Chapter 396 Announcing Ansley's Identity to the Public
The Powell Family Castle.
Isabella was practicing martial arts with Wilmer.
In terms of martial skills and cultivation, Isabella was no match for Wilmer. After being knocked down by Wilmer for the Nth time, Isabella lay on the ground, too lazy to get up.
"Ms. Powell, you don't need to be discouraged," Wilmer walked over to her side and looked down at her. "You're still young, you have plenty of time to improve."
He figured that with Isabella's understanding and talent, surpassing him was probably inevitable.
Just then, Isabella's phone, which was on the ground not far away, rang.
Isabella got up and went over to answer the call.
"Ms. Taylor, hello, we're from the Lumaria Emerald City Police Department. Today we received a report from your mother saying that you ran away from home and haven't returned for half a year. May I ask if you are currently safe in the Northern Ice Empire?"
Isabella narrowed her eyes and said calmly, "I'm very safe. Is there something wrong?"
Before Lazar could say anything, Olivia snatched the phone away.
"Isabella! Where are you? It's been so long, why haven't you come home?"
Not having heard Olivia's voice for a long time, Isabella actually felt a bit nostalgic.
She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said with a smile, "Mrs. Taylor?"
"I'm your mother!" Olivia was furious. "Don't you know how to address people? Do you know how to respect your parents or not?"
"Sorry, Mrs. Taylor, I don't remember having a mother like you. You must be mistaken about something," Isabella said.
Olivia: "..."
"Isabella, what are you acting for? What? Now that you're grown up, you don't want to acknowledge me as your mother?"
"It's not about whether I want to acknowledge you or not," Isabella said helplessly. "The key point is that you're not actually my mother anyway."
Olivia was furious and shrieked, "Isabella, don't think you can talk nonsense just because you're away from home. If you've got the guts, come back here!"
"Sorry, I still have things to do. Mrs. Taylor, if you don't have anything else, I'll hang up now."
Hearing that Isabella was about to hang up, Olivia panicked.
But before she could shout, the phone was snatched away.
"Ms. Taylor," Lazar said into the phone in a gentle tone, trying to persuade her. "Look, your mother is very worried about you. Whatever issues you have with your mother, can't you talk them through? How about you come back and have a good talk with Mrs. Taylor to resolve your differences?"
Lazar had basically confirmed by now that this was a family dispute.
So following his professional principles, he tried to persuade them, hoping that Isabella and Olivia could let bygones be bygones and reconcile.
"There are no differences that need resolving," Isabella said calmly. "I'm living quite well here, and I don't plan to go back for now."
With that, Isabella hung up the phone.
When Olivia heard Isabella say she didn't plan to come back, her eyes immediately widened.
"What?!"
"She's not coming back?"
"What right does she have not to come back? How can she do this?"
"Sir, you need to send someone to bring her back to me right now!" Olivia said emotionally. "She's really got some nerve now! She's just staying there and not coming back. Does she even know this is her home?"
"Mrs. Taylor, please don't get excited," Lazar rubbed his forehead. "I must remind you that she's already an adult. Although we're police officers, we have no authority to interfere with an adult's freedom. Whether Ms. Taylor returns to Lumaria is her own business. We can't bring her back for you."
Olivia clenched her fingers.
She stared at Lazar for two seconds. "Fine! If you won't help me bring her back, I'll find a way myself!"
There was no way she could tolerate Isabella just fooling around out there.
Olivia grabbed her bag and left the police station in a huff.
——
Isabella returned to the castle's main hall with Wilmer. Seeing the woman sitting on the sofa, Isabella rushed over.
Gwyneth was pleasantly surprised and held the girl in her arms, frowning in confusion. "Ansley? What's wrong? What happened?"
"Nothing," Isabella said with some emotion. "I just feel that it's really good that you're my real mother."
She felt that being Gwyneth's daughter was much luckier than being Olivia's daughter.
So it was good that Olivia wasn't her real mother, and good that she wasn't Olivia's biological daughter.
"What are you saying? If I'm not your real mother, who else could be?" Gwyneth laughed, pinching Isabella's cheek with an indulgent tone. "Look at your little nose and little mouth, they look so much like mine."
Isabella leaned against Gwyneth without saying anything.
Gwyneth vaguely sensed something was off. "Ansley, did something happen?"
"Ms. Gwyneth Powell, Ms. Isabella Powell's 'mother' from Lumaria just called her," Wilmer said. "The gist was that she wanted Ms. Isabella Powell to return immediately."
Hearing this, Gwyneth laughed outright. "What? Is she addicted to stealing my daughter?"
Gwyneth really couldn't understand what the Taylor family was thinking.
They acknowledged a daughter who wasn't theirs, didn't treat her well after taking her in, and now that Isabella was back with her, they wanted to compete for her again?
What exactly did they want?
