Chapter 13



Ignoring the butler, Belinda tossed the sledgehammer aside and strode into the house.

Inside, Baker was heading toward the door, alarmed by the commotion. “What’s all this noise?” He stopped short when he spotted Belinda.

Baker’s eyes widened.

He was completely taken aback.

The butler hurried in after Belinda, pointing accusatorily at her. “Mr. Wright! She just broke through the door with a hammer!”

From another part of the house, a middle-aged woman’s voice rose in concern. “Baker! What was that sound?” She hurried toward the commotion.

The sight of Belinda caused the middle-aged woman to gasp in shock, her hand flying to her mouth. “Oh my God, Belinda? Is it really you?”

Hearing this, the butler stared at Belinda in disbelief, unable to reconcile the elegant woman in front of him with the Ms. Wright he remembered—overweight and plain.

“Belinda! You can’t just return and start destroying the house. Have you lost your mind?” Baker said sharply once he collected himself.

With a calm smile, Belinda responded, “I attempted to use the password, but it kept rejecting it as incorrect. This is my home. I couldn’t possibly have forgotten the password. It seems the lock must be malfunctioning. I figured a firm strike might just set it right.”

Baker’s expression stiffened momentarily.

He had intentionally changed the password to signal to Belinda that she was no longer welcome here after she had left the country three years ago and refused to acknowledge her mistakes.

The thought of her trying to break in with a hammer sent a surge of irritation through him.

As Baker’s anger flared, visible tension appeared on his forehead. He fixed a stern gaze on Belinda. “Belinda! Kneel and apologize right now!”

After Belinda heard Baker’s words, her demeanor chilled momentarily.

She was frozen in place.

Baker, noticing she remained motionless, raised his voice angrily. “Did you not hear me? Do you believe you can simply forget what happened three years ago?”

His voice was full of anger as he commanded, “Someone, fetch the brassie!”

The mention of the brassie caused Belinda to tense up, her fists clenching at her sides.

“No, don’t!” Holley Lewis, Belinda’s mother and Baker’s mistress, cried out in desperation.

She rushed to Belinda, grasping her hand. “Belinda, please, kneel and apologize. Just promise you won’t do that again!”

Unyielding, Belinda freed herself from Holley’s grasp and faced Baker with a cold stare. “I will not apologize for things I didn’t do.”

She had said from the start that she hadn’t stolen the missing necklace and that she had not pushed her half-sister Kylee Wright. Yet, no one had believed her.

Baker’s face contorted with fury as he said, “Enough! Today, you will face the consequences of your actions!”

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