?<strong>Chapter 1145:</strong>


    Upon realizing the director sided with Laney, Maka grew even angrier. “Didn’t you hear me? Her mother is gone while I’m still breathing here. Who do you think will support your theater financially in the future?”


    The director, drenched in sweat, realized he was in a difficult situation. Still, there was no sign of Cliff. And his calls remained unanswered. Laney stood up firmly and addressed Maka, “Mrs. Foster, Kira intentionally stepped on me. I was just returning the favor.” The director tugged at Laney’s hand, trying to hold her back.


    Laney stood her ground. “Kira owes me an apology.”


    Maka snapped, “The nerve of you demanding an apology from my daughter! What’s the big deal even if my daughter stepped on you first? You filthy mudblood!”


    Maka’s words were harsh. Laney’s fists tightened as she red at her.


    Across from Laney, Kira teased with a sneer, “What are you looking at? Go ask your mother to confront me. Oops, I forgot she’s not around anymore.”


    The director eximed in disbelief, “Kira, how could you say such a thing!”


    At that moment, Laney lunged forward and pped Kira.


    M??? ??d???? ?? g????????.????


    Cliff burst through the door, freezing at the sight of the chaos unfolding before him. Never had he witnessed such ferocity from Laney. Shaking off his momentary shock, he crossed the room in swift strides and pulled her behind him, creating a protective barrier between her and the retaliation from Ondo Foster, Kira’s father. Kira stood trembling, tears threatening to spill, while her mother, Maka, was on the verge of unleashing a torrent of curses. The moment Cliff’s presence registered, their voices died in their throats.


    A heavy silence nketed the office.


    “Mr. Hopkins?” Maka’s eyes widened with recognition, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Cliff’s piercing gaze cut through the room, assessing the Foster family in turn.


    Releasing his grip on the now-motionless Ondo, Cliff fixed him with an icy stare. “What were you trying to do just now? Hitting her?” Hismanding presence instantly extinguished the Foster family’s burning rage.


    “No…” Ondo responded with calcted smoothness, his denial flowing seamlessly into an usation against Laney. “She attacked my daughter unprovoked. I simply lost control in the heat of the moment.”


    Cliff turned to Laney, his eyes scanning for any signs of injury before asking coldly, “Why did you hit his daughter?”


    Fury still radiated from Laney’s rigid form. Cliff’s presence only intensified the storm brewing within her, and she kept her gaze fixed on the floor, lips sealed in defiance.


    Maka’s mind raced as she recalled the connection between Cliff and Laney. They were cousins. Since Laney’s debut at the theater, the Hopkins family had maintained their distance, and people were more focused on her being an orphan and the fact that her deceased mother was close to Madison. Who could have anticipated the Hopkins family’s deep concern for her, exemplified by Cliff’s protective intervention today?


    “Laney, I’m asking you a question. Have you lost your tongue?” Cliff’s brow furrowed in growing irritation at her continued silence.


    .


    .


    .