Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

As evening shadows lengthened across her bedroom floor, Jade finally descended the stairs. The Sullivan family members, who had been waiting for hours in her living room, all rose to their feet. Chase, who had been playing video games on the couch, paused his game and watched the scene unfold with cautious interest.

Blair Sullivan, the elderly matriarch, stepped forward the moment she saw Jade. Her eyes widened with recognition

and emotion.

“Oh my God,” she gasped, her hands trembling as she reached toward Jade. “It’s you. It’s really you. You’re my son’s

child.”

Chase shot Jade a confused look, clearly wondering what was happening. He shifted closer to the stairs, positioning himself where he could intervene if needed, though his expression suggested he found the old woman’s behavior

suspicious.

Archer stepped forward, placing a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “Jade, these are all your family members. We’ve come to welcome you home. Aurelia, come here, this is your cousin.”

Dominic approached, his expression earnest. ‘Child, I’m your Uncle Dominic. We met at Philip Thornton’s birthday celebration, remember? This is Catherine, your cousin.”

A woman in her forties stepped forward with a warm smile. ‘Child, I’m your Aunt Thalia. We met that day at Crystal Vault, do you remember? You’ve suffered so much all these years outside.”

One by one, the Sullivan family members–except Catherine–introduced themselves, each expressing how happy they were to finally meet Jade, how sorry they were for all she’d endured.

Chase watched the scene unfold with growing bewilderment, his gaze darting between Jade and the Sullivan family.

Jade finally descended the stairs fully, stopping halfway down. Her face remained cold and distant.

“Private property,” she said flatly. “Are you waiting for the police to arrive, or will you leave on your own?”

The room fell silent. Blair’s smile faltered, her outstretched hands dropping to her sides.

‘Jade, Archer began carefully, “we’ve come to make things right. We want to take you home, where you belong.”

“Home?” Jade’s laugh was sharp and humorless. “What home? The one where my mother can’t go? Or the one where my father killed himself?”

Blair gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “No, child. We didn’t know-

“Didn’t know what?” Jade cut in. “That my father was suffering? Or that I existed at all?” Her eyes narrowed.

Blair stepped forward, her face crumpling. “Child, please. I was wrong. So terribly wrong.” She moved toward the

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Chapter 173

stairs, her eyes pleading. “I’ll kneel and beg your forgiveness if I must.”

“Grandma, no!” Aurelia cried, rushing forward.

But Blair was already lowering herself painfully to her knees, her aged body trembling with the effort.

Jade watched impassively. “Is that all? A kneeling old woman is supposed to make up for two dead parents?” Actually

three.

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Aurelia looked up at Jade, her eyes swimming with tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were my cousin before. If you’re angry at me, you can yell at me instead.”

“Lucky there aren’t any reporters here,” Jade said coldly. “They might think I was bullying an old woman. Or that I was the one who killed people.”

Catherine stepped forward, her face flushing with anger. “How dare you speak like that?”

“Catherine!” Dominic barked, silencing his daughter with a sharp look.

Jade’s gaze swept over the assembled family, her expression glacial. “You think a simple apology and some tears erase what happened? Now get out of my house.”

“Please,” Blair begged, still on her knees. “We’re your family.”

“My family?” Jade’s voice was dangerously soft. “My family is who I choose. Not who shares my DNA. Now leave, before I make you leave.”

Something in her tone made Chase flinch. He moved quickly to help Blair to her feet.

“I think you should go,” he said quietly to Archer. “She’s serious.”

Archer hesitated, looking between his mother and Jade. Finally, he nodded. “We’ll go. But this isn’t over, Jade. We’ll

be back.”

‘Don’t bother,” Jade replied.

The Sullivan family filed out, supporting a weeping Blair between them. Aurelia glanced back once, her expression a mixture of hurt and confusion, before the door closed behind them.

Chase turned to Jade, his eyes wide. “Holy shit. Was that for real? You’re not actually a Morgan?”

Jade walked past him into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. “Does it matter?”

“I guess not,” Chase said, following her. He leaned against the counter. “That old lady scared the crap out of me when she started crying. I thought you were going to give in.”

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Chapter 173

Jade raised an eyebrow. “Why would I?”

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“Because she was kneeling and everything.” Chase shook his head. “If I’d known they were that bad, I would’ve kept

the door shut.”

Chase studied her face carefully. “So… you’re a Sullivan, huh? That’s kind of a big deal.”

“I’m not anything,” Jade replied.

“Maybe we should do a DNA test,” Chase suggested with a mischievous grin. “What if you’re an Astor instead?”

Jade gave him a withering look. “I don’t have grandchildren your age.”

Chase laughed, the tension breaking. “Fair point.” He grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair. “Want to go for a drive? Clear your head?”

In the Sullivan mansion, Blair sat in her armchair, tears streaming down her face as she clutched a photograph of

her son Conrad.

“It’s all my fault,” she whispered. “I drove Hazel away. I lost my granddaughter.”

Dominic knelt beside her chair, taking her hand in his. “Mother, we’ll fix this. We’ll bring her home.”

“How?” Blair demanded. “You saw how she looked at us. She hates us.”

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