From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots

Chapter 161 The Reckoning

Scarlett’s future was boundless. That much was now clear.

No one knew who pped first, but the banquet hall soon erupted in thunderous apuse.

In that moment, Scarlett had firmly nted her roots in the heart of the capital’s elite circle.

Aurora’s fingers curled so tightly into her palm that they nearly broke skin. Her eyes were cold as ice–but there was nothing she could do. All she could do was watch, helpless, as Scarlett became the center of attention.

Sophia’s eyes shimmered with tears. She was filled with joy at her daughter’s brilliance and poise, and proud of how gracefully Scarlett handled herself under pressure. But that pride came with pain. For Scarlett to have such strength meant she must have suffered terribly in the past.

Owen gently wrapped an arm around Sophia and whispered, “From now on, we’ll make it up to her. She’ll get the very best of everything.”

Sophia nodded firmly.

In the crowd, Jack nudged Jasper’s arm.

“You pping earlier nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Jasper remained stoic, his handsome features as unreadable as ever.

“Just giving the museum a headache,” he said coolly.

Ah–right. Trevor had set his sights on Pixel.

If Pixel really went to the museum as a student, wouldn’t she end up just like Trevor someday? Wearing outdated clothes, serious expression, buried in dusty relics, obsessed with oracle bone inscriptions? Just imagining Scarlett like that was enough to make Jack feel like the world was ending.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a grin. “Mission epted. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Pixel had finally reunited with her family. She should be enjoying her life–not turning into some academic robot.

He suddenly smacked his own forehead. Right–he nearly forgot.

Time to redirect the spotlight back onto the Joyner family.

They needed to be dragged through the mud, thoroughly shamed, and left for dead.

Scarlett turned then, her gaze locking onto the Joyners.

Most of them looked uneasy, but Franklin… he was drenched in cold sweat,

“I… I don’t know anything about art,” he stammered, his voice cracking.

His heart bled. That painting had cost him a fortune. He had gambled everything for a chance to win favor with the Lane family–and now it had all blown up in his face.

Scarlett’s eyes slid from him to Martha. Her gaze was cial.

Chapter 161 The Reckoning

“When I was mistakenly taken into your family, I never received an ounce of love. bAll /byou bever /bbdid /bbwas /bsqueeze me for every drop of value I had. You bled me dry”

Martha immediately snapped back. “You’re insane! What nonsense are you spouting?”

The defensive tone was all wrong.

Connor considered stepping in, but thought better of it. After all, Scarlett had indeed been mistreated in their home. Letting her vent wasn’t unreasonable. And he didn’t want to embarrass her in public. He would hold his tongue–for now.

Scarlett pped her hands.

Hudson moved swiftly, activating therge screen. Photos began to scroll across it.

Each one a record of what Scarlett had done for the Joyner family over the years.

“What? Eugene’sb results–she got those? That’s dangerous! One mistake and it could’ve killed her!”

“She’s a famous screenwriter? That’s my idol! Sheunched Stanley’s career?!”

“Oliver’s rise in the business world was thanks to her strategic ns?”

“I remember Martha showing off those unique pieces of jewelry–Jalindale’s designers couldn’t replicate them. Wait… Scarlett designed those?”

One revtion after another. All proof that Scarlett had been used. Exploited.

“You

say you didn’t use me?” Scarlett said, voice steady. “Then tell me–when you showed off my work, did you ever tell anyone who made it?”

The Joyners froze.

No one answered.

All their heads bowed in shame.

They had long forgotten. Forgotten that it was Scarlett who’d propelled them upward, who gave them their

power.

Stanley broke downpletely. Guilt crushed him.

“He had always felt bad, but now the truth wasid bare for all to see. He couldn’t handle it.

“Scarlett… I’m sorry. I was awful. You loved cats so much, but I said you were just an adopted girl–lucky to even have food to eat. So I… I killed your kitten. I thought I was justified. But I was wrong. I had no idea you were the writer who protected me. I’m a fool. I deserve to lose my career. I’m so sorry. How could I have-”

“Shut up!”

Franklin, panicked, hadn’t expected Stanley to confess so freely. He pped him hard across the face to shut

him up.

“You’ve lost your job and gone mad, haven’t you?!”

“Mad?” Stanley held his cheek, then burst into bitterughter.

08:32 Mon, 11 Aug

Chapter 161 The Reckoning

“I’ve never seen things so clearly. You acknowledged Scarlett as your daughter, but never treated her like one. Six years! You didn’t even spend a hundred thousand on her. You kept telling yourselves you gave iher /ithe Joyner name and our resources. But who really benefited from who? You all know damn well

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From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots