Chapter 3
In the morning, Zoey had just pushed open the lab door when two police officers stopped her.
"Ms. King, we would like to ask you some questions about the fight that happened in the alley behind the medical school last Friday night," one of the officers said, flashing his badge.
Whispers spread around them.
Zoey was infamous at the medical school, rumored to have a knack for violence, though her colleagues who knew her thought she was just distant.
She did have a fascination with dissecting bodies, but who at the medical school hadn't dissected a body?
She just had a habit of meticulously examining the organs she removed during the process.
"Got it," Zoey replied calmly, following the officers out.
At the police station.
The dean of the medical school rushed in, immediately launching into a tirade.
"What did you promise me? You said you wouldn't act impulsively and hurt anyone again. Now you're not only suspected of murder but are also causing trouble outside the school!"
"Do you know who those people you fought with are? They come from influential families! There were no cameras in that alley, but the police investigation shows you were the only one there at the time."
The dean grew more agitated.
"I finally understand why the King family disowned you. You're too dangerous."
"Mr. King will be here soon. You'd better explain yourself clearly. I've already drafted your dismissal notice. We can't let you drag the entire medical school down with you."
Zoey's expression remained indifferent, showing no emotion.
Five minutes later, her biological father, Aiden King, stormed in and slapped her without a word first.
"How much more trouble are you going to bring to the King family?!"
The dean and the police officers were startled by the sudden action and quickly intervened.
"Mr. King, the deceased was the nephew of the richest man in Silverlight City. This incident is too significant, and the medical school can't protect her. The dismissal notice has been issued. As of today, she is no longer part of the medical school."
After Zoey went to give her statement, Aiden, with a grim expression, pulled out a check.
"Mr. Smith, I'll make an additional investment. Let her stay at the medical school. With her temperament, where else can she go?"
James Smith, the dean, shook his head, refusing: "Mr. King, it's not about the money. I'm genuinely afraid she'll ruin the school's reputation."
Aiden put the check away and went to find the investigating officer.
Fifteen minutes later, Zoey emerged from the interrogation room, and Aiden raised his hand, trying to hit her again.
This time, she swiftly dodged, nearly causing Aiden to fall.
Zoey coldly said. "That last slap repays your upbringing. Try to hit me again, and see what happens."
"You betrayed Mom and resulted in her death, then made me take the fall for Cleo and serve two years in prison. Now you pretend to save me? Isn't that a joke?"
Two years ago, the drunken Cleo King had someone beaten up and disabled after being harassed, but she framed Zoey for it.
The entire King family testified against her, and she ended up serving two years in prison.
After her release, Aiden announced he was cutting ties with her to protect Cleo.
"Zoey, the most laughable thing is you," Aiden said through gritted teeth. "Who swore that she wouldn't rely on the King family? Now you're in trouble, and had James contact me? If you're asking for help, act like it! You're suspected of murder. What right do you have to bring up your mother?"
"If you were as sensible as Cleo, would I have to cut ties with you? You're a lunatic!"
Zoey's eyes flickered.
She had never thought Aiden would describe her as a "lunatic."
"Yes, I am a lunatic."
She shook off Aiden's hand. "I'll handle my own affairs. Don't trouble yourself."
"Stubborn fool!" Aiden trembled with anger.
At that moment, a police officer approached to inform them that the investigation had cleared Zoey of suspicion; she had a solid alibi.
Aiden, however, refused to believe it.
He had seen Zoey's destructive power firsthand.
If it weren't for his mother Rhea's dying wish to see Zoey, he wouldn't have come.
Meanwhile, Alexander was still investigating Zoey's background when he saw the trending news about the medical school.
At the same time, Oliver hurried into his office with a tablet.
"Mr. Garcia, I've found out that Zoey is the King family's daughter. Two years ago, she was disowned due to a medical incident and has now been expelled from the medical school."
