Jenny was exasperated."Fine, I won't come back. It's not like I enjoy going back to the Ford family anyway," she said, then added sarcastically, "But Madam Ford, let me remind you, there's still a matriarch above you. You don't have the authority to ban me from the family."Wait until you become the head of the Ford family before you try to banish me."Abby was so furious she was trembling. "You, you are truly something else." Then she hung up the phone abruptly. If this rebellious daughter wanted to side with outsiders against her own mother, it was better she didn't come back and cause more trouble.Hearing the dial tone, Jenny shrugged. "Madam Ford has been pampered for too long. Her mental fortitude is really lacking if she can't handle this."Lindsay laughed. "That's why she and Mrs. Harper get along so well. They're the same."That day, when Lindsay had argued with Grace, she also acted like she couldn't handle it.Jenny agreed. "Exactly, birds of a feather. Honestly, if I had
"Are you interested in joining my team?"Jenny had studied management and was very capable. "Sure! I came back this time to team up with you," she said, raising her glass to clink with Lindsay's. "I was just looking for something to do, and you presented the perfect opportunity."She added with a hint of self-deprecation, "I originally studied management for that lousy man, but now it turns out I could use it for myself.”Lindsay laughed. "Isn’t that even better? What you’ve learned is truly yours. In the future, we'll expand this studio and make it thrive. You can stand in front of that worthless man, look down on him like a queen, and tell him to get lost. It’ll be so satisfying."From her perspective, she also felt Jenny deserved better. Joey must have had some feelings for Jenny; otherwise, he wouldn't have let her chase after him for so many years. But he was as cold as a stone, always with that scheming assistant by his side. He was even worse than Justin and deserved to be tos
Grace stared blankly at Olivia and her sons, wondering when things had changed between them.When Oliva first came into their lives, all her five sons didn’t welcome her, demanding their real sister back. Especially Alex, who had been traumatized by losing his sister, often waking up in the middle of the night crying for her. He was lethargic and lacked any vitality.They had consulted a mystic for help. The mystic suggested having Olivia take Lindsay’s name. He said it would serve as a catalyst, aiding in the future search for their biological daughter. Additionally, he noted that Olivia would bring them good fortune, and changing her name would fully integrate her into the Harper family, bringing harmony and prosperity. He also suggested that Olivia should sleep with Alex to suppress his nightmares.At first, Alex didn’t like Olivia around him. But within a few days, his attitude began to change. Sure enough, his nightmares ceased, and his spirits lifted with Olivia by his side.
Olivia nuzzled Grace’s shoulder. "Mom, you and my brothers are the best. Having you all is the greatest blessing of my life."Grace smiled at her words. "Of course, we treat you well; we've raised you."But she wasn't going to let the matter slide. Her smile faded, and she cast a stern look at her sons. "Your behavior is simply inappropriate. How can you be hugging your grown sister like that? Via might not understand, but you should know better how to maintain boundaries."Have you seen the rumors online? They’re speculating that Alex and Via are more than foster siblings, even suggesting they’re a couple."She was so upset she even slapped the table for emphasis. "From now on, you all need to be more mindful. No more hugging Via or behaving intimately with her.”She specifically glared at Alex. "Especially you, Alex. You need to stop kissing Via on her forehead or touching her inappropriately.”Remembering the online comments, Alex was infuriated. Just because he was close to his s
When it didn't involve Olivia, both Grace and the five Harper brothers showed a certain level of leniency towards Lindsay. Even if Grace hadn’t mentioned it, Oliver wanted to find Lindsay himself. He had no control over the sudden appearance of those photos and Lindsay’s PR team.Therefore, he believed it would be better for Lindsay to come back to the company under his supervision. It would prevent any unpredictable issues and allow him to manage her more effectively.He agreed readily, "Alright, I'll go see her tomorrow. I'll offer her the best contract, with the same terms as our top celebrity. This time, she shouldn't have any complaints."As for coming home, he was confident that if they offered Lindsay an olive branch, she would accept it. He knew that deep down, Lindsay longed for family connection. They were siblings by blood, and no argument could sever that bond permanently. Quarrels were normal among family members.The other four brothers shared similar thoughts. They
If Olivia were to upset Grace which would make Grace share her concerns with Richard, it could be detrimental to her. She needed to keep her five brothers close while ensuring that Grace and Richard didn't develop any negative opinions about her that could shift their favor towards Lindsay.The next day, Lindsay accompanied Jenny to get a makeover. Jenny had always been strikingly beautiful and alluring. Previously, to spite her parents and rebel against the family, she changed her hairstyle and color weekly, adopting an edgy, non-mainstream look. Later, for Joey, she dyed her hair black and straightened it, adopting a more professional appearance.Lindsay suggested she try a style that suited her better. Jenny agreed, deciding to reclaim her true self. She got her hair permed and dyed it an ash blue. Then, she and Lindsay went shopping and bought a whole new wardrobe of bold, sexy, and alluring clothes.Trying on a sultry burgundy slip dress, Jenny admired herself in the mirror
