Chapter 9: Chapter 9
1,203 words<html><head></head><body><p>As the last syllable of Culver’s sentence faded, the air grew heavy and still.</p> <p>The surrounding environment became silent, so much so that even the sound of the wind ceased.</p> <p>Culver quickly realized his mistake and paled in fear. “Mr. Joseph, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it…”</p> <p>Joseph turned around, and his limpid eyes were filled with an inscrutable coldness.</p> <p>After a brief pause, he spoke sternly. “Go down and accept your punishment, leave my sight!”</p> <p>Culver shuddered, responding with a trembling voice, “Yes!”</p> <p>And, he quickly scurried away.</p> <p>Joseph took a deep breath, turned around, and gazed at the moon behind him. The coldness and</p> <p>aloofness. around him dissipated, leaving only the darkness and solitude that enshrouded him.</p> <p>The dawn began to break.</p> <p>The rest of the Jules family was still asleep, but Lucille had already started her morning exercise in the</p> <p>garden.</p> <p>This body was too weak, and she needed to get stronger as soon as possible.</p> <p>Otherwise, even with all her skills, this body would only hold her back if something happened.</p> <p>After finishing her exercises, Lucille panted lightly as she made her way back upstairs. However, she</p> <p>encountered Zoey, who was about to head down the stairs.</p> <p>Zoey was surprised to see Lucille up and exercising so early. She smiled and said, “Lucille, you’re up</p> <p>early. You seem to have recovered well.”</p> <p>Lucille couldn’t be bothered with her and walked past without even looking.</p> <p>Zoey wasn’t offended at all. She turned to admire Lucille’s graceful figure, boasting, “Do you know that</p> <p>Samuel, only likes gentle girls like me? No matter how perfect your figure is, he won’t even bother to</p> <p>take a glance at you.”</p> <p>In private, Zoey had never bothered to hide her contempt for the previous owner of this body. Lucille</p> <p>stopped in her tracks, her back turned to Zoey as a cold smirk formed on her lips. Zoey really knew</p> <p>how to hurt her with words, as she clearly knew the previous owner well. The original owner believed</p> <p>Zoey’s lies and thought that Samuel liked sexy girls, so she wore a sexy dress on his birthday.</p> <p>backless</p> <p>Who knew that Samuel would publicly berate her as shameless and say that only girls like Zoey, who</p> <p>came from a reputable family, were the ones he liked.</p> <p>Because of this incident, the original owner became everyone’s laughingstock, and she never wore a</p> <p>dress again.</p> <p>Lucille let out a light sigh.</p> <p>What a silly girl, why did she have to do that?</p> <p>“You can’t force someone to love you, no matter how much you do for them,” she mumbled silently.</p> <p>Seeing that Lucille didn’t speak, Zoey’s smile became smugger. “This is just a kind reminder from me.</p> <p>After all, no one knows Samuel better than me.”</p> <p>-Lucille turned around and looked at Zoey with a faint smile. “So what? The Gilbert family would never</p> <p>marry a</p> <p>mistress.”</p> <p>One light comment was enough to make Zoey feel both ashamed and angry.</p> <p>“Ugh!” Zoey huffed before sneering, “What’s that you have to be proud of? Even if I’m no good, I’m still</p> <p>better than a mute girl like you that everyone loves to pick on.”</p> <p>Lucille chuckled more confidently. “Oh, I almost forgot. I do have both wealth and power – I hold 40% of</p> <p>the Jules Group. I’m sure those pests in the gutter, such as you, are now green with envy.”</p> <p>“You!” Zoey was breathless with rage.</p> <p>She couldn’t understand how Lucille had suddenly become so sharp-tongued. She used to be the kind</p> <p>of person who couldn’t fight back or speak out.</p> <p>Well, Lucille would soon find out she could not bask in her pride for long!</p> <p>Zoey narrowed her pupils, returned to her room, and deliberately hobbled down the stairs with a cane.</p> <p>In the living room, Samuel was waiting to take Zoey to school.</p> <p>As Zoey came down the stairs with a cane, Samuel immediately came forth to her. “Zoey, why didn’t</p> <p>you let me come up and get you?”</p> <p>As he spoke, he hugged her in his arms.</p> <p>Zoey’s brows furrowed as she batted her eyelashes and pouted, “I’m sorry, Samuel, I didn’t mean to</p> <p>trouble you. It’s just that…”</p> <p>She trailed off, deliberately looking downtrodden and helpless.</p> <p>Samuel’s expression grew stormy. “What’s going on? Did Lucille give you trouble again?”</p> <p>Zoey shook her head with red eyes. “No…”</p> <p>“Zoey, you don’t have to lie to me.” Samuel was serious. “What did she do to you?”</p> <p>Zoey bit her lip and refused to speak, but gave a glance to the maid beside her.</p> <p>The maid, who had enjoyed many favors from Zoey before, quickly defended her, “Please don’t blame</p> <p>Miss Zoey, Mr. Samuel. It’s just that Miss Lucille has gone too far. She not only humiliated Miss Zoey</p> <p>and took away her room, but also threw away all of her belongings. She even threatened to kick Miss</p> <p>Zoey out, and mentioned that Mr. Howard can’t do anything about it.”</p> <p>As soon as Samuel heard this, his face turned red with anger. “What?! That’s outrageous! Where is she</p> <p>now?! The maid hurriedly replied, “She hasn’t come downstairs yet.”</p> <p>Zoey clung to Samuel’s arm and pleaded, “Please, Samuel, don’t do anything. I’m just a foster</p> <p>daughter after all. I can handle this little setback.”</p> <p>“No!” Samuel was furious, “Your tolerance will only make her worse. Wait for me, I will teach her a good</p> <p>lesson, today!”</p> <p>As Samuel spoke, a drawling voice echoed down the staircase, “Oh? How do you plan to give me a</p> <p>lesson?” Samuel was taken aback and raised his head, only to see a black figure descending the stairs</p> <p>gracefully. She was dressed in an embroidered black gown that made her skin as white as snow.</p> <p>Her delicate waist looked as though it could snap at the slightest touch.</p> <p>And, her swan-like neck was exposed, revealing her prominent clavicles.</p> <p>Half of her palm-sized face was hidden by her jet-black hair, and her features were so beautiful that</p> <p>they were perfect.</p> <p>With just one glance, she captivated everyone’s gaze.</p> <p>Samuel was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Lucille Jules?!”</p> <p>How could it be possible?</p> <p>Lucille seemed ordinary before, but where did this overbearing confidence now come from?</p> <p>Her whole demeanor has completely changed.</p> <p>She had transformed into one that was detached, alluring, and beyond reach.</p> <p>Was this still the same old Lucille Jules?</p> <p>Samuel hid his amazement and warned, “Lucille Jules, I’m warning you not to bully Zoey!”</p> <p>Lucille descended the stairs with a cold curl of her lips, each step measured and deliberate.</p> <p>Samuel stared at her intently and subconsciously swallowed his saliva.</p> <p>Samuel braced himself for her explanation, but to his astonishment, she walked right past him to the</p> <p>door without even sparing him a glance.</p> <p>Samuel enapped “Lurifle noveldrama</p> <p>the had no time to</p> <p>Zom etond frozen hi</p> <p>in meing wit</p> <p>The event wat ni</p> <p>undeilding the way</p> <p>With Lurille gnns how wee che going to ban the eher gings</p> <p>Let it po. Charles Zony breathed out her voice barely above a leger Can you please take me to sched?</p> <p>oning to</p> <p>Drily then Samuel withdrew his angry glare she took her hand tatt ge take you he said firmly</p> </body></html>