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Chapter 19
“When did you come back?” I asked in surprise.
“Just now,” he answered simply.
He looked somewhat different–less severe when he looked at my face. He stood up and approached me with his phone in
hand.
“Look at this,” he said, offering me his phone. “Things didn’t happen exactly as Victoria described. Although she was disrespectful to your parents, she didn’t insult them as you might think, nor did she force them to leave.”
I didn’t take the phone, instead glaring at him accusingly: “Are you defending her? Taking her side?”
“I have no reason to do that. From a relationship standpoint, you’re my wife–if I’m going to protect anyone, it’s you.” He placed the phone in my palm. “But you should know the truth about what happened.”
I put my own phone on the windowsill and reluctantly pressed play on his phone.
Although Victoria hadn’t rudely thrown my parents out as she claimed, she had still been very impolite to them.
“She should apologize to my parents for her rudeness.”
In the evening, Richard gathered us together, his stern gaze locked on me.
“Charlotte, apologize to Victoria immediately.”
I crossed my arms, my attitude defiant. “Why should I apologize? She insulted me first.”
For days, I had deliberately avoided conflict, restricting myself to our bedroom suite, feeling suffocated but determined to keep the peace. I hadn’t left the mansion or initiated contact with anyone. But Victoria insulting my parents crossed a line I couldn’t tolerate.
Richard glared at me, clearly irritated by my refusal to back down. “Look at what’s happened since you arrived. This family has been in constant chaos. You need to control your temper, Charlotte. I’ve tolerated you long enough.”
I let out a mocking laugh. “Tolerated? Thank you for your tolerance, but I don’t need it.”
“Charlotte! Do you even understand the concept of respect?!” Richard demanded, his knuckles turning white from gripping his fork.
“Respect is built on mutual respect,” I replied calmly. “May I ask, has any of you shown me respect?”
“How have we not respected you?” Richard countered.
“In what way have you respected me?”
My question was met with silence. Not one member of the Kingsley family could provide an answer.
I continued, “When Victoria apologizes to my parents, that’s when I’ll apologize to her.”
Victoria’s head snapped up. “Don’t even think about it. I won’t apologize to them.”
1/2
Chapter 19
Everyone at the dinner table understood that Richard wanted to minimize the incident with my parents–everyone except me. But I stated my demand clearly once more: Victoria must apologize to my family!
Richard slammed the table hard, coughing with anger, and pointed at me, shouting, “Get out!”
I clenched my fists, ready to question him again, but Morris grabbed me and gave me a subtle look as he pulled me out of
the dining room.
Outside, I could feel the tension inside had reached its peak. Through the doorway, I glimpsed Alexander sitting calmly, his fingers rhythmically tapping the table.
All eyes turned to him. James broke the silence. “Alexander, go check on Charlotte.”
Alexander glanced at the dining room exit where I had just been escorted out, then turned his gaze back to the others at the table. A slight smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.
He didn’t answer James’s request. “Insulting my wife is like slapping my face, Victoria, don’t you agree?”
His piercing gaze was so intense that Victoria couldn’t meet his eyes.
“You seemed very energetic when you were humiliating my wife just now. Why so quiet now?” Victoria finally looked up. “Alexander, she deserved it.”
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