapped the Nelsons


    Mitchell, eyes wide, eximed, "Are you crazy? You''re actually willing to cut all ties with the family just to avoid donating a kidney?"


    "Do you even know what you''re saying?" Yosef clenched his phone tightly, staring at the usually obedient Shakira as if she were a stranger.


    Shakira''s expression was calm. "You''ve never acknowledged my connection to the Nelson family publicly, nor offered me anything in return. This way, it saves everyone a lot of trouble. If you''re so attached to Yvette, consider it done." Reba trembled with anger. "Fine! If you want to leave, go ahead. You think we''re afraid of your threats?"


    Without hesitation, Shakira walked out. The Nelsons stood shocked, unable to process what had just happened.


    ''Shakira can''t leave after all my efforts to bring her back for the transnt. Mitchell bit her lip, frustration bubbling over as she said, "I have to go convince her to stay."


    111


    As Shakira stepped outside, she was about to call a rideshare when a sleek ck Maybach pulled up in front of her. Three muscr men in dark suits climbed out and surrounded her, looking both polite and intimidating. "Ms. Nelson, our boss requests your presence." Shakira''s mind raced, and she could only think of one person. With a shrug, she bent down and got into the luxurious car. Just then, Yvette and the others ran out and spotted Shakira leaving in the Maybach. She couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy. "Since when did Shakira get so close to someone important?" Mitchell scoffed. "It''s just a Maybach. What''s the big deal? Wait until your big role in that uing drama drops. Then a Maybach will just be your ride to the set."


    "Yea


    ly


    smile crept onto Yvette''s face.


    Yose! watched the car disappear, his brow furrowing with a sense of unease. He had a feeling things were about to change.


    Inside the car, Shakira finally had a moment to check her messages.


    Sean Reynolds: [Isn''t today your birthday? Why was it that fake Nelson at the Nelson birthday party?]


    [I''m not celebrating with a fake.] Shakira typed back, surprisingly yful, even teasing the situation a bit.


    Sean''s messages flooded in. [Right! No birthday party with that fake! But I don''t get it. You have this incredible life waiting for you after retirement, so why deal with the Nelson family at all?]


    [You''ve done so much for them-granting patents, donating specialized medicines to your brother''s hospital, giving Yvette her big break in that drama... And all they do is focus on Yvette! It''s infuriating!] Shakira chuckled softly. [You seem really worked up about this. Maybe I should reward you by reiming the patents.]


    Sean was immersed in typing. [We haven''t signed the patent contracts yet, and they''re trying to lowball us and haggle down the prices. We''re still auditioning for the female lead. Wait... reim?] Suddenly realizing what Shakira meant, Sean squealed. [I''m stopping everything right now!]


    Shakira: [Also, get back anything else we''ve given to the Nelson family.]


    [Got it! This is amazing! Are youing back? I''ll let everyone know your true identity tomorrow and make the Nelson family regret their choices!]


    [No, I''ve got my own ns.]


    [What ns?]


    Shakira''s expression darkened slightly as she typed back: [For now, let''s just say I n to dim the Nelsons'' golden child.]


    [What?]


    [Not ready to share just yet. I''m heading back to pack my things and find a hotel.]


    [Hotel? I''ve bought you a vi and it''s at Easke Valley Estate...]


    Before finishing reading, Shakira switched screens on her phone. Sean was more than capable of managing thepany, but she just wished he''d be a little less chatty.


    <


    G


    3