"Medical incident?" Alexander scoffed as he reviewed the information.
He suddenly recalled a drunken Mason King mentioning at a party last month that he had a younger sister who was disowned for causing a death.
He hadn't expected it to be Zoey.
Oliver continued his report.
"Yeah, Aiden went to the police station but refused to help. It seems Zoey has proven she wasn't involved in the alley fight. Mr. Garcia, do you think she'll expose us?"
"No," Alexander said confidently. "And I don't believe she caused that medical incident two years ago."
With her medical skills, how could she have made such a mistake?
Oliver hesitated. He found Alexander's trust in her inexplicable.
"The entire King family testified against her," Oliver said, pulling up old news reports. "Especially her sister Cleo, who cried at a press conference, hoping Zoey would realize her mistake."
Alexander paused.
The photo showed Cleo's tear-streaked face in stark contrast to Zoey's cold profile.
"No one helped her two years ago. This time, she has someone."
"Mr. Garcia, you don't mean to get involved..." Oliver had a bad feeling.
Alexander smiled.
"I haven't repaid my debt yet, so I can get involved. The question is, would she be willing to come back to Emerald City with me?"
"Back to Emerald City?!" Oliver's throat tightened. "You want her to treat Mr. Garcia's leg?"
"Don't tell Grandpa yet," Alexander nodded, giving Oliver a warning look. "Keep your mouth shut."
Oliver nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, Mr. Garcia, my lips are sealed."
Meanwhile, Aiden stood outside the Brown Villa, his expensive suit soaked with sweat.
The butler came out for the third time to relay a message. "Mr. Brown says he doesn't want money. He wants Zoey's life in exchange."
Aiden clenched his fists. Zoey was always causing him trouble.
He pulled out his phone, deciding to bring her in directly.
The screen suddenly lit up with a video call from Rhea.
On her hospital bed, Rhea looked vibrant and spoke with authority.
"You are so useless! If you can't bring Zoey back, you don't deserve to be the head of the King family!"
"Mom, she killed again, just like two years ago..."
"Shut up!" Rhea interrupted sharply. "You know the truth about what happened two years ago."
The video call ended abruptly.
Aiden stared at the dark screen, his jaw clenched in pain.
He should have let Zoey die in prison two years ago, sparing Rhea's constant nagging.
As he fumed, his phone rang again.
Seeing the caller ID "Mason," he suppressed his anger: "What is it?"
"Dad, let me handle Zoey's situation." Mason's voice was unusually firm.
"Mason, make sure she disappears on the way. You don't want our relatives to laugh at us, do you?"
Mason was shocked by his father's ruthlessness and felt a surge of anger.
"Two years ago, you said falsifying evidence was to protect Zoey's reputation, and I believed you."
"And what happened? The day she was released, you cut ties with her!"
Aiden fell silent, his chest tightening at the thought of Zoey's eyes, so much like his first wife's.
"I've spoken to her. She made it clear she wants nothing to do with the King family and has no respect for Grandma." Aiden said.
"Grandma's favorite was always her." Mason softened his tone. "I'll contact her. You stay out of it."
Hanging up, Aiden stood under the scorching sun, feeling a chill down his spine.
The Zoey he desperately wanted to rid himself of seemed to be being pushed back to the King family by fate.
The next day, Mason intercepted Zoey at the supermarket.
Zoey was taken aback to see her once-beloved brother, Mason.
What was going on lately? The King family members kept appearing before her.
Could it be that Cleo had caused trouble again, needing her to take the fall?
Only Cleo's issues would prompt these people to remember her.
"Move out of my way," Zoey said coldly.
Mason stepped closer and hugged her: "Zoey, I finally found you."
His emotions were intense, as if he had been searching for her for a long time.
A flicker of emotion crossed Zoey's eyes before they returned to their usual calm.
What did it matter if he found her? The King family no longer had a place for her, and her mother had been killed by them. She could never go back.