MasukThey stood outside until the door was pushed open and Ruth stepped out, her expression fierce. She wasn’t smiling at all. Before, she would have been beaming, pulling them into a warm hug—but today was different after what had just happened.“What are you doing here?” she asked.The tone caught them off guard; they had never heard her speak like that before, not even to them.“If you’re here to defend your daughter for what she’s done, then please leave.”As a mother, Natasha understood how Ruth must be feeling, even though she didn’t yet know how badly Ashley had been hurt. But the tension in her voice, the look on her face—it all suggested things had gone too far.“We’re not here to defend her, and we’re not here to question what happened between them,” Harthwore said calmly. “That can come later. For now, we just want to know how she’s doing.”Even if he heard Ashley’s side of the story, it wouldn’t make him defend anyone. Whoever had started it deserved to face the consequences—an
“Your mother always scolds me for being disrespectful,” he began, making Xavier jerk upright at the mention of his mother. As much as he had no problem with Adrian, he wouldn’t sit back and listen to anyone speak badly about her—and from the way this was going, Adrian was about to cross that line.“Even when I try to be respectful, don’t you think you should show some respect to her? She’s old enough to be your mother.”“But she’s not my mother,” she replied. “Now, if you’ll excuse me—”She was about to turn when he grabbed her arm again.“I’ve warned you—don’t move when I’m still talking.”Natasha quickly nudged Harthwore to rise from his chair, urging him to intervene before things escalated. She was the one who felt offended, but she didn’t want it to get out of hand.They were step-siblings—fighting like this wouldn’t end well.Annabelle laughed. “Now you’re trying to hit me because of this woman?” She pointed at Natasha, irritation lacing her voice. “She’s not even your mother.”
In the blink of an eye, Ashley was right beside her. She grabbed Layla by the neck and slammed her against the wall. “You used to be pathetic,” she hissed. “And now you’re bold enough to talk back at me?” Layla clawed at her hands, trying to pry them away, but Ashley’s grip only tightened. There was no one in the mansion except the maids—no one would come to her rescue, not even security. “What are you trying to do? Let go of me!” “I thought you’d become bold. Why are you fighting to break free now?” “You have no right—whatsoever to hold me like this. Let go of me before you regret it.” Ashley mimicked her tone, then burst into laughter. The harder she laughed, the more she pressed Layla against the wall. Suddenly, Ashley felt a sharp tug at her hair. Layla yanked her head back, forcing her to look up. “You think you’re smart?” Ashley sneered. “You should have listened when I told you to stay away.” Her grip tightened. “I’m going to make this world a living hell for you. I’l
“I am so disappointed in you. You’re nothing but a waste. You’re not even man enough to handle your ex-wife—what a shame.” She huffed, pacing restlessly. “Just look at you. You couldn’t even fight back. Maybe you should have been a woman instead.” He clenched his jaw, breathing heavily. “If you have nothing encouraging to say, I’d advise you not to add to what I’m already feeling. I’ll handle this—you don’t have to keep interfering.” She smiled, her lips curling into a mocking circle. He had the nerve to talk back, yet he still couldn’t stand up to her. “That strength—you should have used it on her when she hit you, not saved it for talking back to me.” He lied about who had hit him, making everyone think she's the one. “Enough, Mother!” Ashley’s voice rang out from the staircase as she descended, her steps controlled but firm. “You’re blaming him for something we both advised him to do?” She scoffed. “Enough, Ashley. Don’t side with him—not now. I’m furious.” Ashley let out a
The doctor prescribed some medication and handed the prescription to Natasha. “You know where to get them—the big pharmacy down the road. They’ll be available once you get there.”“Alright. Thank you, doctor,” she replied, making her way out of the hospital.She got into the car and leaned back against the seat as the chauffeur drove off. Within a few minutes, she arrived at the pharmacy, hurried inside, purchased the drugs, and headed back out.When she reached the mansion, Natasha grabbed the bag and strode into the house. She found her husband playing with Adrian’s son, but as soon as he noticed her presence, he withdrew.She stood there, glaring at him, her nails digging into her palms.“You’ll bruise your hands,” he said.“You’ve been home for two days, and instead of resting, you’re playing around.”“It’s not like I was playing with toys. I had to keep myself busy while you were away.”The little boy smiled as he watched them argue.“Keep yourself busy? And he’s the only one who
Nolan felt the urge to strangle her and end everything right there. Meeting her the previous day had seemed like a chance to make things easier for himself, but nothing had gone as planned. His company was crumbling, and he was still losing investors. If it continued, everything would fall apart on his end.He glared at her, unable to act, and that helplessness only fueled his anger. She brought him here, not the other way around.“If there’s anyone making a big mistake, it’s you. You have made that mistake already,” she shot back. “I was loyal. I gave you a child. I endured everything your mother put me through, all because I longed for real love. And what did you give me in return?”“How is that my fault?” he snapped. “You deserved it. You should have tried harder.”Those words pierced her heart—it felt like it was being torn apart. The memories of everything she had gone through crept in, but she stood her ground.“How much harder should I have tried?” she demanded. “Do you remembe







