Return of the Crowned Heiress

Chapter 155

Shawn immediately stuck around like an insistent piece of gum, utterly shameless. "What kind of fortune did our village strike? Is there a demolition? A payout? Why wasn't I notified?"

Charles was furious, almost toppling over as he snapped back, "There were no renovations or payouts! The people in our village work hard and earn their living honestly, unlike your family, who just got lucky and picked up a stray daughter. You contributed nothing yet still managed to extort a huge sum!"

He was referring to how the family had picked up Felicia.

The villagers only learned about Felicia's background after she returned to her biological family. Before that, they had already discussed how she must have been adopted, given the treatment she received.

As a result, their feelings towards Shawn's family were hardly positive. They openly scolded them for their ingratitude.

Shawn scoffed, "We only received 50 million dollars. It's nothing close to a huge sum. That's not even enough to spend."

His implication was clear-he would extort even more if given the chance.

Charles didn't quite hear what he said. "What did you say?"

"N-Nothing."

Shawn wasn't foolish enough to reveal his plans. After all, he had already made a deal with Kayla. Once he got rid of Felicia, the wealth of the Fuller family would naturally fall to her. Being her brother meant he'd have access to all of it.

He chuckled to himself, envisioning a time when these villagers who looked down on him would beg for his favor.

Shawn was smug and pleased with himself. Meanwhile, the others in the village were unwilling to deal with such a scoundrel. They quickly left the scene.

As Charles headed home, he cast one last wary glance at Shawn. Feeling uneasy, he immediately called for his grandson and instructed, "Lucas, go find Felicia. Tell her Shawn is back in the village and making a scene. She should be careful. That brat probably has something up his sleeve!"

"Got it!"

Lucas West, a little boy, quickly abandoned his toy car and sprinted toward Macey's house.

The Fuller family had an old, dilapidated house in Alverton that had long been abandoned. Since Felicia had cut ties with them due to her traumatic childhood memories,

she had been living with Macey.

When Lucas arrived, Felicia had just pulled a few sweet potatoes from the still-warm hearth. These were left over from breakfast, and Macey had tossed them in, knowing Felicia loved them.

The surface of the sweet potatoes was darkened from the heat, but once peeled, they released steam and smelled wonderfully sweet. "Felicia!" Lucas blinked, drooling.

Though he often got to eat sweet potatoes, he still felt hungry when he saw them in the hands of someone else.

Felicia couldn't help but laugh as she handed one to him. "Here, this is for you. Be careful, it's hot. I'll peel another one." "Thank you, Felicia!"

Lucas joyfully accepted it, blowing on it to cool it down. After taking a few bites, he remembered his grandfather's instructions and reported, "Felicia, my grandpa sent me to tell you that Shawn is back and making a fuss. He said to be careful!"

"What else did your grandpa say?"

Lucas nodded, his cheeks full, "Grandpa also said that brat hasn't figured out what to do!"

Felicia couldn't help but chuckle.

But thinking it through, he was being chased for debts and had already lost a couple of fingers. He was likely desperate, clinging to Kayla and trying everything to extort her.

She started to wonder why Shawn would return now.

Chapter 154

Fifteen minutes later, the road leading to Alverton echoed with the loud roar of a sports car. At first, the villagers were puzzled, thinking another outsider had arrived. However, when the car door swung open and a flamboyant figure stepped out, the onlookers exchanged glances and promptly turned to leave as if trying to avoid something filthy. The figure was Shawn.

When the Fuller family still lived in Alverton, Shawn had a notorious reputation for petty theft and mischief. He was caught harassing young ladies and married women by the river multiple times, often leading to confrontations. Yet Howell and Tabitha, his parents, were utterly shameless. They not only failed to get any justice but were also experts at turning the tables and blaming others.

Over time, his name became synonymous with disgrace. Naturally, the villagers preferred to keep their distance whenever he appeared.

Seeing him now, they were quick to steer clear.

Shawn returned to the village in a high-profile manner, flaunting a rented sports car to show off his former wealth. He believed that his status had risen above that of the villagers, whom he looked down upon as mere ants. But the villagers didn't buy his act. They turned and walked away, leaving him with no one to impress.

Fuming, Shawn grabbed the nearest villager, ready to boast. But before he could say a word, the villager scoffed. "Make sure to take good care of that rented car. Otherwise, you might not get your deposit back!" Laughter erupted around him.

