Selena''s brow furrowed ever so slightly. Thest person she wanted to deal with right now was Reba, especially after what almost happened with her child. Kathlen sauntered in with a smile, trailed by two servants carrying an assortment of gifts and tonics. "Selena, how are you feeling?" she asked as she approached the bedside, her voice gentle and her eyes full of concern. Selena and Kathlen didn''t normally cross paths. They only really saw each other at family gatherings, and Selena had always kept things polite but distant.


    This sudden warmth caught her off guard. But you don''t turn away a friendly gesture, so Selena managed a polite smile. "Thank you for your concern, Kathlen. I''m feeling better. Please, have a seat."


    Kathlen pulled up a chair and, after some small talk, dove into the reason for her visit. "Selena, I''vee to apologize. I''ve been too lenient with Reba and letting her get away with too much. It''s my fault for not raising her better!"


    "I brought her here today to apologize to you. Selena, you''re always fair-minded. I hope you''ll be big-hearted and not hold a grudge against this na?ve young girl."


    Her words were nicely put but made Selena uneasy. Was she suggesting that Selena would be petty if she didn''t forgive Reba? And why was she calling Reba, at 23, a "young girl?" Seriously?


    Turning to Reba, who was ring defiantly, Kathlen prompted, "Aren''t you going to apologize to your cousin-inw?"


    Reba had no intention of backing down. She burst out, "Mom, are you falling for this woman''s act too? She hit me first that day. Is she the only one allowed to y the victim card? My ear is still ringing; she might have made me deaf. At best, it was mutual!" Getting more worked up, Reba started to rant, "You and my cousin take her side without question. Who''s your daughter and cousin here? Why should I apologize? I''d rather die!"


    "If that''s your choice, then go ahead."


    A tall figure leaned casually against the doorway, his expression impassive, and his dark eyes fixed coldly on Reba. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority.


    Kathlen and Reba were both


    taken aback to see Everett there


    during work hours, knowing howmitted he was to his job. Selena, who hadn''t seen him when she wokeThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    up, was surprised by his returwoke


    especially since Ava had mentioned he was at the office.


    Everett strolled in, ignoring Kathlen and Reba, and went straight to Selena. Noticing her confusion, he gently caressed her cheek, murmuring, "I missed you, so I came back."


    Selena blushed, still unused to his


    disys of affection in front of others. Everett''s dark eyes scanned the room,nding on the mother and daughter with a detached tone. "If you''re not here to sincerely apologize, please leave. Don''t


    disturb my wife''s peace. If you upset her again, the next ride won''t be as easy as a bumper car."


    Recalling the previous day''s chaos, Reba''s face went pale, and she didn''t dare to make a scene. Kathlen, visibly shaken, suddenly pped Reba hard.


    The p was swift and left a


    stinging echo. Reba stumbled and fell to the floor, a red handprint blooming on her cheek. Shocked, she clutched her face, staring at her mother, who had always treated her like a princess.


    Kathlen, eyes zing, ordered, "Apologize to your cousin-inw right now!"