Chapter 67 It looks like Ava will have to take my place

Mark was glaring at Nova, his eyes wide with fury, like a bomb ready to go off. His hand was raised, but he never brought it down. He couldn't believe his perfect plan had turned into such a mess. Nova was slightly bowed, tears glinting in her eyes, looking as if she might start crying any moment. Her voice was soft and shaky, filled with helplessness and grievance, "Dad, are you really going to hit me? You and the others planned against me, and now that it's backfired you want to dump all the blame on me?" Her words caught the attention of everyone around. The guests began to look at her sympathetically, some whispering to each other, others shaking their heads in dismay. "After mom died, you said you got a stepmom to take care of me, but it wasn't long before you kicked me out of the house. Thank God for Grandma, or how would I have managed as a kid?" Nova's voice broke as she spoke, and the crowd's mood shifted against Mark. "It's no wonder we barely see this young lady at Bla