Chapter 524
Hayley looked at Zara’s guilty face, and the words of accusation she was about to say died in her throat.
Now, Zara was already detained. What happened had happened, and nothing could change it anymore.
“I got it,” Hayley said. “I’ll get that money back from Marina.”
With that, Hayley hung up the phone, stood up, and walked out.
Zara lingered in her chair for a moment, watching Hayley leave, and only then did she hang up the phone.
She pressed her lips together, lowered her eyes, and headed into the little dark room.
Zara knew Hayley’s personality all too well.
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f Bette kept pestering her and Marina refused to admit she’d taken the money, Hayley would definitely break down.
All these years, Hayley had been living humbly in the Zamora family, always acting gentle and kind on the surface, but deep lown, a restless side had been quietly taking root.
Everything that had happened lately was the best proof of that.
Zara lightly pursed her lips, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes.
Her world had turned pitch black the moment she landed in prison.
How could Marina, my enemy, be out there living like nothing ever happened?’ Zara thought.
She hoped Hayley would do something crazy. She wanted Daron to regret it forever.
The first thing Hayley did after leaving the detention center was to contact Marina.
But Marina just wouldn’t pick up her calls.
To Hayley, Marina dodging her calls was a clear sign that she was feeling guilty.
She took the money Zara gave her, so now she’s too scared to face me,’ Hayley thought.
With no other options, Hayley ended up waiting downstairs at the Finley Group building.
Marina had just finished work in Finley Group and was heading downstairs when she spotted Hayley waiting in the lobby.
As soon as Hayley saw Marina, she immediately got up from the sofa and walked over.
‘Marina, let’s talk. Just the two of us,” Hayley said.
Hayley stood before Marina, her usual act of kindness gone. Her eyes were sharp, like she was facing an enemy.
Marina met her gaze, speaking calmly. “There’s nothing to talk about between us.”
As Hayley walked toward Marina, the Finley Group security guards stepped in and stopped her.
When Marina was about to leave, Hayley said solemnly, “Marina, I went to see Zara.”
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Chapter 524
Marina didn’t respond.
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Hayley clenched her jaw, speaking in a low voice. “Zara spilled everything to me. She said she gave you all the money from selling off the inheritance, just to get on your good side. Marina, take my advice. Hand that money over.”
Marina gave Hayley a glance and replied, denying it, “Zara lied to you. That money isn’t in my possession.”
‘Zara would never try to win me over with that money, Marina thought.
Marina’s denial was exactly what Hayley had expected.
Hayley scoffed coldly, “Do you think just denying it means you can escape the truth? If you don’t hand over that money, I won’t let you get away with it.”
Marina stopped in her tracks and turned to face Hayley.
“So, what exactly are you planning to do to me?” Marina asked. “I heard Bette’s already taken this to court. With that much money involved, you should really talk to Zara if you want answers.
“If you can’t pay back that money, you might end up in jail. The Blanchard family only cut you some slack and never called the cops because you looked after Daron all these years. Ms. Blanchard, you’re on your own.”
Hayley listened to Marina and felt that Marina was deliberately provoking her.
Marina was refusing to hand over the money on purpose, just so Hayley would end up being sued and held accountable by Bette.
Hayley clenched her jaw hard.
“Aren’t you afraid Daron will start to drift away from you for treating me like this?” Hayley shot back.
“After all these years as family with Daron, do you really think your life will be any easier just because mine’s falling apart?
‘Let me tell you. One day, Daron will regret every decision he’s making right now. And when that day comes-”
“That’s not your concern anymore,” Marina interrupted, not letting Hayley finish.
She turned on her heel and walked away.
Hayley’s face darkened, a cold, ruthless look flickering in her eyes.
She could only watch as Marina walked out of the Finley Group building, just in time to see Daron’s car pull up to pick Marina up.
Daron stepped out, opened the door for Marina, and looked back toward the lobby.
Their gazes locked for a moment in the air.
Hayley was stunned for a second, then quickly averted her gaze from Daron.
Even though Hayley always talked tough, when she was face-to-face with Daron, she just couldn’t muster the same bravado or confidence to negotiate with him.
Daron glanced at Hayley, closed the car door for Marina, then leaned down and spoke softly to Marina.
“I’ll head over,” he said.
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Chapter 524
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Marina nodded gently. “Be careful.”
After all, Hayley was at the end of her rope now. No one could guess what Hayley might do next.
Daron nodded and made his way toward Hayley.
As soon as Hayley saw Daron heading her way, panic flashed across her face.
She tried to leave, but the Finley Group security guards stopped her.
When Daron finally stood in front of her, Hayley nervously lowered her head. None of that swagger she showed on the livestream or in the video was left.
“Aunt Hayley,” Daron said, his voice calm and distant.
Hayley froze for a moment, then looked up at Daron.
“Daron, I…” Hayley said, her voice trailing off.
Daron kept a blank look on his face, showing no emotion at all when he looked at Hayley.
“Aun¡ Hayley, weren’t you supposed to be abroad? Why are you back?”
Hayley moved her lips, then said softly, “I heard about the whole thing between you and Zara. Daron, it was Martin who stirred things up. Zara never meant to frame you.”
Daron said, “She didn’t frame me.”
Hayley was stunned.
Daron continued, “She just wanted to make sure Cloudstorm Group lost its footing here, and to completely ruin my name. Isn’t that so?”
Daron’s question made a flicker of guilt cross Hayley’s eyes.
She let out a soft sigh and said, “Daron, you know what Zara’s like. She’s always admired you. She’d never do anything to hurt you. She was just led astray.
“Back then, things between you two were already pretty delicate. Ever since she was little-”
Daron cut her off, “Aunt Hayley, I’d already let you go, and I didn’t intend to pursue any other charges against Zara.
“But you exposed everything online, causing a huge stir and drawing all this attention. If I don’t handle this properly, Marina and I will carry the stigma of being ungrateful for the rest of our lives.”
This was the first time after everything blew up that Hayley and Daron were finally confronting each other face-to-face
about it all.
Before this, she’d always dumped all the blame on Zara, just to keep playing the innocent in front of Daron.
But now, Daron knew the whole story, and with Zara in jail, Hayley had no one left to take the fall for her.
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