A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 348

“Father, I’m fine. What brings you here?” Zachary hurried over to greet him, with Cole and Alessia following suit, offering polite hellos.

Sensing the tension in the air, Stella and Justin quietly moved to stand beside Queenie. The two exchanged a knowing glance; Stella nodded and zipped her lips, signaling that they should keep quiet and stay out of it.

Six, who’d been displaced by Zachary, gave up his spot and immediately noticed Alessia’s red, swollen eyes. With a slight frown, he drifted over to her side.

“What’s this, some kind of theater?” he muttered.

“Just a pity act,” Alessia whispered back.

Six shot her a thumbs–up, then stayed put, watching the standoff between Xander, Zachary, Carlson, and the Chesters.

“Big brother, what are you doing here?” Chester blurted out, clearly surprised by Carlson’s arrival–but also visibly relieved.

“Look at these people, Carl. He’s the one who broke Mom’s ribs. I told him to pay up, but he refuses to admit it–now he’s trying to turn it around and sue us! Can you believe this? Is there any justice left in this world?” Chester jabbed a finger at Zachary, then pointed at everyone else in turn.

“And that one–claims to be a lawyer. The lot of them are in cahoots!”

“Oh, will you shut up already?” Carlson glared at his hopelessly clueless brother, wishing he had a roll of duct tape to slap over his mouth.

“Attorney Morton, this is all just a misunderstanding, really.” He turned to Ethan with a forced smile, then glanced at Zachary. “Zachary, you remember me, don’t you?”

Zachary nodded, He’d treated Carlson’s back injury before, given him acupuncture and prescribed medicine–three, maybe four times all told.

“My idiot brother never finished school–doesn’t know any better. Don’t take it to heart. Whatever you think we owe, I’ll pay. There’s no need to make this official, right? No need to blow things out of proportion.”

Carlson’s sudden humility toward a kid left Chester rattled; he immediately shrank back, trying to disappear. After all, their whole family depended on Carlson–if they made him angry, they’d be out on the street by morning.

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“I…” Zachary looked away.

He honestly didn’t want to back down. If it were just about him, maybe he’d let it go. But these people had made Lessie cry–he couldn’t just swallow it. Still, with Carlson being on good terms with his mentor, if things got ugly…

“Carlson, don’t blame me for being blunt, but this case needs to be filed!” Xander’s

words cut through Zachary’s doubts like a lifeline, filling him with renewed

confidence.

“Mr. Dawson, that’s not really necessary, is it?” Carlson stammered, expecting Xander to take his side, never imagining he’d be the one to oppose him.

“My apprentice–I know his character. If you doubt him, you’re doubting me,” Xander snapped.

“And Lessie’s the girl I’ve watched grow up since she was little. I’ve never seen her cry, but your brother managed it, didn’t he? Don’t blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame your brother’s greed for money that isn’t his!”

Carlson was left speechless, glaring at Chester in frustration. Xander, meanwhile, continued on, unconcerned with the discomfort around him.

Given his age and status, who in this room would dare contradict him?

“People ought to be decent and honest. Scrambling for a few thousand dollars by bullying these kids–aren’t you ashamed?” Xander shot a pointed look at Chester, who was cowering behind Carlson. There was no mistaking who his words were

aimed at.

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