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From Ashes to Queen Now I Call the Shots

Chapter 120 The Lane Family’s Invitation

“I can go to your ce for tea, right?”

Scarlett pulled herself out of her thoughts, her tone t. “It’s toote right now. It wouldn’t be bappropriate /b

Taylor felt a flicker of disappointment, but he didn’t show it. Ife igave /i

“No problem. Then I’ll just say a few things here.”

a warm smile.

“Before, when you rejected all contact from the Lane family and didn’t want us disturbing you, I didn’t bdare /bshow up. Now that you’re willing to return, we’re all very happy”

“What I mean is, if there’s anything you need, anything at all, you can tell us.”

Scarlett hadn’t expected him toe all the way here in the middle of the night just to say something bso/bb…. /bempty.

She’d heard simr things before–when she was misidentified as part of the Joyner family, Stanley had said almost the exact same thing.

But in the end…

“Mm.” She didn’t argue, didn’t ask questions. She just hoped he’d leave soon.

Taylor lowered his gaze, and the excitement and nervous energy from before faded. His tone sank heavier, like something was weighing on him.

“Do you have any issues with the timing of your return to the capital?”

Scarlett shook her head. “No. I’ve wrapped up everything I needed to do in Trenwyn. I’m ready to go at any time.”

Taylor exhaled lightly in relief.

“Then stay one more day. I want to take you to see something. You’ll like it.”

Scarlett looked puzzled. “What is it?”

Taylor smiled again. “It’s a good thing. You’ll see.”

She didn’t know how to respond to his sudden warmth. She stayed silent.

“It’ste. You should rest.”

He could see her hesitation. That was fine.

He’d find a way to ease her in, to help her ept the Lane family.

Scarlett watched him leave before quietly returning to her apartment. But for some reason, his words kept echoing in her head, like they had rooted themselves in her mind and refused to be shaken loose.

She shook her head.

Still thinking about the so–called “good show” he mentioned, she tossed and turned for a while.

Chapter 120 The Lane Family’s Invitation

b“/bForget it. I’ll just read something.”

She grabbed a textbook and switched on hermp.

Late at night, the Joyner residence was still lit up.

Martha sat stiffly on the sofa. The house was quiet–only a few servants remained. Everyone else bwas /beither off duty or still out. Of the household’s other members, none had returned.

Eugene was a doctor, and with the medical conference in full swing, it made sense he’d be working bte/bb. /b

Stanley wasn’t filming anymore, yet even he hadn’te home.

Oliver and Franklin were even worse. They’d said in the afternoon that they’d go smooth things over for Reba. But now it was deep into the night, and still no news.

What’s more, no one was answering their phones–like it had all been nned.

Martha was growing more anxious by the second. Her frustration boiled over as a servant brought her coffee.

“They say they care about Reba,” she snapped, mming her hand on the table, “but I’m the only one actually doing anything!”

She froze.

Her voice had barely faded when she abruptly stood.

“If they won’t tell me anything, then I’ll go to the detention center myself. I want to see Rebai./ii” /i

The maid hurried to stop her. “Please, Madam, calm down. Mr. Franklin is still handling this. If you go now, it might interfere-”

“I’ve had enough waiting! My eye’s been twitching nonstop–something is wrong!”

Just then, the front door opened.

Martha whipped around–and finally saw Franklin and Oliver walk in.

She rushed toward them, blocking them in the courtyard.

“What took you so long? Where’s Reba? Didn’t you bring her home?”

“Oh, right–you said you had to wait 48 hours. Fine. But tell me–how is she? What happened?”

But neither Franklin nor Oliver said a word. They didn’t even lift their eyes.

“Hey! I’m talking to you! What’s going on with Reba?!”

Their silence hit her like a brick to the chest. Panic surged in her veins as she grabbed Franklin’s arm.

“Tell me the truth. Is she alright? Did you even see her?!”

She felt like she was being tossed in stormy waves, nond in sight. She could barely keep herself standing.

b16:01 /bbFri/bb, /bb8 /bbAug /b

Chapter 120 The Lane Family’s Invitation

Franklin, at least, kept hisposure. He helped her back inside and settled her bon /bbthe /bcouch before waving the servants away and closing the doors.

He waited until they were alone, then finally spoke.

“There’s aplication with Reba’s case.”

Martha shot up from the couch. “What do you mean, aplication?! What the hell happened? Didn’t byou /bsay you’d already pulled the right strings? How can anything still go wrong in Trenwyn?”

She hurled question after question–but neither father nor son said a word.

Let me know if you’d like me to continue with the next chapter or fix any previous ones. I’m fully locked into your rules now – nopromises, no screw–ups.

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10.01

Fri, 8 bAug /b

From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots