Chapter 582

Zoey's words lifted Claire's spirits a bit. As the door opened, Finnegan and Mabel walked in.

Upton was the last to enter. He was around thirty, wearing a flashy shirt, and his eyes were glued to Claire from the moment he stepped in.

"Claire, you've grown so beautiful," he grinned, revealing a row of yellowed teeth from smoking. "Last time I saw you, you were just a little girl."

Claire felt a wave of discomfort. His gaze reminded her of creatures crawling in damp, dark places.

She instinctively pulled her collar tighter.

Joseph moved almost instantly, positioning his tall frame between Claire and Upton, completely blocking Upton's view.

"Show some respect," he said in a low, icy tone, each word sharp as a blade.

The room's temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.

Claire stepped out from behind Joseph, glaring coldly at Upton. "I don't have an uncle like you."

Finnegan's face darkened immediately. "Claire! Mabel is your mother now, so Upton is naturally your uncle. Watch your mouth!"

"My mom is still alive and well," Claire's voice grew colder. "Why should I call someone else 'Mom'?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Mabel's well-maintained face. She tugged on Finnegan's sleeve. "Finnegan, it's normal for the child to need time to adjust."

"How many years does she need?" Finnegan shook off Mabel's hand, his face livid. "You've been spoiled by your mother!"

Joseph cut in at the right moment. "Mr. Johnson, what brings you here?"

His tone was calm, but Claire could sense his suppressed anger.

Finnegan seemed to remember his purpose, his expression shifting from anger to a false geniality. "Joseph, you and Claire got married, and as her father, I didn't even know. If we hadn't run into you on this trip to Marigoldia, I might not have known until you had kids."

Claire clenched her fists.

Coincidence? Their marriage wasn't a widely publicized event, but it wasn't exactly a secret either.

"So?" Joseph got straight to the point.

"So," Finnegan said matter-of-factly, "the dowry should be made up for. I raised Claire all these years; she can't just get married for free."

Claire could hardly believe her ears. "What did you say?"

"The dowry," Finnegan frowned, as if Claire's question was odd. "When a daughter gets married, the groom's family provides a dowry. Joseph is a medical professor from a family of doctors; he should understand this custom."

The room fell into a dreadful silence. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sound of the waves suddenly became distinctly audible.

Joseph's expression became unreadable. "How much does Mr. Johnson want?"

Finnegan's eyes lit up, and he held up two fingers.

"Twenty million dollars?" Claire laughed in disbelief. "Why don't you just rob a bank?"

"Twenty million dollars?" Finnegan scoffed. "Claire, you're underestimating Joseph. I meant two hundred million dollars."

Claire felt dizzy and had to grip the back of the sofa to stay upright. Two hundred million dollars? Had Finnegan lost his mind?

"Finnegan!" Claire called him by his name, her voice trembling with anger. "You're going too far!"

"Too far?" Finnegan raised his voice. "You got married behind my back, and that's not too far? The Green family is wealthy; what's two hundred million dollars? I raised you for twenty years; why shouldn't I get some compensation?"

Mabel tried to calm things down. "Claire, your father is doing this for your own good. The money will eventually be yours..."

"Shut up!" Claire snapped. "You have no right to speak here!"

Upton suddenly chimed in. "Mabel, don't be upset."

He took a step forward, trying to get closer to Claire. "We're all family here."

Joseph grabbed Upton's wrist with such force that Upton cried out in pain.

"I said, show some respect," Joseph repeated, releasing Upton's hand.

Finnegan's face grew even darker. "Joseph! Is this how you treat your elders?"

"Elders?" Joseph sneered. "You show up uninvited on our honeymoon and demand two hundred million dollars. Is that what elders do?"

Finnegan was momentarily speechless, then switched to a threatening tone. "Joseph, think carefully. You're a doctor; your reputation is everything. If I go to the media and say you eloped with my daughter and refused to pay a reasonable dowry, what do you think will happen?"

Claire felt a chill run down her spine.

She knew Finnegan too well. He would do anything for money. Joseph, as a medical professor, couldn't afford such slander.

Finnegan turned back to Joseph. "So, Joseph? Two hundred million dollars is nothing to you. Consider it buying out my relationship with Claire."

The words cut into Claire's heart like a knife.

Buying out their relationship? To Finnegan, their bond could be measured in money.

Memories of her childhood flooded back: her mother gravely ill in the hospital while Finnegan brought Mabel home; her high fever while Finnegan was on a business trip abroad; her eighteenth birthday spent alone overseas while Finnegan threw a lavish party for Jett...

Claire lifted her head, her eyes dry but resolute. "No need."

Everyone turned to look at her.

"Joseph won't give you a cent," Claire's voice was eerily calm. "Because from today on, you and I have no relationship."

Finnegan's face changed dramatically. "What did you say?"

"I said," Claire enunciated each word, "I am severing our father-daughter relationship."

Upton immediately looked at Claire with reproach, "You're so ungrateful!"

He pointed a finger at Claire's nose. "Even if you want to sever ties, the two hundred million dollars must be paid! Your father raised you..."

Before he could finish, a figure moved like lightning.

Zoey's sidekick hit Upton square in the chest, sending him flying into the wooden wall of the villa. Decorative shell wind chimes jingled, and a few starfish ornaments fell to the floor.

Mabel screamed and rushed to the fallen Upton. "Upton! Are you okay?"

Upton curled up on the floor, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, staring at Zoey in disbelief.

Zoey flicked her hair back, looking down at Upton with cold eyes. "I can't stand meddling jerks."

Today, she was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts, looking like an ordinary tourist. No one would have guessed that this petite girl had such skills.

Claire instinctively tightened her grip on Joseph's arm.

She knew Zoey had trained in self-defense, but she hadn't realized Zoey was this skilled. Joseph patted Claire's hand reassuringly, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"How can you hit someone!" Mabel shouted angrily, her carefully groomed eyebrows twisted in rage. "This is assault! We're calling the police!"