Chapter 74
Chapter 74 Don’t Call Me Again
He finally understood why Zora was always so slender.
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Holden had never paid much attention to Zora around the Knox Villa, yet they crossed paths every mealtime. While everyone else piled food onto their plates, she would only stare blankly at her plate, barely touching any other dishes. It was impossible not to notice.
They had assumed she was just overly reserved, and even grew annoyed by her quiet, withdrawn manner at the table.
They’d wondered why she acted like that at dinner, as if they would ever mistreat her.
It had never crossed their minds that she simply disliked the food served at home.
Realizing this weighed heavily on Holden’s heart.
It dawned on him that none of the Knox family had ever truly tried to understand her.
Holden picked up a prawn with his utensils, his eyes dropping to hide his inner turmoil.
He carefully shelled it using a knife and fork, awkward and unskilled at the unfamiliar task, splitting the flesh in a few spots.
He looked at the neatly shelled prawn, leaned gently forward, and slid it onto Zora’s plate.
Another hand suddenly brushed against his own. He looked up and met Kian’s gaze.
“Holden, are you peeling that for Zora?” Reed asked in genuine surprise. “I thought you weren’t fond of her. Why go out of your way to peel her a prawn p>
Holden fell silent at once.
Zora looked up, confused.
Holden stared at his poorly peeled prawn, then at the perfectly shelled one in Kian’s hand contrast was embarrassing even to himself.
Quickly, he redirected his hand, dipping the prawn into the seasoned sauce beside Zora’s plate.
“I just thought the plain prawn tasted a little bland,” he said calmly. “Wanted some sauce to go with it p>
Without changing his expression, he pulled his hand back and popped the prawn into his mouth.
The strange, overpowering flavor nearly made him gag. With everyone at the table watching, he forced his jaw to work a few times, swallowed it down without chewing properly, then
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Chapter 74 Don’t Call Me Again
grabbed his drink and took a long sip.
Finished
His odd behavior left everyone seated around the table quiet and awkward.
No one could believe he’d claim the rich butter-seared prawns were too plain.
Kian, Reed, Floyd and Opal all held their tongues, watching Holden with quiet amusement.
Opal shot Reed a sharp warning glance.
Reed just grinned and shrugged it off, unbothered.
After dinner, Zora headed upstairs to rest.
She pulled her dead phone out of her backpack to charge, then headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
When she came back out, she unlocked her phone and saw a long list of missed calls from unfamiliar numbers.
Zora frowned.
Before she could set the phone down, it rang again.
She answered the call.
“Zora…” It was Wendy’s voice, soft and hesitant.
Zora immediately wanted to hang up.
“Zora, I’m so sorry. I misunderstood you before,” Wendy spoke with genuine remorse.
Zora said nothing at all.
“Zora, let me come pick you up and bring you home tomorrow, alright p>
Wendy had originally planned to fetch Zora that very day.
But Jolie had skipped school that afternoon and come straight home, throwing herself into Wendy’s arms and crying uncontrollably. She kept saying how terrified she’d been, claiming she’d never meant any harm.
Jolie apologized repeatedly, begging the family for forgiveness.
After all, Jolie was the daughter she’d raised all these years, and Wendy couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her.
She sighed to herself.
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Chapter 74 Don’t Call Me Again
》༦
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She knew Jolie’s fear was understandable, yet she still couldn’t overlook how the girl had deliberately framed Zora to turn the family against her.
Jolie had subtly asked Wendy to talk Jensen into taking down the online campus forum posts and to speak publicly on the Knox family’s behalf to confirm Jolie’s place as a beloved daughter of the household.
Wendy chose not to respond to the request.
The Knox family already owed Zora more than they could ever repay. Wendy didn’t think Reed was in the wrong for letting the truth out; Zora was their biological daughter, after all.
They’d kept her real identity hidden for far too long.
They’d always catered to Jolie’s feelings for fear of hurting her, yet they’d completely ignored that Zora could be hurt too.
What shocked Wendy most was that Jolie had schemed to set Zora up. As a mother who’d only just gotten her real daughter back and was drowning in guilt, she felt deeply disappointed in Jolie.
That was why Wendy refused to ask Jensen for help.
Jolie needed to learn a lesson. She could wait a few more days before stepping in to fix the online gossip.
Jolie had cried in her arms for ages before finally falling asleep. By the time Wendy checked the clock, it was already too late in the evening to go collect Zora. Į
She’d called Zora many times, but none of the calls had been answered.
She’d just spoken with Holden on the phone, learned Zora was free to take her call now, and dialed again-relieved when Zora finally picked up.
Wendy could feel her daughter slipping further away, and she was desperate to mend their broken bond.
“Mrs. Knox,” Zora said flatly once Wendy finished speaking, “don’t call me again p>
She hung up right after.
Zora had only answered to make it clear they should stop reaching out for good.
On the other end of the line, Wendy’s face drained of all color in an instant.
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