Sonia ended up lying on the ground, soaked from head to toe, unable to open her eyes, looking utterly disheveled.
Unable to bear seeing her daughter in this state, Michaela rushed forward, embraced Sonia, and cried out, âDonât harm my daughter! Come after me instead!â
âYouâre still protecting that ungrateful girl after what she did to you?â Adam sneered.
âSheâs my daughter, Michaela argued. âSheâs young and naive. As her mother, I wonât blame her!â
âIs this merely a matter of her age?â Adrien retorted. âItâs a matter of respect and care for oneâs parents!â
However, Michaela only continued to implore the four men while shielding her daughter, âPlease donât hurt her. Iâm the one responsible for what happened to Emmeline. Let my daughter go!â
âDid you hear that?â Sonia pushed her mother aside and pointed at her, yelling. âIt was this old h*gâs idea to harm Emmeline. She acted on her own and implicated me. You should hold her accountable and release me. Let me go!â
Slap! Michaela couldnât endure any longer and struck Sonia across the face. âHave I been desperately defending you just for you to bite my back like this?! Havenât I acted against Emmeline all for your sake?!â
In retaliation, Sonia slapped her mother back. âIt was all your doing. It has nothing to do with me. I donât want to be subjected to their abuse and then killed. You caused this mess; you should face the consequences. Let them release me!â
âHow noisy.â Waylon furrowed his brow. âYouâd really have been better off with a dog than a daughter like this one.â
âMr. Adelmar!â Sonia crawled over, bawling and shouting. âIt was all my motherâs doing. Please spare me. But I donât understand why youâre also defending Emmeline. Why are all of you taking her side?
Itâs not fair to me. How am I inferior to her? Am I not as beautiful as her? Is my family not as good as hers? Sheâs just the daughter of a small-time merchant with a notorious past!â
Waylon kicked her away disdainfully, saying, âWho do you think you are? How dare you compare yourself to my Emma?â
âYour Emma?â Sonia sat on the ground, completely baffled. âHow is Emmeline yours?â
âDidnât you and your mother expose the secret?â Waylon sneered with narrowed eyes. âEmma is a disciple and even more so the lady of the Adelmar Clan! Do you think you, a mere mayorâs daughter, can compete with Emma?! Not even a hundred of you could match her!â
âWhat exactly is the Adelmar Clan?â Sonia asked. âMy mother and I only knew that this status would anger Old Mr. Ryker, but we didnât know the secrets behind it!
The ruler of Osea!â Waylon sneered. âGet it? Emma is the princess of the island nation. Do you insignificant family background means anything compared to it?â
âAnd thereâs the Adelmar Group,â Benjamin added, also sneering. âItâs Emmaâs business in Struyria.
You thought she was just the daughter of a small-time merchant, a coffee shop owner?
âThatâs right!â Adam added, âEmmeline is the real big shot here. Sonia, you really underestimated her!â
âAnd you think you have what it takes over Emmeline Adrien, being the closest to Sonia, gave her a kick. âYou have no idea how far inferior you are!â
Sonia slumped onto the ground, her face pale. If she had known this from the beginning, she wouldnât have repeatedly tried to compete with Emmeline. It turned out she couldnât win against her in any aspect!
âI couldnât care less about losers like them!â Waylon got up from the sofa. âTll see who in Struyria is suitable and replace Glenn.â
âWhat?! No, please donât!â Michaela crawled over to try and clutch Waylonâs leg, but Benjamin kicked her away.
âGet lost! Waylon will only find you disgusting!â
âBut, Mr. Adelmar,â Michaela pleaded, âthese were all things I did privately. Glenn didnât know about any of it. Please spare him, donât replace him!â
âIf an official canât govern for the people, they might as well go home and sell potatoes!â Waylon remarked. Iâm already being generous by not giving him some jail time when he condones his wife and daughter to misconduct!â
Michaela slumped to the ground..
Itâs all over now! Glennâs future is ruined! Our familyâs wealth and prosperity are gone! Why is there no way to turn back time?!
Overwhelmed by her anger, Michaela fainted on the spot.