Soon, she heard a male voice on the other end of the line. "It's me!"Lindsay was a bit surprised; she didn't expect Oliver, whom she had referred to as Scumbag No.2, would call her voluntarily. She pretended not to recognize him. "Who is this?"Oliver paused. "Linds, don't you recognize my voice?"With equal subtlety, Lindsay replied, "How could I recognize a stranger's voice? If you don't introduce yourself, I'm hanging up."Oliver's face darkened. "It's me, your second brother."Lindsay let out a cold laugh. "Second brother? I don't remember having one. You must have the wrong number." Then she hung up.Listening to the dial tone, Oliver was in disbelief. In the past, even when he treated Lindsay poorly, she might have given him the cold shoulder but never outright hung up on him. His face grew darker, and he gritted his teeth. "Fine, she's really testing her limits!"Despite his frustration, he needed to coax Lindsay back to the company and home. He called again, only to find
Lindsay never lost when it came to verbal sparring. She had taught Jenny how to deal with Abby and others.Lindsay knew Oliver well. "He'll definitely call back," she said confidently.His need for control was the strongest among her brothers. The more she resisted, the more determined he would be to regain control.Sure enough, just as she finished speaking, her phone rang again, displaying a third unknown number.Jenny's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Are you going to answer? I want to hear you put him in his place again."Lindsay chuckled. "Of course. Since we have nothing else to do, let's have some fun with the scumbag."Jenny gave her a thumbs up. "That's the Lindsay I know."If Oliver knew how Lindsay referred to him, he'd probably lose his mind. This time, Lindsay put the call on speaker. Oliver's restrained voice came through, "Linds, can’t we have a civilized conversation?"He was holding back from yelling, fearing she might hang up again.Lindsay yawned. "Stop. We're not
In the vibrant district of the historic town, the streets were lined with vintage boutiques and various artisan stalls. Lindsay's group visited the town’s administration office and rented a temporary booth.Alex and Justin eagerly borrowed a table and chairs, setting up the booth. Following Lindsay's instructions, they also bought a piece of white fabric and worked together to create a simple sign. The production team provided markers and other supplies.Lindsay glanced over at Benedict and said, "Benedict, I’ll let you handle writing the banner."She was eager to observe his writing and the energy he gave off while doing it.Benedict sighed inwardly—this girl was constantly trying to test him. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "Alright, I’ll write it."He grabbed a marker, uncapped it, and wrote in bold letters across the white fabric: “Fortune Telling, Divination, and Tarot Readings.”Lindsay watched him closely, noticing the fluidity of his movements as he wrote, his posture exud
Justin added, "My mom’s been trying to get me to help Olivia and distance myself from Lindsay. She’s also said plenty of nasty things about Lindsay. This time, not only did I ignore her, but I even pushed back. It probably pissed her off, and now she’s taking it out on Lindsay."Alex, clearly upset, said, "You should talk to her and tell her to stop fixating on Lindsay. Lindsay hasn’t done anything to provoke her. It’s ridiculous."He was frustrated that Justin’s mom had been stirring up trouble, making Grace even more difficult to deal with.Justin nodded. "Alright, after the show is over, I’ll have a talk with her."He also felt his mom was acting out of line. Back when he liked Lindsay, her disapproval at least made sense. But now that Lindsay had kicked him to the curb, his mom’s continued obsession was baffling.Although they were speaking softly, Lindsay and Benedict, walking ahead, heard every word.Lindsay found the situation with Abby baffling as well. A woman who fawned over
After Lindsay left, the other guests quickly followed, leaving only Alex standing there awkwardly. He spoke briefly to the production staff, and they soon shifted the cameras away from that area. Alex then walked over to Grace, saying, "Mom, since Lindsay won’t lend it, let’s just drop it."Grace shot him a cold glare, her expression dark. "How can you be so heartless? The one lying in bed is your fourth brother. Are you hanging around Lindsay all the time just to learn how to be cold and ruthless?"Unable to contain her frustration toward Lindsay, Grace directed it at Alex instead.Alex sighed in exasperation. "Even if we need help, it has to be something she’s willing to do! We’ve wronged Lindsay enough as it is, so why do you keep trying to guilt-trip her? Brandon’s situation isn’t Lindsay’s fault. Why don’t you go find Olivia? She’s the one who caused all this, maybe she can fix it. After all, whoever’s behind her is no easy target."Right now, all Alex felt toward Lindsay was gui
