Chapter 4

Laurence's slap landed solidly on her daughter's face.

Betty, who had been crying moments ago, had her tears instantly knocked back.

She covered her face with her mouth open, unable to speak for a long time, her eyes full of disbelief.

I stood to the side, also secretly surprised.

I knew Laurence too well. She usually cherished Betty like the apple of her eye.

She wouldn't even say a harsh word to her, yet today she struck so hard.

In contrast, her father Anderson's face was ashen as he pointed at his daughter and angrily shouted.

"Haven't you caused enough trouble?!"

"The way we spoil you at home—look at yourself today! Is this acceptable?"

Betty finally snapped out of it and screamed at her parents.

"What did I do wrong? Why are you hitting me?!"

"He's the one trying to steal our family's assets, trying to seize STAR!"

"If STAR gets taken by him, our family is finished! Why don't you understand?!"

She became more agitated as she spoke, tears flowing again, her tone full of grievance and unwillingness.

But even with all her crying and defending, the old couple remained unmoved.

They exchanged glances, and Laurence was the first to force a smile at me—very stiff, but her tone was gentle.

"Alex, you've really been wronged today."

I smiled faintly. "Wronged isn't quite the word. I just don't want any more involvement with her."

The crowd had long been confused by this dramatic turn of events.

A friend who had a good relationship with Anderson couldn't help but step forward.

"Anderson, aren't you being too hasty?"

"What Betty said actually isn't wrong."

Anderson sighed helplessly, his tone vague.

"You don't understand the situation. Don't interfere."

His words, openly and subtly, meant he didn't want outsiders meddling in their family affairs.

He even tried to get everyone to leave, clearly not wanting to air their dirty laundry in public.

"Don't do that, Mr. Anderson."

"My innocence hasn't been cleared yet. If everyone leaves, who will testify for me?"

Anderson's expression turned ugly.

He lowered his voice, his tone pleading.

"Alex, I'm begging you."

"Whatever we need to discuss, we can talk about it privately as a family. There's no need to make it known to everyone."

"This isn't good for anyone. It's inappropriate."

I looked at him and asked indifferently.

"What's inappropriate about it?"

"I gave you a chance back then. You didn't treasure it and missed it."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Hearing this, Laurence's expression darkened.

"Alex, what more do you want?"

"I hit my daughter, I scolded her. This matter should be settled now. Don't push your luck!"

I sneered inwardly. Did they think that hitting their daughter once and scolding her a couple of times could offset everything?

That it would make me let it go?

I slowly shook my head and reminded them word by word.

"Some things aren't settled just because you say so."

Betty was already full of anger to begin with.

With my comment, she instantly exploded.

"Alex, don't push your luck!"

"I'll settle this score with you sooner or later!"

I looked at her stubborn appearance and suddenly found it rather laughable.

Five years—what exactly had I married?

"You were deceived. Do you know that?"

Betty sneered.

"What was I deceived about?"

"Oh, I was deceived all right, but the one who deceived me is you, Alex!"

"Don't try to confuse the issue here!"

I was too lazy to waste more words with her.

I looked toward the corner, at Paul who was trying to sneak away.

He'd just taken a phone call and his face had instantly turned deathly pale.

He kept his head down and had only taken two steps when I called out to him.

"Don't rush off. Come here, let's talk."

Hearing my voice, Paul's whole body stiffened.

He hesitated for a long time, not even daring to turn his head back.

Betty panicked and blocked Paul, speaking up for him.

"Alex, this is between the two of us. It has nothing to do with him!"

"What do you want with him?"

I looked at her protective behavior and a meaningful smile curved my lips.

"You're not stupid. You're genuinely foolish."

"How dare you insult me?!"

Betty wanted to continue her outburst but I interrupted her.

"Are you sure this really has nothing to do with him?"

Betty's eyes flickered, clearly hesitant, but she still stubbornly replied.

"That's right, it has nothing to do with him. Come at me if you have any issues!"

The old couple panicked and pulled their daughter back, trying to stop her from speaking.

But Betty seemed to have lost her mind.

She broke free from her parents' hands and shouted at me again.

"Do you have anything else to say?!"

But the moment her words fell, two uniformed police officers burst in, their expressions serious, walking straight toward Paul.