“Mm?” Mekhi frowned and fixed a stern gaze on him.


    “Is that all?


    Just a simple ‘yes’?”


    “I understand.


    I’ll do my best to help you and help our family thrive!” Ryder struggled to speak, enduring the pain in his injured knees.


    Mekhi’s gaze caught sight of the bleeding on Ryder’s legs.


    Seeing the blood on the floor, he seemed to be delighted.


    “Get up.


    And don’t me me for being too stern.


    Spare the rod and spoil the child.


    If I keep indulging you like this, you’ll make nothing of yourself.


    ”


    Ryder inwardly scoffed at these lofty remarks but reluctantly acquiesced.


    “I get it.


    You’re doing it for my own good.


    ”


    Struggling to stand, Ryder was assisted back into his seat by the butler.


    “Let’s proceed with our meal,” Mekhi said coldly.


    He then put a spoonful of porridge into his mouth.


    Under Mekhi’s oppressive presence, Ryder and Sally found it difficult to eat.


    Only Mekhi enjoyed a full meal in a pleasant mood.


    After breakfast, Ryder and Sally set out to fulfill the tasks assigned by Mekhi.


    On the way to the Paynes’ house, Sally kept on crying.


    She felt so wronged.


    Her phone rang.


    It was Lucinda calling.


    As soon as Sally picked up the phone, tears streamed down her face.


    “Lucinda, Mekhi scolded me.


    Thirty minutester, Sally clung to Lucinda, weeping as if she had finally found someone to lean on.


    Lucindaforted her and cleaned her tears.


    She was relieved that Nathan was at work.


    Else, he would have been furious seeing Sally in her arms.


    “Lucinda… Mekhi called me useless because I couldn’t meet you yesterday.


    He threatened to kick me out if I don’t see you today.


    ”


    “Don’t worry.


    I’m here and you’ve seen me.


    ” Contemting, Lucinda’s expression grew serious.


    “The two bodyguards who came with you were arranged by Mekhi, right?”


    “Yes, is that a problem?”


    Lucinda stated frankly, “They misbehaved.


    While we spoke, they tried entering the vi with ill intentions.


    I had Abel and Rickey tie them up and lock them in the basement to prevent them from eavesdropping.


    I punished them for you.


    ”


    Sally grinned.


    “Well done!”


    After shedding tears for a while, Sallyposed herself.


    Concerned about Mekhi’s directive, she inquired, “Where’s Noelle? How is she?”


    Lucinda said with sincerity, “I need to share something about her with you.


    She’s emotionally unstable.


    We suspect someone injected her with a nerve-stimting drug.


    ”


    Sally was taken aback.


    “How is that possible? She was at the Shaws’ house the entire time.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Who could have her? Mekhi insisted injected she was just sick.


    ”


    “That’s not the truth.


    ”


    Holding Sally’s hands, Lucinda sighed.


    She resolved to disclose everything to her and seek her help.


    “Sally, besides imprisoning Noelle and injecting drugs into her, Mekhi also subjected your mother to the same treatment.


    ”