Heiress Unmasked: Shaking the World With Geomancy novel Chapter 1023

"To me, you were nothing more than just a convenient stepping stone to approach Shannon.

"It'd have been someone else if not you, but I didn't expect things to go so smoothly with you. It was smoother than I anticipated."

Caleb fell silent. For some reason, anger started bubbling inside him.

Then, Ziva continued, "I used the Art of Fate-Swapping on you just to test Shannon's reaction and give her some trouble."

Caleb prayed that Ziva had better stop talking. He was about to lose it.

So, not only was he just a stepping stone, but he was also a tool for her schemes. That was the reason he'd nearly ended up as a robotic vacuum cleaner.

As Caleb's emotions churned in his eyes, Ziva couldn't quite pinpoint how she felt.

Though her initial approach to him had been calculated, she couldn't deny that Caleb had treated her with kindness, unlike anyone she'd ever met. Like what he'd said, he saw her as a friend.

But so what? A flower blooming in a gutter wouldn't change the fact that it was still in a gutter. Having been raised in the depths of suffering wouldn't mean that she'd magically find salvation just from one or two acts of kindness.

She'd never felt salvaged, and she'd never considered the world beautiful either.

After surviving the fire, she'd resolved to live according to her will, for better or worse.

"If you're mad, go ahead and blame Shannon. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have targeted you." As Ziva spoke, she shot Caleb a provocative glance.

"Will you shut up already!" Caleb's sudden shout startled everyone present, including Ziva.

But he wasn't bothered in the slightest. He pointed at Ziva and bellowed, "You're the one who caused all this! You're the instigator! How dare you blame anyone else! And why should I blame anyone else for your mess?

"Do you think I'm still the idiot who'd blindly fall for your manipulations and let you stir me up?"

Caleb had no intention of being anyone's pawn again after having endured Shannon's ruthless means.

The thought of being trapped in some robotic vacuum cleaner working day and night endlessly…

No way! Not a chance!