"Ms. Wilson, the nature of the two situations ispletely different."


    Lauren argued forcefully, though her voice remained gentle. "The evidence you presented yesterday only. showed that Jessica happened toe into contact with the medication for Grandpa. What does that prove? She merely intended to feed Grandpa. As for you two... standing at the door like that, both adults, what else could happen?"


    I picked up the ss from the coffee table and sshed it over her face without hesitation, sneering. Lauren, say one more word and it won''t just be water I throw."


    Jessica slept with her stepfather behind everyone''s back, but publicly, she portrayed herself as a dutiful daughter, instantly bing frantic: "Are you crazy to treat my mom like this?"


    I grabbed another cup and emptied it on her face as well. "I dare you to speak one more word."


    Jessica''s exquisite makeup was ruined by me. She looked at me incredulously, "Charlotte..."


    Lauren didn''t expect me to act so boldly. Her eyes turned red immediately, choked with emotion. "Ryan, have you turned against me now? How can you allow her to treat me like this? I''m legally married to your dad. Now you''re condoning her?"


    Ryan''s face turned dark, his eyes deep and unreadable like a cold abyss when he nced at me. He sent chills down my spine with just a look.


    He believed it too...


    Suddenly, I felt likeughing, but couldn''t. My hand slipped, and the ss fell to the ground, shattering Into pieces. I awkwardly stepped back.


    Ryan tore the few photos he held into pieces, his voice cold and hard.


    "Ms. Wood, you''re my elder, and there might be things I shouldn''t say. But I have to. Maybe you''ve been confused after lying in bed for so long. You were married into my father''s family, and you''re a member of his family. But Charlotte is my legally wedded wife, and she''s the closest person to me!"


    "What kind of logic is this about turning against you?" He struggled to suppress his rising anger.


    These words stunned not only Lauren and Jessica but even me.


    They were shocked, and he was standing by my side.


    And so was 1.


    He had already suspected my rtionship with Jack. With this photo, his suspicions would deepen. But, did he choose to believe me?


    Jessica pointed angrily at me, incredulously speaking, Ryan, are you out of your mind? Charlotte is cheating on you, and you''re having a go at my mom?"


    "She is my wife."


    Ryan stood in front of me, his dominance overwhelming, his voice deep and warning. "Not just anyone can bully her. Jessica, there are lines that you shouldn''t cross."


    "..." Jessica faltered for a moment, then seemed to feel deeply wronged, pointing at herself, tears


    172


    streaming down. "Ryan, are you saying I''m ndering her? If it weren''t for you, my mom and I wouldn''t. have cared about this mess! Fine! Looks like we shouldn''t havee today!"


    Lauren also looked at him, shaking her head. "Ryan, you disappoint me greatly. But it''s okay, I understand you just can''t ept the truth right now..."


    With those words, the mother and daughter were about to leave.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    I looked at their dramatic performance, coldly curling my lips. As they walked out, I heard Ryan''s voice cutting through the air, cold and bone-chilling.


    "Are you satisfied with this?" I was startled, slowly turning to look at him, my throat tightening. "What do you mean?"


    He picked up a piece of the shattered photo on the floor, showing my profile. He lightly rubbed his thumb over it, his eyes showing a stubbornness almost bordering on obsession. "I''ve figured it out. I don''t want anything else, just you."