The Heiress They Lost Came Back Overpowered
Chapter 31 - 30: Live for Oneself

Chapter 31: Chapter 30: Live for Oneself

The next day, the Kingsland Police Department posted an announcement online, detailing the crimes of the four members of the Sutton family.

Netizens were furious, cursing them out. ’Is this whole family just born evil?!’

’So I guess being evil is hereditary?!’

Some people also joked that Zachary Jacobs probably wasn’t Hector Sutton’s son, as a scumbag like that couldn’t have fathered such a good person.

Zachary Jacobs: ’Thanks, I wish it weren’t true, but I really am his son. We had it tested.’

Everyone who had bad-mouthed Luna on social media the previous night had their names taken down by Pluto’s legal department and were issued warnings with lawyer’s letters.

(Hehe, talk about double standards.)

This also earned Zachary Jacobs a lot of sympathy from netizens. A multi-layered stack of "buffs"—family killed by his scumbag dad, inheritance stolen by his scumbag dad, siblings sold by their stepmom, sister deceased, being the musical instrument master Luna, the Vice Chairman of Pluto, and the new Chairman of Jacobs Corp—all added up.

Thanks to this, the new Jacobs Corp shot to fame and grew rapidly.

In reality, however, for a long time afterward, the person most talked about in Kingsland’s high society circles was still Yvonne Lowell.

She had single-handedly taken down the culprits who had trafficked her—an entire family of four—and sent them all to prison.

Anyone from a prominent family who thought about it a little more deeply had to admit her move was brilliant.

She had laid the evidence bare in front of everyone, openly declaring, ’Those are the culprits!’

She didn’t have to worry about uninformed onlookers seeing her take on the Sutton Family and assuming she was just using her power to bully them.

At the same time, she was sending a message to everyone: Yvonne Lowell, even without the Lowell Family backing her, was not someone to be trifled with.

She had helped a friend reclaim his family fortune; she was loyal, intelligent, beautiful, highly educated, and well-connected. Yvonne Lowell’s public reputation soared, and some even began to entertain ideas of a marriage alliance.

Of course, that was all a story for another time.

...

Yvonne Lowell was unaware of all this, and even if she had known, she wouldn’t have cared.

At that moment, the three of them were in a cemetery in Kingsland.

Back then, to put on a show of his deep affection, Hector Sutton had Nancy Rivera buried together with her parents.

’The plot was one the elder Fords had purchased for themselves while they were still alive. So deeply affectionate of him.’

Nancy Rivera had been the one to have her parents’ tombstones engraved, so those were left untouched.

Zachary Jacobs had the inscription on Nancy Rivera’s tombstone changed from ’Beloved Wife’ to ’To Our Loving Mother, Nancy Rivera.’ A cenotaph was also placed beside it.

Yvonne Lowell and Nina Jennings bowed three times before the four tombstones, then stepped aside.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, I’m home. I’ve taken back what belongs to our family. Those scumbags will get what they deserve, and it’s all thanks to Lowell and Nina.

But I’m sorry... I wasn’t man enough to protect my sister, and I failed to bring her back with me." Zachary Jacobs’s voice choked with emotion as he knelt before the tombstones, muttering to himself.

Just then, a breeze picked up. It gently brushed against his face, as if offering comfort, or perhaps, a farewell.

Zachary Jacobs paused for a moment, then said with a smile,

"Don’t worry, I’m doing great. I’ve made lots and lots of money. I’m eighteen now, so I’m not a little boy anymore. I’m a grown man, and I can take care of myself. That’s all for now. I’ll come visit you again another day."

He stood, wiped his face, then turned with a smile and started walking ahead.

"Alright, let’s head back."

Yvonne Lowell and Nina Jennings exchanged a look and followed him.

"That’s right, let’s go home!" Nina Jennings said with a smile, walking a little faster to put an arm over his shoulder.

After a few steps, Yvonne Lowell glanced back. It was as if she could see the little girl who had protected her with her own life, smiling as she watched her go.

