Chapter 525
Chapter 525
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Hayley looked at Daron and let out a laugh. “Daron, deep down, you must’ve felt relieved, right?
“You’ve probably wanted all of this to be exposed to everyone for a long time. After all, you’ve been bound by the obligation you felt for my raising you all these years. You’ve been wanting to break free for a long time.”
Daron looked at Hayley with a cold, indifferent gaze and didn’t respond.
Hayley gave a bitter laugh.
She said, “Daron, you really are ruthless. I’ll accept how things ended up.
“After all, you even had your own father thrown in jail. Compared to that, I’m just a complete stranger to you. Why would you ever hesitate to take me down?”
Marina sat in the car, watching as Daron and Hayley talked for ages, but neither of them had returned yet.
She glanced out and saw Daron’s back slightly slouched, so she opened the door, stepped out, and walked over to him.
Marina came up beside Daron and gently took his hand in hers.
Daron looked down and saw Marina standing right next to him.
His palm was suddenly warmed by her touch. Hayley’s words didn’t hit him as hard anymore.
Daron said, “Aunt Hayley, I’ve already done more than enough for you.
‘As for Zara, I didn’t press charges against her. I dropped the case about her stealing Cloudstorm Group’s company secrets. That’s me paying her back for carrying me to the infirmary back then.
As for you, I never expected you to pay back that money!
Hayley gritted her teeth. “You didn’t ask me to pay it back, but Marina already took that money.
Marina took the money, and then Bette sued me. You guys really teamed up to set me up. What a performance.”
As she spoke, Hayley shot Marina a vicious glare.
She knew Daron wouldn’t be that ruthless to her. But right now, she just wanted to drive a wedge between Daron and Marina.
She said, “Daron, you think I betrayed you by selling off your mother’s belongings when you were injured. But at that time, I was just trying to protect myself.
“This world is cold and realistic. If your status and power couldn’t help the Finley Group, do you honestly think Marina would stick by your side?
“After she broke off your engagement, she immediately jumped into another relationship. Isn’t that a betrayal, too?
“I admit I was after the money, but isn’t Marina in it for the money as well? Is there really anyone in this world who truly loves you?”
Hayley let out a mocking laugh. “People only care about who you are and what you have.”
If Daron weren’t the Zamora family’s heir back then, the Blanchard family wouldn’t have bent over backwards to hire
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Chapter 525
someone to look after him.
In the end, everyone was just out for their own interests.
She was no different.
She just made one wrong move, and everything came crashing down.
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She’d spent years lying low in the Zamora and Blanchard’s households, playing the long game, finally about to enjoy the good life. But as soon as Marina showed up, she got everything Hayley had ever dreamed of.
In just a few months, Marina ended up destroying all those years of family ties with Daron.
To put it bluntly, Marina was just a bit luckier than her.
Marina squeezed Daron’s hand a little tighter.
She looked up at Hayley and spoke in a calm, steady voice.
“Ms. Blanchard, you’re right. I was drawn to Daron for his status and position. After all, if I had to choose a partner for this journey called life, of course I’d pick someone powerful.
“But since I chose him, to me, he’s the one I trust the most. No matter what kind of mess we get into, I’ll face it with him, not bail when things get rough.”
Hayley sneered. “You’re just putting on a show right now.
‘If everyone had kept you in the dark back then, with the Finley family in that kind of mess, you’d have run for the hills even faster than I did.”
Marina nodded, picking up from Hayley’s point.
She said, “You’re right. I should actually thank you for teaching me a lesson. Next time something like this happens, it’ll only make me more resolute to stand by Daron’s side.”
As she spoke, Marina looked up at Daron.
Daron glanced down at her, their eyes meeting. An unspoken warmth flowed between them.
Hayley was visibly stung by the scene in front of her.
She took a deep breath, eyes fixed on Daron, clearly starting to lose her cool.
She said, “Daron, you can’t deny your responsibility for how Zara and I have ended up. It’s all because you gave us hope, only to leave us trapped in this mess with no way out.
“We spent decades by your side, and what did we get in return? Nothing. Marina’s only been with you for a few months, yet she ended up with everything.”
Marina frowned, seeing Hayley acting so crazed.
Daron looked at Hayley indifferently, his voice calm but firm as he spoke.
“Aunt Hayley, all these years, to repay the debt I owed you for raising me, I’ve done more than enough for you and Zara. My
conscience is clear.
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Chapter 525
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“You wanted to be a true member of the Zamora family, so I made sure you were officially added to the Zamora family records and could always receive the Zamora family’s benefits.
“The Blanchard family never shortchanged you either. It’s not me who let you down. It’s your own ambition that’s the problem.
“You wanted to take over the Zamora family all at once, and even hoped your own kid would inherit it someday.”
Hayley let out a cold, mocking laugh. “You call putting my name in the family records making me a true Zamora? Daron, let’s be real. Was any of that actually for me?
“Or was it just because the Blanchard family kept looking for a reason to bring your mother’s memorial tablet back, but never had a proper excuse? You just pushed me out there to be your shield.”
Daron’s tone grew more solemn. “That was beneficial for both of us. You were never just a shield for anyone.”
Hayley let out a cold laugh, about to say something, but Marina interrupted her, “Ms. Blanchard, at this point, there’s really nothing left to talk about.
“If you don’t want to end up in court, then post an apology video as soon as possible and apologize for all the lies you spread online.
“As long as you apologize, I’ll forgive you this once, for Daron’s sake. But after that, leave the country for good and don’t ever show your face to Daron or me again.”
Marina compromised for Daron’s sake. This was the last chance she’d give Hayley.
With that, Marina took Daron’s hand and turned to leave.
Daron accepted Marina’s decision and walked away with her.
Hayley stood there, watching as the two walked away, her gaze cold and dark.
Hayley thought, ‘Apologize? They want me to apologize?’
Hayley clenched her teeth. There was no way she could do that.
She’d looked after Daron all these years. She was his elder.
Hayley thought, ‘Elders never have to apologize to the younger generation, right?’
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