Chapter 5 I Believe Her

Without regard to how Joseph might react, Lucille turned around, walking away.

Joseph leaned back on the car seat, casting a sidelong glance at Lucille's receding figure.

She could smell the medicinal fragrance emanating from him and tell what it was. He couldn't help but wonder if she was truly the silly girl as people said.

It seemed that rumors could be misleading.

"Mr. Joseph," Culver finally spoke up, unable to contain himself any longer. "Lucille Jules is notorious for her wicked ways. You mustn't believe anything she says. The medication you're taking was prescribed by Mrs. Jules' personal physician. What could a little girl like her know about medicine?"

Joseph continued to stare in the direction Lucille had gone, remaining silent for a long moment.

Finally, he spoke in a low voice, "I believe her."

The medicine prescribed by his grandmother's personal physician might have been effective, but it was also detrimental to his health. He could feel that his physical condition had worsened considerably over the past few days.

The fact that Lucille was able to detect the issue with just the scent of that medicine so easily suggested that she was indeed knowledgeable about medicine.

By bringing the problem to his attention, she was simply returning him a favor. After all, he had given her two free rides.

Hmph!

It seemed that...

She didn't want to have anything to do with him.

Culver stared in astonishment, unable to believe his ears.

What did Mr. Joseph say?

He actually believed Jules?

Good heavens!

Was Mr. Joseph under some kind of spell cast by Lucille? Why was he taking her side at every turn?

"Mr. Joseph, are you perhaps interested in her?" Culver cautiously asked, "She's already engaged to Samuel Gilbert, you know."

Joseph withdrew his gaze and looked ahead nonchalantly. "So what?"

She was only engaged to Samuel, and even if he snatched her away from Samuel, what could the Gilbert family do to him?

......

In the Jules Villa.

When Lucille entered the house, she realized that it was very lively inside. Zoey, who had been in the hospital, had returned home before her.

Howard and Charles were having dinner with Zoey.

As soon as Lucille entered, she could hear the two of them asking after Zoey's well-being.

"Have some more food, Zoey. It's really good for you."

"Drink up the broth to help you feel better."

"Thank you." Zoey smiled warmly, holding her bowl gracefully as she ate.

Lucille stood at the door, watching this scene unfold in front of her, and suddenly felt a dull pain in her chest.

The previous owner's painful emotions surged up again.

She had longed for this kind of attention and affection, only to be ignored and excluded countless times.

She had to watch her own father and brothers dote on another woman who was not even related to them.

Meanwhile, she had to shrink into a corner like an injured animal, licking her wounds alone and feeling invisible.

Zoey enjoyed the attention proudly, but when she caught a glimpse of Lucille's figure, her expression changed suddenly. She pretended to be worried and put down her bowl.

"Dad, I'm still worried about Lucille. She's been out of the hospital for so long. What if something happens to her? After all, she almost drowned last night."

Now that this was brought up, it filled Howard with an intense feeling of anger.

He let out a cold snort and snapped, 'Why bother bringing up that sc*mbag? Let her run away if she wants to, even if she dies outside it's none of our concern! Since she has the guts to push you down the stairs, she should have never come back home again!"

Lucille stood frozen in place, a sharp pain suddenly piercing her heart.

She felt acutely the pain and bitterness of the previous owner of this body.

Why?

Why was she being treated so cruelly?

She was his biological daughter!

What did she do wrong? She should not have been born into this world, into this household...

Lucille took a deep breath and sighed internally, "Silly girl, I told you never to be sad for someone who doesn't care about you."

The servant saw Lucille standing at the door, looking pale, and greeted her hurriedly, "Miss Lucille, you've returned?"

Howard had a total of four children. Lucille was the youngest and originally ranked fourth.

But after adopting Zoey, Lucille became the fifth child in the family, with Zoey taking over her place.

Lucille gave a light response and headed upstairs.

As Howard noticed Lucille's return, he slammed his fist onto the table and scolded, "Look who's here, and not a word of hello to your own father? You no longer see me as your father?"

Lucille responded with a cold laugh and an apathetic tone, "No, I don't."

She could sense that the original host's disappointment towards her father was slowly disappearing. Now that her emotions had settled down, she wouldn't be easily saddened or heartbroken by their interactions with her.

She had nothing to do with Howard, anyway. Howard was the father of the original owner of this body, not hers.

"You–" Howard was so infuriated that his face contorted at her response. "You're a disrespectful daughter!"

Lucille retorted nonchalantly, "S*cmbag!"

"What did you say?!" Howard couldn't believe his ears. "Say it again?"

Lucille idly fiddled with the edge of her hospital gown, her gaze icy as she appraised Howard. "You always play favorites and can never tell right from wrong. Besides, you spoil that adopted daughter of yours while scolding me, your own flesh and blood! When you add it all up, just calling you a s*cmbag is already too kind of me."

Well, she could have come up with worse remarks.

"You!" Howard turned livid with anger and smashed a bowl on the ground. "Do you think you can get away with talking to me like that? Kneel down and apologize to me!"

After speaking, he ordered the butler with a grim face, "Bring me the whip!"

The butler didn't dare to refuse and turned to fetch the whip.

"You'll kneel and beg for forgiveness," Howard growled as he took the iron-black whip with sharp spikes, his expression dark and menacing.

Lucille's gaze fell upon the scary whip, and a wave of uncontrollable panic coursed through her body, paralyzing her with fear.

She knew it was the original owner's emotions.

Previously, when Zoey falsely accused her of stealing, Howard nearly beat the original owner of this body to death with this whip.

If the original owner wasn't afraid of the whip, it would be strange.

Zoey, still harboring resentment towards Lucille for slapping her at the hospital, wasted no time in provoking Howard.

"Dad, don't be angry. Lucille almost drowned last night and hasn't fully recovered. She's not in a good mood because of me and Samuel. Please forgive her."

Howard looked at her with compassion, "She pushed you down the stairs and almost killed you. Why are you so kind to help her? Don't worry, I will give you justice!"

He then waved the whip. The whip whistled through the air as he gestured with it. "Lucille! Kneel down!"

Lucille sneered, "Why should I kneel? And, what do you mean by 'justice'?"

"You know very well that Zoey deliberately seduced my fiance Samuel and played the innocent victim. Yet you not only failed to defend me, but you also sided with her."

"Back in the old days, Zoey's actions would have been condemned and punished in public. But now you're making her out to be the victim? Are you serious?"

Lucille's voice rang out, clear and strong, as she confronted Howard. "Where is the justice in what you're doing?"

Her words cut through the tense silence like a knife, her voice increasing in volume like a crescendo.

And, Howard was left speechless, rooted to the spot.

He had never expected the usually reserved and quiet Lucille to be so forceful and articulate in her arguments.

He was silent for a few seconds, not knowing how to respond.