Belindaâs question seemed to echo the queries of everyone else.
Balfour pinched the bridge of his nose. âItâs because he has amnesia, and heâs been force-fed some unknown medication by Sophia for years, causing severe muscle atrophy in his legs. And well, Thaddeus would do anything for his daughter, so your uncle couldnât break away from Sophiaâs control before he could fully recover.â
That explained it.
Veronica clenched her fists, wishing she could march right in and take down that wicked woman.
Meanwhile, in the restroom.
Bertha had dragged Lea into the restroom before beginning her tirade. âYou little rascal, why on earth did you lie to your father and me today?â Leaâs face was a mess of emotions. She felt wronged.
She didnât lie.
But for the sake of Marcus and the good ladyâs future, she couldnât defend herself now.
Seeing her daughter pursing her lips in silence made Berthaâs irritation grow. She felt like Lea was showing no signs of remorse.
âAnswer me when I ask you something. Why arenât you talking?â
Lea pouted. âMom, Iâ¦I canât answer.
Bertha felt a sense of disappointment. âWhat do you mean you canât answer? If youâve lied, you should admit it and tell me why you lied! Havenât I taught you since you were little to be honest and not to lie?
Youâve really changed. How could you manipulate your parents with lies?!â
Lea felt utterly wronged and speechless. âIâ¦I didnât lieâ¦â
Bertha raised an eyebrow. âDidnât lie? Didnât you just admit to your father that you intentionally lied?
Now youâre saying you didnât lie?! Whatâs true and whatâs not? Youâve become so mixed up!â
Lea opened her mouth to speak, but in the end, she held back and remained silent.
Bertha, unaware of the truth, felt that her daughter was behaving badly and needed to be taught a lesson.
So, with a stern voice, she commanded, âYou still wonât admit your mistake, huh? Give me your hand!â
With no other choice, Lea extended her small hand.
Bertha had always been gentle, hardly ever laying a finger on her daughter. But today, she felt that Lea had become unruly, so a punishment was necessary.
With gritted teeth, she harshly slapped Leaâs hand.
Lea felt a stinging pain, but she didnât cry, clenching her teeth to bear it.
Seeing that she still didnât admit her mistake, Bertha, with tears in her eyes, raised her hand again. But before the slap could land, she was interrupted.
âMadam, stop! Your daughter didnât lie.â
Berthaâs hand paused mid-air. She turned and saw Ellinor, who had just emerged from a stall with two children.
She didnât recognize Ellinor, but she recognized the two children Ellinor was guiding.
Well, to be precise, she only recognized one of them. She was completely taken aback to see another child who looked exactly the same What on earth was going on?