Chapter 524: The Niece She Chose for Herself

Chapter 524: Chapter 524: The Niece She Chose for Herself

Jade Goodman’s expression turned even fouler. Through gritted teeth, she asked, "Are you saying Mia went live without me knowing and broadcast my entire phone call with Jason Thorne?"

"Of course not." Her mutual friend shook her head. "It was Mia’s dog, Watermelon, who heard you tell Jason Thorne to stab Mia to death."

Jade Goodman was speechless.

Her brows furrowed. She was at a complete loss for words. "What kind of joke is this? How could a dog possibly understand what I was saying?"

The mutual friend couldn’t be bothered to explain further. "Regardless, Jade Goodman, I’ve lost all respect for you."

She glanced at the prices on the menu and transferred half the cost to Jade Goodman. "You don’t have to pay for me. We’re splitting it."

After saying her piece, the mutual friend blocked Jade’s contact, grabbed her purse, and left.

’There was no point staying in touch with someone who would tell her ex to go stab her friend.’

Jade Goodman was furious, cursing under her breath the entire way home.

She opened her front door and stepped inside. Just as she was about to close it, a figure burst in.

"Jade Goodman!"

Seeing Jason Thorne, Jade Goodman frowned. "What are you doing here? Get the hell out!"

"You bitch!" Jason Thorne lunged, his hands clamping around her throat. "Mia never set you up with anyone! Why did you break up with me?"

"I..." Jade Goodman’s face turned crimson as she struggled to breathe. "You..."

Jason Thorne slapped her hard across the face. "Answer me!"

"First... let go." Jade Goodman’s face was contorted in pain. "Let... go."

Jason Thorne did let go, only to start kicking and stomping on her.

Jade Goodman was beaten to the floor, her miserable cries filling the room as she crawled away from him.

**

The next day, Renee Jennings and Michelle Fuller met Sylvia Brooks for a meal.

Renee had asked Sylvia to help Addie Sutton hire a lawyer.

Hearing about Addie Sutton’s situation, Sylvia Brooks immediately agreed. "I’ll take care of the arrangements. The poor girl has been through too much."

"Okay." A small smile touched Renee’s lips. "I’ll leave it in your hands, then."

Sylvia Brooks replied solemnly, "You can count on me."

"I know I can," Renee said with a cheerful nod.

"I’m going to the restroom," Michelle Fuller announced, getting to her feet. "Either of you need to go?"

Renee stood up and said, "I’ll go with you."

The two left the private dining room and walked to the end of the long hallway.

Renee came out of the restroom and stood outside waiting for Michelle.

Hearing footsteps, she thought Michelle had come out. She turned to look, and the smile on her lips froze instantly.

Zoe Morgan hadn’t expected to run into Renee Jennings here either, and a flicker of astonishment crossed her face.

Renee calmly met her gaze.

Zoe Morgan pursed her lips. After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward to greet her. "Renee Jennings. Hello."

Renee raised an eyebrow and asked with a half-smile, "Is there something you need, Ms. Morgan?"

Zoe Morgan’s lips tightened, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes.

’She has no manners at all!’

"Nothing," Zoe Morgan bit out, brushing past Renee’s shoulder as she walked away.

Michelle came out of the restroom and happened to see her back. She hooked an arm around Renee’s shoulder and asked, "Renee, who was that?"

Renee let out a soft laugh. "Zoe Morgan."

"What did she say to you?"

"Just ’hello’."

Michelle found this novel. "Are you serious? That’s hilarious."

Renee’s lips curved slightly. "I thought it was pretty funny too, so I asked her if she needed something."

"And then?"

"I think that pissed her off, and she stormed away."

"Hahahaha!" Michelle burst out laughing. "That’s too funny."

Walking back to her private room, Zoe Morgan grew more and more vexed.

She regretted taking the initiative to greet Renee.

’The woman didn’t appreciate it in the slightest. She even asked me if I needed something!’

’What is wrong with her? Absolutely no manners.’

When she entered their private room, Yvonne Morgan quickly noticed her aunt’s dampened mood.

She asked in a small voice, "Aunt, are you unhappy?"

Zoe Morgan looked up at her niece’s exquisite, pretty face, and her anger instantly vanished.

She put on a gentle, loving smile and said softly, "Yvonne, I’m fine. You should eat more."

"Okay." Yvonne Morgan nodded, using the serving chopsticks to put some food on Zoe Morgan’s and Faye Wyatt’s plates. "You and Aunt Fanny should eat more, too."

"Thanks, Yvonne," Faye Wyatt thanked her politely.

She was texting with Renee and her face lit up with surprise when she learned Renee was also at the restaurant.

"Fanny, what are you so happy about?" Zoe Morgan asked with a smile.

"Renee’s eating here, too," Faye Wyatt answered without thinking.

"Renee?" Yvonne Morgan asked in surprise. "Which Renee?"

Zoe Morgan also looked at her with a smile. "Do I know her?"

Faye Wyatt opened her mouth to answer, but then she remembered the dynamic between them. She hesitated for a couple of seconds before saying, "Renee Jennings."

The moment she said the name, the smiles on both Yvonne Morgan and Zoe Morgan’s faces faltered.

An awkward silence descended upon the room.

Faye Wyatt, however, paid no mind to their moods. She stood up and said, "Yvonne, Vivi, you two take your time. I’m going to go chat with Renee."

Yvonne Morgan forced an awkward smile. "Okay."

Zoe Morgan pressed her lips together and said nothing.

After Faye Wyatt left, the smile on Yvonne Morgan’s face vanished completely.

She stared down at the food in her bowl, her hands in her lap clenching into tight fists. ’I’m so angry I could breathe fire.’

’I specifically had Auntie invite Faye Wyatt out today to get on her good side, but I can’t believe that lonely old hag would just ditch me for Renee Jennings!’

’She’s completely nuts!’

Zoe Morgan suppressed her own feelings and looked at Yvonne. "Yvonne," she said softly, "eat some more."

Yvonne shook her head. "You eat, Auntie. I don’t have much of an appetite."

"No appetite?" Zoe Morgan frowned with concern. "What’s wrong, Yvonne? Are you not feeling well?"

Yvonne said in a low voice, "It’s nothing."

Seeing her like this, Zoe Morgan sighed. "Yvonne, you can tell me anything, you know."

"Auntie," Yvonne began, looking up with reddened eyes, "if you want to go see Renee like Aunt Fanny, you can. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine here by myself."

"Yvonne." Zoe Morgan’s voice was now laced with heartache and guilt. "I’m not going. You know that, in my heart, you are my one and only, dearest niece."

"Thank you, Auntie," Yvonne said, her voice choked with emotion. "You’re the person I love most, too. That’s why I don’t want to make things difficult for you because of me."

"It’s not difficult at all." Zoe Morgan got up and moved to her side, taking her hand gently. Her voice was incredibly soft and earnest. "No matter what happens, I will only ever acknowledge you as my niece. I swear it."

"Don’t swear," Yvonne said, shaking her head quickly. "I believe everything you say, Auntie."

"Good." A relieved smile spread across Zoe Morgan’s face as she reached out to gently stroke Yvonne’s hair. "So try to be a little happier now, okay?"

’This was proof enough that her past actions had been the right ones.’

’Yvonne Morgan was the niece she had chosen for herself.’