Chapter 53

The congratulatory message on the big screen suddenly morphed into a string of blood-red warnings!

[If the Lees marry the Banks, they'll fall just like them.!]

Kai's father, Logan Lee, frowned hard. He had no idea who the Banks family had crossed, but clearly, that person hit hard-and fast.

After weighing the risk, Logan made the call: the marriage alliance needed to be reconsidered. The press conference ended on that note.

And just like that, the news exploded onto the headlines.

When Megan walked back into the classroom, Rachel looked like he'd just watched a thriller. "Megan, you just went to the bathroom and boom-Lee and Banks families call off the wedding. That's some powerful peeing!"

Megan rolled her eyes.

Really? All because she went to the restroom, now it's her doing?(V;)...

The bell rang, and Megan started packing up her stuff.

Natalie stormed over, her eyes red, all the pride and sass she used to wear were completely gone. She glared at Megan and asked, "Was it you?"

With her arms crossed, Megan tilted her head and smiled. "Did I do something?"

"You-you told us last night to be ready for consequences!"

"Oh right!" Megan said brightly. "I lit a black candle,grabbed a cinnamon stick, and asked the moon to hex anyone who scared me."

Rachel piped in, "Works that well? I'm trying that tonight too."

Tears spilled down Natalie's cheeks. "When did I ever scare you?"

Megan lifted a hand to shield her eyes. "Your looks did the job. Move it, if you're not easy on the eyes, at least don't block the view."

Smirking,she grabbed Rachel and walked off.

Since they were moving into the family estate that day, Megan and Rachel drove straight over after class.

Inside the car, Rachel sat in the passenger seat,locking his gaze on her. "Meg, you're kinda spooky,you know? You said they'd suffer and boom, they did.Come on,fess up-where'd you learn your witchcraft?"

Witchcraft?

Three veins popped on Megan's forehead. She was no witch.

This was straight-up competence,okay? She gave a lazy grin. "Rachel, it's just dumb luck. But seriously, study hard. When you're strong, people naturally respect you. Women should have backbone and independence. Don't just hide behind a man; be someone who can walk shoulder to shoulder with the one you love."

Rachel looked at her like she hung the moon. He couldn't believe someone his age could say stuff this deep.

Most rich girls were taught from birth to be perfect wives-play the piano, walk like a lady, and always stand one step behind the man. That was the norm.

But then Megan grinned cheekily. "Still, even if you dream big, Meg... trying to be someone who fights beside my brother? That's wild."

Megan shot him a sideways glare. "You know what,Rachel? Sounds like I should do another round of praying tonight-maybe get the Lee and Banks families back together."

Rachel instantly chickened out. "Okay, okay, I take it back!"

They arrived at the Reid estate and got out of the car.

They spotted Wyatt in a wheelchair with Sophia pushing him across the lawn.

"Oh look," Wyatt sneered, "here comes my lovely sis.and that orphan girl we picked up!"

Sophia gave them a chilly glance, face full of disgust. "Ugh, lost my appetite already."

Rachel's head fell and his cheeks flushed red with shame.

Megan could tell that "orphan girl" comment hit home.

Rachel had no blood ties to the Reid family, so deep down,he struggled with belonging.

As for Wyatt's smug and nasty face-Megan stared at him with eyes full of venom.In her past life,that man had driven a cold, sharp military knife into her lungs over and over again. Even now, she could still feel that searing pain.

It hurt. Like hell.

She tightened her grip on Rachel's trembling hand and shot a glare at Wyatt. "Wyatt, I think they put you in the wrong hospital ward. You really should be down in proctology. Clearly got issues with your mouth-you might wanna get that checked. Oh, and Aunt Sophia,since you're so full of crap, no need to bother with lunch,huh?"

Sophia clutched the wheelchair handles tight, face twisted. "What kind of talk is that from someone younger? Dirty from start to finish! Birds of a feather -no wonder you all stick together!"

Criticizing her, fine. Dragging her husband into it? Not okay.

Megan gave a low chuckle."And the moment we step in, all you've got is trash talk-what part of that says 'elder' to you? Like mother like son, rotten fish and stale shrimp-you all make a great match!"

Just then, two silver-haired men walked out of the house.

It was Mr. Reid and Bruce.

Sophia immediately switched to her pitiful act.-"Dad,look at this! She just walked in and humiliated me-this isn't the way things should be. According to our family rules, shouldn't she be punished?"

Rachel's brows drew together. Those family rules weren't a joke: disrespecting elders meant twenty cane strikes.

Megan wasn't exactly built for beatings.

Trying to take the heat off, she stepped forward."It was me, not her. I spoke out of turn."

Sophia's lips twitched slightly in satisfaction. She didn't care who took the blame-as long as someone got punished.

But Mr. Reid looked at Megan kindly. "What do you think,Megan?"

She smiled lightly. "I don't go looking for fights, but I'm not afraid to stand up for myself. Soon as we walked in,they were throwing insults. If there's punishment to be handed out, shouldn'tit be the ones who started it?"

She glanced at Rachel. "If they're willing to take the punishment, then Rachel and I won't say/a word about taking ours." Mr. Reid turned to Sophia. "What do you think?"

Sophia gave a slight cough. "I didn't say anything that bad. but still, the younger generation should respect their elders."

Megan scoffed, "So, we're playing the 'I'm older so I'm always right' card now? If elders make mistakes, they just get a free pass? If that's how it works, maybe it's time to revise the family rules."

Bruce burst out laughing. "Geoffrey, this girl's got real main-wife energy, doesn't she?"

Mr. Reid nodded with approval. "Indeed! Sophia,do you agree to punishment?"

Sophia clutched her chest, coughing again."Forget it.I won't argue with her anymore."

But the way she said it? Still made it sound like Megan was the one in the wrong.

Too bad Megan wasn't here to be walked all over.

Her face cooled instantly. "Oh no, you don't get to walk away just like that. The minute we got here,Wyatt threw out that welfare orphan slander about Rachel. You think we're gonna gloss over that? Kids reflect their upbringing. And as for you, saying you suddenly lost your appetite just from seeing us, is that not picking a fight?"

She turned to Mr. Reid again. "Grandpa, I really think it's time we updated those family rules."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you suggest?"

Megan didn't hesitate. "Thirty cane strikes for the one who starts trouble, just like the old days."

Sophia's face turned pale. "Absolutely not!"

But Mr. Reid stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Sounds fair. If no one starts anything, none of this would've happened."

Megan smiled. "Thanks for your support, Grandpa.Let's make it official-starting now. Aunt Sophia, after you."

Sophia turned to Mr. Reid urgently. "Dad!"