With a touch of coldness in her eyes, Katelyn responded calmly, “For ten years, I’ve supported you, paying for your tuition and even your family’s bills. After college, when you had nowhere else to go, you came to me, and I let you stay at my place. Yet now, you claim it’s all my fault.”
Katelyn felt utterly disappointed at that moment. Her decade of support seemed to mean nothing at all in the end.
Zoey’s expression grew even more sour. Katelyn forced another smile, but it was followed by a mocking laugh.
“Frankly, if I had taken care of a dog for ten years, it would at least wag its tail.”
Zoey felt a mix of shame and rage surge within her.
“Who are you calling a dog? Don’t act high and mighty just because you’re wealthy. I’ll pay back every cent I owe you!”
Katelyn remained seated, smiling slightly.
“Very well. Since you’ve brought it up, I’ll have my lawyer tally up all the money I’ve sent to your family over the years. It’s certainly a considerable sum, well into the millions.”
Paying for Zoey’s tuition was not overly costly on its own. However, it also encompassed the living expenses for Zoey’s large family of eight. Over time, they got into the habit of deducting any expenses directly from the bank account Katelyn had set up for Zoey.
When Katelyn found out about this, she even dipped into her own savings to cover the deficits, worried that Sharon might cut off the financial support if she discovered the overages.
Reflecting on it now, Katelyn acknowledged her foolishness. If she could go back, Katelyn would choose to support a different child in need without a second thought.
Zoey was visibly shaken. As someone who had directly benefited from Katelyn’s generosity, she was acutely aware of how much had been spent over the years. At first, she felt guilty, thinking they should not have taken advantage of the situation. But her parents constantly reassured her that the Bailey family was so wealthy that even a small portion of their fortune would be enough to support them comfortably for a lifetime.
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Katelyn observed Zoey’s changing expressions with decreasing patience and asked, “Set a deadline. When are you going to repay all this money?”
Zoey swallowed hard, clenching her teeth as she fixed Katelyn with a fierce look. “Do you really need to go this far? Are you trying to back me into a dead end?”
Katelyn responded with a puzzled look, asking, “How am I backing you into a dead end?” But Zoey could no longer hear her voice.
“I can’t pay back this money. The only way I can repay you is with my life!” Without a second thought, she spun around and hurried toward the window.
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