Shawn's face flushed with rage.

Yes, the car was indeed rented.

After receiving the huge sum of 50 million dollars from the Fuller family, he bought a sports car, but Lance seized it to cover his debts. So, he was left with no choice but to rent this car.

en

Shawn would never admit to his disgrace. Instead, he sneered, "You group of frogs in a well, you dare to look down on me? Do you even know what my status is now?"

The villager he had grabbed, who was actually Cody, shot him a cold glance and retorted, "What status? What's the status of a debtor with missing fingers? That sounds rather pathetic."

The villagers observed with keen interest as Shawn's hand was wrapped in thick bandages. Two of his fingers were missing.

Infuriated by this remark, Shawn's face twisted with rage. "Did Felicia tell you about it?"

No one responded to him.

But in Shawn's mind, that was the only possibility. His expression darkened further as he spat out, "That little brat thinks she's untouchable, but I'll deal with her sooner or later!"

Cody, who was standing closest to him, overheard that. Though he was typically kind-hearted, he wasted no time before slapping Shawn across the face. "You bastard! Just start behaving like a decent person already, would you?"

Shawn staggered from the slap, his eyes glinting with malice. Just as he was about to retaliate, other villagers rushed in to pull him away.

Even Charles West, the village chief, looked furious. His expression was a mix of anger and disappointment. "Get lost! You're not welcome here!"

Shawn was ready to explode, but he

I.ne

suddenly noticed how much had changed in the village. Behind the village lay fields abundant with. crops and further ahead were fows of vegetable greenhouses that stretched out of sight.

The villagers' spirits seemed to have lifted, and every household had repaired their homes. There were even numerous construction projects underway, depicting a scene of vibrant prosperity. Shawn stood there, dumbfounded. Was this still the impoverished village he remembered?

Chapter 153

Kayla's eyes turned red, and she dug her nails deep into her palms as she suppressed the almost frenzied and twisted emotions threatening to erupt. She managed to hold back her anger, though just barely. "Arnie, my foot hurts. Can you carry me over there?" she asked, her voice laced with vulnerability.

The car had broken down, and the driver needed to stay behind to arrange repairs. Moreover, Kayla had traveled such a long way to get here; it was impossible for her to be sent away now. For this reason, Kayla would have to stay in Alverton by Arnold's side for a while.

Arnold felt a sense of helplessness but ultimately did not refuse. He examined her foot and found nothing wrong with it, yet Kayla insisted that she had injured it in the accident and couldn't walk. "Arnie, I really can't walk anymore..." she whined.

Having already cried once and after being terrified all night, her face was pale and pitiful. It made it hard for Arnold to turn her down.

He bent down, offering, "Get on my back. I'll carry you."

"You're the best, Arnie!" Kayla beamed, her joy evident as she jumped onto his back. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

Amidst numerous gazes, Arnold carried Kayla back to Alverton.

them, but the students participating in the training program couldn't

head find another family for Kayla to stay with. However, with all the other families' houses already full and Kayla stubbornly refusing to be separated from him, he had no

was only one empty room in that

you rest well," Arnold said after the college doctor checked Kayla's foot and confirmed it wasn't serious. Feeling relieved, he placed her on the bed and turned

en

I'm not familiar with this place, and I'm scared..." Arnold

presenting a pitiful facade as her shoulders trembled and her

in the living room. If you need anything, just call me." With that,

finally fell from Kayla's eyes, giving way to a burgeoning anger that threatened to explode! "Felicia!" she hissed through gritted teeth, her sense of

to eliminate Felicia, the thorn in her side,

Shawn, her voice low as she snapped, "Why haven't you arrived yet? It's been two days! Have you gotten everything prepared? Don't

driving. "It's all set! I'll be at Alverton in no more than

Kayla felt a

the money she had invested was considerable. As long as

Chapter 152

morning chaos came to an end, and Felicia didn't bother to find out who would tow the Fuller family's car away