A smile slowly formed on her lips. ’Sister, I’ve done what I promised. From now on, I’ll listen to you and live for myself.’

...

That morning, Yvonne Lowell had just stepped out of her room.

"Nola, that bastard Keith Zane has gone too far! He went behind my back and secretly signed me up for a live reality show called Happy Family. The contract’s already signed, and I’ll have to pay a penalty if I pull out."

Harrison Lowell placed both hands on Yvonne Lowell’s shoulders, his expression grave.

But the truth was, he had recently been bragging to his manager, Keith Zane, at the company, boasting about his status within the family.

He’d claimed that in the entire Lowell Family, Yvonne Lowell was the boss and he was second-in-command. But, since his sister spoiled him, that basically made him the real boss, if you thought about it.

As a result, Keith Zane had called his bluff, daring him, "If you’re so sure, then accept this show without telling your family first!"

And so, he had accepted the family-style live reality show.

He began to regret it the moment the contract was signed, but he didn’t want to lose face.

He didn’t dare ask Charles Lowell or Caleb Lowell, so he had to secretly go and beg Wendy Sutton, asking if they could film the show at home.

The answer he received was that it was fine if Yvonne Lowell agreed. That was why he had changed course to come and plead with her.

Yvonne Lowell was a little confused.

"So, you don’t have enough to pay the penalty fee? I can transfer you some money."

’Filming a show is one thing, but what does it have to do with me? I’m not in the entertainment industry.’

"Ahem, that’s not the issue. The main thing is, it’s a family reality show that documents an Artist’s daily life at home with his family."

Harrison Lowell deliberately emphasized the word "family."

Yvonne Lowell raised a hand to press on her throbbing temple, trying to banish the terrible thoughts that were forming.

"So?"

"So, it has to be filmed here, at our house. But don’t worry! They’ll only install cameras in the living room; they won’t go upstairs. There will also be two camera operators following along, but that’s it. It’ll be over before you know it—just half a month. What do you think?"

Harrison Lowell said, unable to wait.

’It’s no use. Not only were the thoughts not going away, they were getting worse.’

Yvonne Lowell turned, ready to flee. "I think you should ask Mom and Dad for their opinion first. My vote doesn’t count."

"I already asked, I already asked! Mom said it’s fine as long as you agree. You have the deciding vote."

Harrison Lowell pulled her back, pressing his palms together in a pleading gesture.

Yvonne Lowell: ’...Thanks, but I don’t really want it. Do I get a veto?’

Seeing Yvonne Lowell’s silence, Harrison Lowell started playing the victim.

"I’m just a small-time actor trying to make it on my own. Breaking the contract would be terrible for my reputation. Besides, the production team is already preparing to launch their promotional campaign, and I’m supposed to go shoot the posters this afternoon. How can I possibly refuse now?

How can an ordinary guy in his twenties like me possibly fight against the powers that be? What if they get angry and blacklist me?"

’On my own? Trying to make it? Wasn’t Lowell Entertainment founded just so you could have your own entertainment empire?’

’Small-time actor? A small-time actor who’s a three-time Best Actor award winner?’

’And didn’t you get famous for your sharp tongue in the first place? What reputation are you even talking about?’

’The powers that be? Aren’t you one of the powers that be? Who would dare blacklist you?’

"Fine, fine, fine. If you want to film it, then film it."

’Besides, I have other properties. I can just not come home.’

As if reading her mind, Harrison Lowell quickly added,

"Nola, didn’t you say you wanted to relax at home for a while? This is perfect! Your big bro will take you on the show to have some fun. Don’t go traveling far away for no reason, okay?

Otherwise, with our eldest brother always on business trips and our third brother never home, if you’re not here either, people will think our family doesn’t get along. This is a family-style show! Family-style!"

’Resist the urge. He’s my brother. My blood brother. I can’t hit him. Besides, he’s so scrawny, he couldn’t take a punch anyway. Stay calm.’

Yvonne Lowell plastered on a standard, professional smile. "Alright, I get it. When does the show start?"