Chapter 8
With all that done, I could finally relax, freshen up, and get some sleep.
The next morning, I was up early.
Right after I finished a round of focused language practice, Alyssa called.
"Good morning, Miss Harrison," Alyssa said.
"Morning, Ms. Wood," I replied.
"The court has officially filed your case against Harper and Michal for stealing your property. The summons will be mailed out today," Alyssa said.
"Got it," I replied.
"But..." Alyssa paused. "Harper has refused mediation.
"And she's even submitted what she claims is a 'child support bill' to the court, demanding you pay 600 thousand dollars for your upbringing from birth to eighteen."
I wasn't surprised at all.
That was just how Harper rolled.
She was always playing dirty and acting like she was the victim, flipping the script every time.
"I see," I said calmly.
Alyssa reassured me, "Miss Harrison, you really don't have to worry about this. Legally, that bill doesn't have a leg to stand on.
"First off, parents are legally required to support their minor children. It's not some debt they can just ask you to pay back.
"And as you said, you've been on your own financially since you were sixteen, and you even helped pay off their debts. There are transfer records to prove all of this.
"So, trust me, the judge isn't going to side with her on this."
"I understand," I said.
"So, we're sticking to the original plan and going to court, right?" Alyssa asked.
"Absolutely," I said, my voice unwavering. "I won't withdraw the lawsuit, and I won't accept any settlement unless it includes compensation.
"All I want is a formal judgment from the court."
A judgment that proves they misappropriated my property and requires them to publicly apologize to me.
This was my final legal severance from that family.
After hanging up, I dove right back into my study grind.
Whether it was Harper or Beatrix, they were nothing but distractions in my life.
My only goal was to block out everything else and zero in on the one right answer.
At noon, I was making lunch when Maddox called.
He sounded exhausted, with a hint of suppressed anger in his voice.
"Anastasia, Harper and Michal are causing a scene at the Harrison Group headquarters," he said.
I froze, my hand holding the spatula mid-air.
Maddox went on, "They've got a banner and are camped out at the entrance, shouting that the Harrison family is heartless, bullying their adoptive mother, and calling you ungrateful—a total backstabber.
"There's a crowd of reporters and onlookers outside the building now. Dad's about to lose it."
I knew they'd stir up trouble.
But I never expected them to take it straight to the Harrison Group.
That was a savage move.
They just escalated a family squabble into a full-blown public scandal, dragging the company's reputation through the mud.
Felix's biggest concern was always the Harrison family's image and the company's stock price.
This hit him right where it hurt.
"Where are you right now?" Maddox asked.
"At home," I replied.
He said, "Don't go out, and whatever you do, don't come over. I'm heading there now to handle it.
"Dad wants to handle it quietly—offer them some money to get them out of here, keep things under wraps as much as possible.
"After all, we can't air the Harrison family's dirty laundry in public."
I could hear the chaos in the background and the urgency in Maddox's voice.
I quietly turned off the stove.
"Maddox," I said.
It was the first time I'd ever called him that.
Maddox paused for a second on the other end.
"What's up?" he asked.
"You don't need to go," I said.
"What?" he asked.
"Give me the number for the company's legal department, and get a car ready for me," I said.
"Anastasia, you..." he started.
"I'll handle it," I said.
My voice was quiet but firm, leaving no room for doubt. "In my way."
Half an hour later, a black Audi pulled up outside my apartment building.
Maddox's assistant greeted me and respectfully opened the car door.
"Miss Harrison, Mr. Harrison asked me to wait for you downstairs," he said.
I nodded and got in.
The car glided smoothly toward the Harrison Group headquarters in the city center.
On the way, I called Alyssa.
I said, "Ms. Wood, I need you and your team to get to the Harrison Group headquarters right now.
"Bring all our evidence—Michal's recordings, Harper's call recordings, the bank transfers showing I paid off Michal's online loans, and the court's official filing notice."
"Got it, Miss Harrison. We're on our way," Alyssa replied, her quick response always reassuring.
After hanging up, I dialed another number.
It was a reporter friend I'd met during my college internship at the TV station.
"Hey, Bruno, it's me, Anastasia," I said.
"Anastasia, it's been a while. What brings you to call me?" he replied.
"I've got a big story for you. Interested?" I asked.
Bruno Campbell instantly perked up on the other end. "What's the story?"
"At the Harrison Group headquarters, the adoptive mother of the real and fake heiresses is causing a scene, demanding an outrageous child support payment right in front of everyone," I said.