Gwyneth had heard Isabella mention some things about the Taylor family. She could sense that Isabella hadn't been accepted in that family, and all the family's love had been given to another girl named Bianca.
Just thinking about it made Gwyneth's heart ache for Isabella.
"Ansley, I plan to publicly announce your identity."
Isabella looked up at Gwyneth in confusion. "Why so suddenly?"
"It's not sudden. I've been planning this for a long time, but I've been tied up with official business and haven't had time."
"Ansley, it's one thing that you didn't get the respect you deserved in that family," Gwyneth sighed. "It's also my fault for leaving you alone there. But now that you're back, I want everyone to know that you're my daughter, the daughter of the Powell family."
Isabella shook her head. "Here, I don't feel like I'm not getting the respect I deserve."
On the contrary, everyone in the Powell family castle treated her with respect.
"That's because the people in the castle know your identity," Gwyneth said. "But some people outside don't know your identity. I think people outside should know too."
And it was time to let the Seven Great Families know of Isabella Powell's existence.
"Ansley, you're going to inherit my position in the future. It's time for you to come into the view of the nobles."
This was bound to happen sooner or later.
Gwyneth gave orders:
"Axel, go make arrangements. Let's find a time to hold a banquet among the nobles to publicly announce Ansley's identity."
——
The day before the end of the month, Isabella told Kennedy in advance to come with her to the Powell family castle the next day.
Kennedy went home to see Calista.
"Mom will go with you tomorrow."
"Mom, you don't need to come with me tomorrow. Don't worry, Isabella will be there, and it's inside the Powell family castle. Nothing will happen."
When Calista heard the location was the Powell family castle, she felt less worried.
"Kennedy, what's your roommate's background?" Calista was really curious. "Why can she get the Powell family's army, and even have Louie personally unlock your energy channels?"
This was definitely not something an ordinary person could do.
Hearing Calista ask this, Kennedy suddenly remembered what Isabella had said before, something like the Powell family research institute was her home.
"She..."
A bold guess suddenly popped into Kennedy's mind.
But it was just a guess.
Kennedy collected her thoughts and smiled. "Mom, whatever Isabella's background is, she's my friend and can be trusted."
"I'm not saying I don't trust her, it's just..."
"Alright, Mom, I packed some food for you. Eat first. I need to get back to Radiant University. Tomorrow morning Isabella and I will head out to see Louie."
"Okay, I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow."
Kennedy left the house, preparing to return to Radiant University.
She had just left home and hadn't walked far when she saw Orville coming toward her with a group of people, looking aggressive.
"Kennedy!"
Kennedy looked at Orville and frowned. "Orville? Are you following me?"
Orville rolled his eyes and laughed mockingly. "Am I worth following you? If it weren't for the fact that it's hard to make a move at Radiant University, I would have killed you long ago!"
Orville had always been arrogant and domineering. Kennedy knew he was up to no good. She took two steps back, turned around, and ran.
"You dare to run?"
Orville ran after her and kicked Kennedy in the back, knocking her to the ground.
Kennedy stumbled and fell to her knees.
Orville walked over and grabbed Kennedy's hair.
But the next second, his waist hurt.
A violent electric current struck him.
Orville's body convulsed violently.
He stared at Kennedy in disbelief, seeing her holding a stun gun in one hand, her eyes full of shock.
The stun gun was quite powerful, but not enough to instantly knock out an ancient martial arts professional.
Orville was furious and kicked Kennedy in the face.
Kennedy's whole body flew out, and the stun gun fell to the ground.
Orville walked over, grabbed Kennedy, and punched her hard in a vital spot.
Kennedy spat out a mouthful of blood, her pupils dilating instantly, her hands and feet going limp.
Orville really hadn't held back with this punch. He had indeed been driven a bit crazy by Kennedy's electric shock. This punch hit a vital spot. When he came to his senses and saw Kennedy motionless with dilated pupils, Orville was stunned.
He reached out to check Kennedy's breathing and found that Kennedy had stopped breathing.
Orville's expression changed slightly.
Dead?
He really hadn't expected that with this one punch, Kennedy would be killed by him.
Orville looked around and quickly regained his composure, shouting at the people he had brought: "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help!"
The people who had come with him were those who usually played ball with Orville.
They hadn't reacted yet. When they came closer and saw that the person had stopped breathing, they were shocked. "Holy crap! Orville, are you crazy? You killed her?"
They simply couldn't believe it.
Although they knew Orville always looked down on Kennedy, they never thought Orville would actually kill Kennedy.
"Orville, she's your cousin no matter what. You were this ruthless?"
Several noble children couldn't understand Orville's behavior and thought he was too cruel.
They all knew Kennedy was useless, but that wasn't a reason for Orville to kill her.
"I don't have a sister like her," Orville said disdainfully. Looking at the dead Kennedy, Orville didn't care at all. "We don't even have the same father."