Chapter 593

The restaurant was built over the water, with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides to maximize the view of the ocean.

Breakfast was a lavish buffet, offering everything from fresh tropical fruits to made-to-order sandwiches.

Zoey grabbed the kids' favorite waffles and honey, then picked out some healthy cereal and yogurt for herself and Henry.

"Zoey! Over here!" A familiar voice called from the other side of the restaurant.

Zoey looked up to see Celine waving at them.

Celine was wearing a yellow sundress, her hair casually tied into a ponytail. She looked energetic, though there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

"Celine, you're up early," Zoey said, walking over to sit beside her.

Celine yawned. "I stayed up a bit late last night. Besides," she lowered her voice, "I got some news about Helena."

Zoey and Henry exchanged a glance. Henry immediately understood and got up to check on Gabriel and Travis, who were picking out fruit, giving Zoey and Celine some space to talk.

"What news?" Zoey leaned closer to Celine.

Celine's eyes lit up. "Apparently, the IRS did a surprise audit on Honghe Film and Television Company and found a lot of issues."

Zoey stirred her juice thoughtfully. "Dad mentioned it earlier. Looks like Helena's finally slipping up."

"Let's hope so," Celine said, her expression complicated. "But if Helena has someone backing her, it might not be that simple."

Zoey was about to respond when Gabriel and Travis came running back, their plates piled high with fruit.

"Mom! Look what we got!" Travis excitedly showed off his "treasures."

Zoey put her worries aside for the moment and focused on her two energetic little ones.

Breakfast ended in a cheerful atmosphere, with Henry taking a few work calls but quickly returning to family time.

As they left the restaurant, the sun was already strong.

Zoey put on a wide-brimmed straw hat and applied sunscreen to Gabriel and Travis.

Henry carried a bag full of beach toys in one hand and held Gabriel's hand with the other.

"Castle! Castle!" Travis eagerly pulled Zoey's hand, urging her to run ahead.

Zoey laughed and matched Travis's pace, feeling the soft white sand flow between her toes.

In the distance, the azure sea merged with the sky, with a few lazy white clouds floating by.

At that moment, all worries seemed to be left far behind.

Zoey glanced back at Henry, who was watching her and the kids with a gentle gaze.

The sunlight cast a golden glow around him, making him look like a character from a painting.

Zoey suddenly felt that no matter what storms lay ahead, as long as they were together, there was nothing to fear.

The sunlight poured like molten gold onto Marigoldia's pristine beach.

Joseph held Claire's hand as they walked along the palm-shaded path towards the beach.

In the distance, children's laughter rang out like silver bells, mingling with the gentle sound of waves lapping the shore.

"Look, Zoey and the kids are over there," Joseph pointed towards the beach.

Zoey was kneeling in the sand, focused on building an elaborate sandcastle with three-year-old Gabriel and Travis.

Her light blue dress spread out on the sand like a blooming flower.

Henry sat nearby on a lounge chair, occasionally glancing up at them and then back down to his work emails on his phone.

Claire's lips curled into a smile as she prepared to wave and call out to Zoey, but a familiar figure suddenly blocked their path.

"Claire," Finnegan said, nervously rubbing his hands, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

He was wearing an out-of-place long-sleeved shirt, sweat beading on his forehead, clearly having waited on the hot beach for some time.

Claire's body instantly tensed, and Joseph felt her hand turn cold in his palm.

"What do you want?" Claire's voice was colder than the morning sea at Marigoldia.

Finnegan took a step forward but retreated under Claire's wary gaze.

"Claire, I wants to talk to you." Finnegan flicked to Joseph and then back to Claire, "That money, the million dollars to sever ties, I can give it back. I was confused back then, influenced by Mabel and Upton."

Claire let out a cold laugh, the sunlight reflecting sharply in her eyes.

"Regretting it now?" Claire's voice was soft, but each word cut like a knife, "Because you found out I have eight hundred million dollars?"

Finnegan's face turned red, a vein pulsing on his forehead.

"How can you think that of your father?" Finnegan's voice rose, drawing curious glances from nearby tourists, then quickly lowered, "The two hundred million dollar dowry was just to test Joseph's sincerity! How could I really want that money?"

Joseph felt Claire's hand tremble slightly in his palm.

He stepped forward, partially shielding Claire. "Mr. Johnson, if you truly cared for Claire, you wouldn't have demanded an exorbitant dowry just days after her wedding, nor would you have signed that contract to sever your father-daughter relationship."

Finnegan's eyes flickered, his expression shifting from pleading to angry.

"Joseph! This is between me and my daughter, it's none of your business!" Finnegan turned to Claire, his voice softening again, "Claire, blood is thicker than water! I raised you for twenty-one years. Though I've neglected you these past few years, our blood ties can't be undone by a contract."

The sound of the waves suddenly became clearer, each surge washing over the beach like a silent countdown.

Claire took a deep breath, the sunlight casting dappled shadows on her pale face.

"You forced me to sign that contract."

She spoke slowly and deliberately, "You called me an ungrateful daughter and made me do things I didn't want to do. You accepted that million dollars."

Claire's voice began to tremble, "Now you know I have eight hundred million dollars, and you talk about blood ties?"

She suddenly pulled a folding fruit knife from her small bag and opened it, the blade glinting coldly in the sunlight.

"I've given you the money, signed the contract. If you're still not satisfied," Claire turned the knife handle towards Finnegan, "I can give you my life."

Finnegan stumbled back three steps, his face pale.

"You're crazy! How could I want your life?" His voice was filled with fear, his eyes darting between the knife and Claire's resolute expression.

Joseph quickly took the knife and held Claire tightly.

"That's enough"

Joseph said to Finnegan, his voice low and firm, "Leave now. If you bother us again, I'll call the resort security."