Chapter 500
Chapter 500
News of what went down at Durif’s birthday party spread to Zara in no time.
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Hayley had always wanted Zara to get a foothold in the circle, so she’d often drag Zara along to some gatherings.
Today, some heiresses who were on close terms with Zara attended the party too.
None of them had any idea that they’d get to see such a wild scene unfold.
Zara had always played the perfect little angel in front of the elders to blend in. That was why all the society ladies kept comparing their own daughters to her.
Now that Zara’s real background was out in the open, people couldn’t wait to ridicule her in the group chat.
[I always thought Zara was just some poor girl whom Mrs. Zamora took under her wing. Who knew she wasn’t some poor girl but actually a secret daughter.]
[No wonder Ms. Blanchard pampered her so much. Zara is her own kid. Of course, she’d treat Zara well. The Zamora and Blanchard families have been totally duped all these years.]
Zara and her mother are really good actors.]
Zara was still at work when she saw the messages. She took a deep breath, and her expression froze.
Her fingers trembled as she thought, ‘Now that everyone knows who I really am, then…
She couldn’t even begin to imagine what had happened
She immediately pulled out her phone and called Hayley.
party.
Hayley didn’t pick up for ages. After what felt like forever, she finally answered.
“Zara, Hayley said. Her voice was hoarse and sounded tearful. Obviously, she’d just been crying.
Zara took a deep breath, trying hard to hold back her anger.
“What exactly did you do at the party? Didn’t you tell me not to do anything rash for a while? So why–why does everyone suddenly know my identity?” Zara demanded.
Hayley’s voice was barely above a whisper, as if she were completely powerless to change what had happened.
“Bette was hell–bent on revenge. Ever since the day she apologized, she hasn’t stopped coming after me,” Hayley explained. “She and Elnora set me up. I didn’t see it coming and fell right into their trap.”
It was clear that Bette had long planned to deal with Hayley. She wanted to expose Hayley’s true colors right in front of
Daron.
Hayley took a moment to calm herself, thinking back to how Bette had gone on the attack at the party, throwing out all the evidence and pressing her so hard that she lost her composure in front of everyone.
She couldn’t even pretend to be clueless anymore.
Zara took a deep breath as she listened to Hayley, then said, “It was Durif’s birthday, and Bette caused all this drama at his party. Didn’t he even try to stop her?
1/4
5:00 pm P P P P
Chapter 500
“Doesn’t this just turn the Blanchard family into a joke in front of everyone?”
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Hayley clenched her jaw hard as she thought, “Those guests wouldn’t laugh at the Blanchard family. Ever since Daron took over the Zamora family, things between the Blanchard family and me have started to shift.
I’ve barely visited Durif these past few years, and the Blanchard relatives have long since distanced themselves from me. Those guests were just there to watch me make a fool of myself. It wasn’t about the Blanchard family at all.
Zara gripped her phone tightly, her face drained of all color.
“Mom, you never should’ve gone to that party today,” Zara said.
It was a setup, planned just for Hayley.
Hayley hung her head, saying nothing.
Now that things had come to this, she was out of options.
Zara’s voice shook as she asked, “Didn’t Daron help you? He just watched while Bette embarrassed you in front of everyone?”
Hayley’s face fell instantly. She remembered the way Daron looked at her back then, like she was a stranger. She couldn’t help but shut her eyes.
“No,” Hayley whispered. “Everything’s been exposed. It turns out they’d already found out that I switched the jewelry in the collection room.”
Zara’s knees buckled at Hayley’s words, and she had to steady herself against the sink to keep from falling over.
“What do we do now? Are they going to get the money back?” Zara asked.
Hayley’s face contorted for a second, and she blurted out, “We can’t let them recover the money, Zara. Let’s leave the country. Let’s go right now. Wasn’t leaving the country our plan from the start?”
Zara clutched her phone and didn’t say a word for ages.
After everything she’d been through, she’d finally gotten close to Daron, working right next to him, seeing him every day.
She didn’t want to leave like this.
This was just so unfair.
“Mom, you should go abroad first. I’ll join you later,” Zara said.
“If we both vanish at the same time, it’ll only make them suspicious. Moreover, you can’t transfer all that money right away. I’ll stay behind and work on selling off all the jewelry you’ve collected. Once I have the money, I’ll come find you.”
Hayley nodded when she heard Zara’s plan and responded right away, “Alright.”
“Let me get you a ticket. You leave first,” Zara said.
Hayley was all for it.
Zara booked the earliest flight out of the country for Hayley and even planned out the whole route for her.
Bette had Hayley so worked up at the party that she was totally out of it. She just followed Zara’s lead without a second thought.
2/4
5:00 pm PP
Chapter 500
Right now, Hayley was beyond relieved that she hadn’t abandoned Zara back then.
When push came to shove, it was Zara who really had her back.
The day after Hayley left the country, Zara sought out Daron.
Daron no longer cared about Zara the way he used to.
Zara knocked on Daron’s office door, stepped inside, and walked up to his desk. She said quietly, “Mr. Zamora.”
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Daron looked up, shot her a look, and said seriously, “I’m transferring you to another branch because I know you’re capable. But if you insist on staying here, then I’ll have to let you go.”
Zara bit her lip, knowing that Daron just didn’t want her working anywhere near him anymore.
“Mr. Zamora, I’m not here to talk about that.”
As Zara spoke, she pulled out a bank card, set it on Daron’s desk, and slid it over with her finger.
“I only found out the truth about who I am, and everything my mom did, late last night. This card holds all the money my mom got from selling Aunt Wilhelmina’s belongings.
“I’m giving it back to you now. I’m really sorry, Mr. Zamora. My mom knows what she did was wrong. She’s too ashamed to face you, so she’s already left the country. She said she’ll never show up and disrupt your life again.”
Daron didn’t even spare the bank card a glance.
“Yesterday at the Blanchard mansion, she made herself clear. We’re even. Let her keep the money. Consider it payment for severing ties between us,” Daron said, his tone icy.
Zara’s gaze flashed with something complicated.
She drew in a shaky breath, her chest tight.
Daron was so composed about it all, like Hayley was nothing to him now.
Zara clenched her fists at her sides, hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she didn’t take the bank card back.
She wanted Daron to know she was serious about this.
“Mr. Zamora, this money doesn’t belong to her. If you won’t take it, then just donate it. At least let it do some good in her name,” Zara said. “I’m really sorry for what she did. She made a stupid mistake.”
Daron didn’t respond at all. He just buried himself in his paperwork.
Seeing Daron’s reaction, Zara could only quietly walk out of his office.
After closing the office door behind her, Zara closed her eyes for a moment, pushing down the bitterness in her gaze.
‘Daron really means to sever all ties with us, Zara thought.