Kayla finally snapped back to reality from the shock of the night before. Clinging tightly to Arnold's waist, she looked up at him with teary eyes and said,

mouth, intending to say, "This slope isn't high; it's not as dangerous as you think." However, the words were caught

the scene panic-stricken. It was only after Felicia scolded him that he realized his concern was causing him to lose

too late to say

would disappear. Her pitiful

over to see the commotion and caught sight of Arnold and Kayla in an

"Kayla arrived pretty quickly, didn't she? She must have rushed over

this training program. She had only gotten wind of the situation because her good friend, Olivia, had informed her to come quickly to assert her claim and ensure that

help but smirk. Although she felt some resentment toward Kayla after yesterday's events, her

Felicia's life

hesitation and said, "Kayla, what terrible duck you had, getting into a car accident. Thankfully, you're okay. Otherwise, wouldn't Mr.

laced with sarcasm, and Arnold could clearly hear it. He

her senses after initially feeling scared. She began to pick up on the indifference on Arnold's face,

had happened over the past few days.

unease, she followed Arnold's gaze and was taken aback to find that he was consistently

hung up on me yesterday. Do you know I almost died? I was wondering if I'd ever see you

she spoke, Arnold seemed to tune her out

smile and asked, "Arnie, who are you thinking about? Is it

question drew an unexpected reaction from Arnold. He immediately denied it, his voice filled with resistance as he replied,

was unmasked. While Kayla initially wanted to laugh, the smile slowly faded from her

even if he verbally claimed not to

Chapter 151

approached Ruben, she asked, "Ruben,

drivers. He was always on standby and had years of driving experience,

wasn't familiar with the road and mistakenly followed the wrong route according to

out

her kicking him. Fatigued from driving all day, he lost focus for just a moment, causing the car to veer off the road and get stuck on the edge of the slope. From their perspective inside the vehicle, it felt like they were hanging over a precipice, so they didn't dare to move. Even when their phone fell at their feet, they hesitated to pick it up, fearing that bending down would make the car sway dangerously. It wasn't until Arnold called this morning that the car audio system automatically answered and allowed them to

angrier he became. If it hadn't been for

to be a driver for the Fuller family and that she would make

reason, he would have wanted to take Kayla

on this, he tightened his grip on the memory card in

the dashcam. If Kayla pushed him

Felicia didn't pry further.

Kayla saved, the villagers felt

who had been scolded by Arnold earlier, tried to leave but was stopped

She walked

to Arnold and saw

up to

he was

crying. He comforted

they had

to hold back,

turned his attention

was cold

at Felicia's sleeve. "Licia, let's just let it

she

Felicia stood her ground.

daughter would be upset if she found out

apology; it wasn't like she was asking for a piece of Arnold's flesh. An apology was absolutely reasonable,

of the circumstances, these villagers

and his good upbringing compelled him to apologize to Cody, "I'm sorry, Mr. Gibbs. I was out of line earlier." Cody

Felicia

back onto the

Chapter 150

quickly recognized the familiar license plate of the black luxury car that was hanging dangerously over the edge of the

meant that the person trapped inside was none

heard Kayla's terrified voice

also in

he received news that Kayla had come to Alverton,

here on a mission from Matthew and had been growing increasingly frustrated with Kayla's nearly suffocating presence. She seemed to follow him everywhere, like a piece of gum stuck

of indifference and impatience during

by her cries, Arnold

from Kayla, he asked around, but no one had seen her

her again, only to be shocked by the news that she had been in a car accident. Now, she was trapped in the vehicle,

the rescue team

yet effective solution. First,

brows in concern. He feared that the villagers' methods, while well-meaning, could be foolish and might endanger Kayla's life instead of

plan, saying, "Can you guarantee the safety of the people in the car? Can you

villager an older man

others, felt embarrassed and flustered under Arnold's harsh words. His face reddened as he struggled to

Felicia stepped forward with a cold laugh. "Arnold, where did your

softened his tone in the face of her provocation, but he was too

small rocks and brace them under the

Romeo immediately complied.

Felicia, "Kayla is a member of the Fuller

in terror inside the car, "Don't come

shouted, the car swayed a little but quickly steadied again as Romeo and the others

an expression of disbelief and annoyance. She tilted her head and sarcastically said, "Do you

not fall, but the dense trees below would act as

a cliff at all-just a

door and yanked

instinct was to cling to

didn't push her away and wrapped his arms around her, gently patting her back to soothe

was

the driver,

with a mix of emotions that included

Chapter 149

"Yes, Mr. Russell."