From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots novel Chapter 161

From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots

Chapter 161 The Reckoning

Scarlett’s future was boundless. That much was now clear.

No one knew who clapped first, but the banquet hall soon erupted in thunderous applause.

In that moment, Scarlett had firmly planted her roots in the heart of the capital’s elite circle.

Aurora’s fingers curled so tightly into her palm that they nearly broke skin. Her eyes were cold as ice–but there was nothing she could do. All she could do was watch, helpless, as Scarlett became the center of attention.

Sophia’s eyes shimmered with tears. She was filled with joy at her daughter’s brilliance and poise, and proud of how gracefully Scarlett handled herself under pressure. But that pride came with pain. For Scarlett to have such strength meant she must have suffered terribly in the past.

Owen gently wrapped an arm around Sophia and whispered, “From now on, we’ll make it up to her. She’ll get the very best of everything.”

Sophia nodded firmly.

In the crowd, Jack nudged Jasper’s arm.

“You clapping earlier nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Jasper remained stoic, his handsome features as unreadable as ever.

“Just giving the museum a headache,” he said coolly.

Ah–right. Trevor had set his sights on Pixel.

If Pixel really went to the museum as a student, wouldn’t she end up just like Trevor someday? Wearing outdated clothes, serious expression, buried in dusty relics, obsessed with oracle bone inscriptions? Just imagining Scarlett like that was enough to make Jack feel like the world was ending.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a grin. “Mission accepted. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Pixel had finally reunited with her family. She should be enjoying her life–not turning into some academic robot.

He suddenly smacked his own forehead. Right–he nearly forgot.

Time to redirect the spotlight back onto the Joyner family.

They needed to be dragged through the mud, thoroughly shamed, and left for dead.

Scarlett turned then, her gaze locking onto the Joyners.

Most of them looked uneasy, but Franklin… he was drenched in cold sweat,

“I… I don’t know anything about art,” he stammered, his voice cracking.

His heart bled. That painting had cost him a fortune. He had gambled everything for a chance to win favor with the Lane family–and now it had all blown up in his face.

Scarlett’s eyes slid from him to Martha. Her gaze was glacial.

Chapter 161 The Reckoning

“When I was mistakenly taken into your family, I never received an ounce of love. All you ever did was squeeze me for every drop of value I had. You bled me dry”

Martha immediately snapped back. “You’re insane! What nonsense are you spouting?”

The defensive tone was all wrong.

Connor considered stepping in, but thought better of it. After all, Scarlett had indeed been mistreated in their home. Letting her vent wasn’t unreasonable. And he didn’t want to embarrass her in public. He would hold his tongue–for now.

Scarlett clapped her hands.

Hudson moved swiftly, activating the large screen. Photos began to scroll across it.

Each one a record of what Scarlett had done for the Joyner family over the years.

“What? Eugene’s lab results–she got those? That’s dangerous! One mistake and it could’ve killed her!”

“She’s a famous screenwriter? That’s my idol! She launched Stanley’s career?!”

“Oliver’s rise in the business world was thanks to her strategic plans?”

“I remember Martha showing off those unique pieces of jewelry–Jalindale’s designers couldn’t replicate them. Wait… Scarlett designed those?”

One revelation after another. All proof that Scarlett had been used. Exploited.

“You

say you didn’t use me?” Scarlett said, voice steady. “Then tell me–when you showed off my work, did you ever tell anyone who made it?”

The Joyners froze.

No one answered.

All their heads bowed in shame.

They had long forgotten. Forgotten that it was Scarlett who’d propelled them upward, who gave them their

power.

Stanley broke down completely. Guilt crushed him.

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