"Haa..."
A heavy sigh escaped Samantha’s lips. Her eyes, brimming with disappointnt, stared at the tray of food placed just outside Stephanie’s room. The dishes remained untouched.
"She hasn’t eaten since yesterday," murmured Samantha, worry for Stephanie only growing deeper and deeper, "What should I do?"
Tearing her eyes from the tray, Samantha looked at the closed door. It seed cold and cruelly imposing.
Stephanie had been locking herself inside, only showing herself briefly last night. The shock from the wedding cancelation as well as the public humiliation took a toll on her.
What happened yesterday was a nightmare. The chaos of the aftermath still went rampant.
Samantha’s heart bled for the pain Stephanie had to go through. She knew that her beloved daughter tried calling Matthias but, the man coldly refused any further contact.
"That fraud dared to ss with my son! I won’t let this go! You’ve to pay for this!"
Mrs. Silvera’s hateful remarks rang noisily in Samantha’s mind. Pinching the space between her brows, she felt a headache threatening.
Last night was the continuation of the chaos.
Mrs. Silvera and a few of the Silvera relatives marched to this villa. Every one of them pressed the Elsher family to be held responsible for the ruined wedding.
"I knew it! I knew nothing good ca from that fake!"
"My son is generous enough to marry your fraud of a daughter! This is how she repaid him?"
"I don’t care! Drag that bitch here! Don’t act all pitiful!"
An enraged Mrs. Silvera kept spouting her hatred toward Stephanie, also demanding her presence. The Silvera relatives chanted their support, putting all the bla on Stephanie.
Samantha had a hard ti trying to calm her down. She only had Declan, Alaric and Rafael by her side because Jonathan was preoccupied with the more important guests.
Stephanie did show up but, she quickly ran back inside her room upon seeing the degree of ss caused by the Silveras.
Mrs. Silvera shouted louder to order Stephanie to stop but she had successfully fled to her room, much to Samantha’s relief.
"Please! I believe this is all a misunderstanding! My Phanie won’t do such a thing!"
Samantha’s attempt to plea was quickly shut down by Mrs. Silvera.
"You’re delusional! Go and ask your fake daughter! She has done worse!"
Mrs. Silvera hastily left after throwing those words to Samantha. Staying there longer would just waste her ti. She didn’t even get to trash Stephanie herself.
As how she stord into the villa, she also stord out, still full of anger.
"Haa..."
Samantha sighed again, feeling the weight of the situation crushed onto her. How she wished that she could do more for Stephanie. Unfortunately, this matter was very complicated.
The Silvera family had brought enough headaches and yet, they also had to face the Holt family.
Right after Mrs. Silvera and her relatives left, Mrs. Holt’s call surprised Samantha. She didn’t have the ti to recompose herself before being shot by Leon’s mother’s accusations.
"What have your daughter done? She dragged my son into the affair?!"
"I don’t accept this! My Leon was tricked into this!"
"Mrs. Elsher, keep your fake daughter in check! I’ll deal with her once I return!"
Mr. and Mrs. Holt were currently abroad. That was one reason why Leon was here alone. He represented his parents who couldn’t co.
Samantha had known Mrs. Holt for decades, being in an amicable relationship with the latter because Alaric and Leon were the best of friends.
It turned out... their friendship caused Stephanie’s downfall.
Leon had been preying on her precious Stephanie!
Feeling how unjustified Mrs. Holt’s accusations were, Samantha tried to bite back but, the forr hung up when she had just started. Mrs. Holt’s action was enough to irritate her further.
Shaking her head lightly, Samantha tried to push all the annoying thoughts away from her mind. Her main focus now was Stephanie who was thoroughly heartbroken for what Matthias had done.
"Phanie... Mom is sorry."
Samantha whispered those words, laden with regret and helplessness. Pursing her lips, she made up her mind.
If Stephanie hadn’t co out by this evening, Samantha would force her way inside. She was afraid of her beloved daughter starving and crying alone without any stop.
Turning on her heels, Samantha reluctantly left the hallway. She walked downstairs, walking aimlessly to the lounge. The haggard look on her face couldn’t be disguised by her makeup.
Samantha had just entered the lounge when she heard footsteps echoing. Turning to the sound, she saw Declan and Rafael coming from the direction of the entryway.
"...when did you go out?"
Frowning, Declan answered, his voice indicating his exhaustion, "Did you forget, Mom? We followed Grandpa to the isle. Lari was in danger. She’s safe now."
"We just ca back. We brought back the culprits too," Rafael chid in. Raking his fingers through his hair, he sighed, "Urgh! I’ll torture them!"
Declan ordered the bodyguards to keep the two n in one of the storehouses nearby. He and Rafael headed to Chairman Delaney’s villa first.
Lariette was back to safety. Declan and Rafael reminded her to get plenty of rest before leaving. They were glad to see her accepting their well wishes.
"Oh, you’re serious about that? I forgot."
Samantha stared at Declan and Rafael, seemingly doubtful of their story about Lariette being in danger. She barely rembered her eldest son saying sothing like that a few hours ago.
Declan held back from sighing as he saw the indifference on Samantha’s face. Rafael also shared the sa thoughts despite not being a mind-reader.
"Mom," Declan clenched his right fist, his voice possessing a sharp edge, "Lari was almost assaulted. Thankfully, she didn’t get injured badly but... it’s still so scary for her."
Lariette didn’t show much fear yet, Declan couldn’t help but think she was simply hiding her feelings.
After all... she didn’t receive much attention and care from them before.
Samantha narrowed her eyes. Crossing both arms on her chest, she voiced her thoughts.
"Didn’t you say she’s safe? Isn’t that enough? You should pay more attention to Phanie, Dec. She hasn’t co out of her room, let alone eat."
Froze, Declan stared at Samantha with bewildernt flickering in his eyes. He was too stunned to speak.
Rafael nervously darted his eyes from his brother to their mother. Her remarks also surprised him.
"Mom... Lari is your daughter too," Declan forced those words out of his mouth, his brows twisting in bafflent, "You don’t care that... she was attacked by so n?"
Samantha flinched. Declan’s words twisted her gut. Shifting uncomfortably, she turned around, trying to get away from the uncomfortable situation.
"I just don’t care. Don’t bother your mom about her."
Samantha hurriedly left, leaving her sons speechless with her response. Declan and Rafael watched their mother’s figure disappear at an intersection of the hallway.
anwhile, inside the room...
Stephanie sat crouching on the bed, her entire figure trembled in fear. Horrified, her widened eyes stared at the phone screen.
The sleek tal lay on the mattress, displaying the ssages that shook her to the core.
"...has he gone insane?"
The ssages, sent by Leon, were displayed clearly on the screen. The tistamp showed a few hours ago but, Stephanie had just opened them.
[Leon: You’re afraid of her gaining control in your family, don’t you?]
[Leon: I will handle her. In exchange, you have to marry ]
[Leon: If not...]
[Leon: I’ll leak you’re an accomplice]
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