Grace held back her anger and said, "It'll only take a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with you."Lindsay sat back down in her seat. "Fine, go ahead."The livestream was on, and Lindsay was fully aware of it—she was doing this on purpose.Grace was about to speak when her assistant whispered something in her ear. Her expression changed, and she subtly shifted her body to turn away from the camera.Then she looked at Lindsay. "Can we talk outside?"In her rush to find Lindsay, she had almost forgotten that this was a live-streamed variety show. She didn’t want to be on camera, much less discuss such personal matters in front of an audience.Lindsay, however, refused. "If it's important, say it here. If not, then don’t say anything."Grace’s expression darkened. "It’s because it’s important that we need to talk privately."She emphasized, "It’s not appropriate in front of the camera."Lindsay just smiled. "Unless it's something shady, what’s wrong with saying it on cam
Lindsay thought about it for a while and figured that if Grace was coming to find her, it was probably for Brandon. The only thing she could want would be the artifact in her possession.Alex saw her reply and couldn’t help but smile wryly. His sister was indeed sharp and saw right through it.He sent a voice message, repeating what the head of the Divination Association had told them. "Mom just wants to borrow the artifact from you to suppress Brandon’s condition."Lindsay replied, "Tell her not to waste her energy."Seeing that message, Alex knew right away that she wouldn’t lend it out. It didn’t surprise him—his sister could be ruthless when she wanted to be."We can’t convince her otherwise, not even Dad can stop her... sigh," Alex added. When their mom’s temper flared, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.Lindsay didn’t seem to care. "Then let her come. I’m not going to do her any favors."Alex recalled the conversation between their parents at the hospital and decided to warn her, "M
Recently, Grace had been spending more time with Abby, often meeting up for outings. Over time, Richard noticed that Grace's anger towards their biological daughter had deepened. Abby had always disliked Lindsay and showed more favoritism towards Olivia. She must have been stirring up trouble and egging Grace on whenever they met. With time, Grace was bound to be influenced.Grace, clearly annoyed, said, "You even want to control who I make friends with? Aren't you going too far? What's wrong with me getting along with Mrs. Ford and spending more time with her?"Richard felt cornered. "I just think there's something off about her. Her intentions in getting close to you don't seem good. That's why I'm trying to give you a heads-up."Grace didn't believe him at all. "I think you're overthinking it. We’ve always had a decent relationship. We’re just closer now, that’s all.""What do you men know about women’s matters? Don't interfere." She now had plenty to talk about with Abby. Jenny wa
Richard glanced at Grace with clear disapproval. “This whole mess was caused by Olivia and Brandon. What does any of it have to do with Lindsay?”He could tell that recent events, and the embarrassment caused by their sons, had left his wife feeling bitter. It seemed she had begun to project that frustration onto Lindsay, despite the situation having little to do with her.Grace crossed her arms defensively. “If it wasn’t for her ongoing fight with Olivia, Brandon wouldn’t have gotten involved. He’s her brother. Doesn’t she owe him some consideration now that he’s in this condition?”Richard frowned. “What exactly are you trying to say?”Valarie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her displeasure clear. “I see it differently. It’s Olivia and your son who started the trouble, and all Lindsay did was defend herself. Are you really looking to embarrass yourselves even more?”Grace shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sting of her mother-in-law’s words. “I’m just thinking abou
Given the Harper family's persistence, there was no way the Divination Association could avoid a thorough investigation. Seeing that Randolph wouldn’t back down, the official left, courteously escorted out by Randolph, who, for the moment, had ceased his protests.Valarie carefully placed the multicolored stone inside a small protective pouch before securing it around Brandon's neck. Though he felt a slight relief after putting it on, the bad luck continued. As the official had warned, his misfortune was too severe for one artifact to fully contain.Randolph tried every connection he had, attempting to borrow a second artifact, but came up empty-handed. Time slipped by, and evening approached before they could find any further solutions.By the time Richard and Grace arrived at the hospital, they were met with the weary faces of their parents. Feeling guilty for everything his father had gone through, Richard bowed his head. "Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry you had to go through this today."
Hearing their words, the hope that had briefly flickered in Brandon’s eyes quickly faded, leaving him more devastated than before. "Grandfather, I know I was wrong," he muttered, finally realizing the truth. His foster sister had been nothing but trouble—far from trustworthy, she had been a constant source of harm. Meanwhile, his real sister, though harsh and distant, had proven to be far more reliable. Regret gnawed at him deeply.Randolph sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Knowing you’re wrong doesn’t change anything. It’s too late now.”Turning back to the two mystics, Randolph asked, “If you can’t break the curse directly, could you at least help suppress his misfortune? Maybe with a protective charm or some kind of mystical object?”Despite his frustration with his grandson’s foolishness, he couldn’t just leave him to suffer.Both mystics exchanged uneasy glances. “We don’t have the ability to suppress his bad luck with charms.”“For something like that, you’d need t