Eron stared at Kim, stunned that she called him by name before he flew into a rage. "I am your father,


    Kim! Watch your manners!"


    "Silence!" Kim snapped back as she stared daggers at him. "My father is dead, and we''re holding a


    funeral to mourn him and my grandfather. Disrespect me again and I''ll punish you with my right as the


    head of this household!"


    "What..."


    Eron could choke from sheer frustration but gritted his teeth as he remembered what he just did to his


    daughter, unable to argue.


    Shane stepped in just then. "Kim, your father did it for the sake of your family. Can''t you just—"


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Kim directly ignored him, turning and striding proudly toward the parlor, snapping, "You don''t get to


    speak here! Liv, escort him out!"


    "Escort." Liv was clearly out of it and asked nkly, "Escort who?"


    "Do I need to spell it out for you?" Kim suddenly stopped and wheeled on her with a sharp re.


    Liv''s heart skipped a beat, but she hurried to Shane and gestured. "Please, Mr. Tomen."


    "Fine! I will never forget this insult!" Shane''s face contorted in rage, but heughed despite himself.


    Snorting, he turned and strode off, while Eron snapped at Kim right then, "Are you crazy?! You should


    be chasing away Frank Lawrence! Shane was the one who saved us—how could you be so


    ungrateful?!"


    "Ungrateful?" Kim snorted, ring icily at him in turn. "Look who''s talking!"


    "Kim." Eron was left at a loss for words by his daughter''s dramatic change in temperament and hurried


    after Shane while trying to cajole him.


    "Mr. Lawrence, pleasee in," Kim called out from the parlor just then.


    Frank started toward her without a pause, gesturing at Liv to have her settle in Burt, Aion, and Mona


    before going inside.


    In the parlor, the decorations for a funeral were quite pdash, and several maids were tending to


    Forrest White''s lifeless body.


    Kim stood by, her back facing Frank as she watched.


    "Mr. Lawrence, would you believe me if I told you I didn''t conspire with my father against you?" she


    suddenly asked.


    I believe you." Frank nodded.


    The confidence in his words left Kim flinching, her voice turning quiet as she continued, "I believe you


    too. I don''t know what you did, but you''re definitely the one who saved us, not the cowardly Shane


    Tomen."


    "Yes. I had Sage Lake Sect''s elder call off his boys." Frank nodded again.


    "Then, did you..."


    "Sage Lake Sect was no match for me," Frank exined. "And I found out about their n beforehand,


    so I''d never me you. I''m here because of Aria Lond—I won''t hold back after she poisoned me."


    "Aria Lond."


    Kim flinched again when she heard the name. "She''s a vile woman, even seducing my father."


    She trailed off, refusing to say another word.


    After a brief pause, she told Frank about everything that had happened to Aria.