Chapter 121:
Leaning back in her chair, Rylie looked indifferent. “It seems you truly care about the surname. But I’m different; whether you think I am an Owen or a Kirk doesn’t matter. Percy, neither you nor Paola go by the Owen name, and that doesn’t hurt you so much, right? After all, you want to be considered part of the Owen family by the public, but the surname makes many think you’re not. Interesting, I’ve become an Owen without much effort, but you two just can’t change your surname no matter how desperately you want.”
That remark brought the conversation to a sudden halt, leaving the others scrambling for a response and making the tension in the air nearly tangible. A cloud seemed to settle over Percy’s face.
“My sister and I have spent our whole lives with the Owens. We’re just as much a part of this family as anyone.”
Instead of arguing, Rylie flashed a cool smile, let her eyes roam across the table crowded with paper cups, and flicked a ping pong ball into one, splashing beer onto the table.
She continued, “Funny, isn’t it? Your father never built his fortune inside the Owen family. He was dirt poor until he moved in with the Garretts, becoming their live-in son-in-law. Only then were you and your sister born, both carrying your mother’s last name. Technically, you belong to the Garretts, but here you are, still living under my roof. Maybe you should ask yourselves why that is. Could it be that there’s something wrong with your own family?”
The color drained from Percy’s face, his embarrassment growing with every word. He always took pride in being recognized as an Owen, and hardly anyone dared bring up the Garrett name. Rylie’s boldness cut deeper than he cared to admit.
He had intended to teach Rylie a lesson for his sister’s sake, but instead, she had dominated the conversation, leaving him outmaneuvered and at a loss for words.
His patience running thin, Percy grabbed a nearby bottle and rose from his seat, thrusting it toward Rylie. “You’d better think before you speak, unless you’re looking for trouble!”
The glass bottle hovered dangerously close to Rylie’s face, prompting uneasy glances from the others. Still, she remained perfectly still, her calm and unwavering stare radiating a quiet, unsettling strength.
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“You seem to forget I am your cousin, Percy. Treating your family like this truly isn’t what an Owen would do.”
With every second under Rylie’s gaze, Percy’s nerves twisted in knots, yet his humiliation only made his temper flare hotter.
Before things escalated, one of his friends stepped in, gently urging Percy to set the bottle down and return to his seat.
Unbothered, Rylie swept her eyes across the cluttered table. “So, what’s everyone playing tonight?”
Someone answered from across the table, “It’s beer pong.”
The idea seemed to spark something in Percy. “You’ve probably played before at school, haven’t you, Rylie?”
Although she hadn’t joined in herself, Rylie understood the game’s basics. “You called me here just for a drinking game? Is this really how you spend your time?”
Yet again, Rylie managed to turn the conversation back on him, her words stinging sharper than before. Percy forced a laugh, frustration showing. “Actually, I’ve got plenty on my plate. I’m studying for the Navy enlistment exam.”
With a raised brow and an unimpressed look, Rylie eyed Percy up and down before letting out a sigh. “You think so?”
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