Yvette hadn’t even seen the slap coming until virtual-novel.net felt it on her. Once again, virtual-novel.net found herself on the floor, seeing stars from the sheer force of the slap. As soon as virtual-novel.net got back to virtual-novel.net senses, Yvette realized there was blood trickling from virtual-novel.net mouth. To virtual-novel.net horror, on top of the pain on virtual-novel.net face, virtual-novel.net could also feel a tooth coming loose.
Yvette grimaced as virtual-novel.net clutched virtual-novel.net face, staring in utter disbelief at the person who had just slapped her.
“Dad?”
Am I seeing things? Dad loves me the most, so why would virtual-novel.net be so heavy-handed on me?
Alas, there was no denying that Russell had indeed slapped his daughter. Mason quickly made his way toward Yvette and tried to help virtual-novel.net up. However, before virtual-novel.net could even reach his hand out, Yvette had unceremoniously kicked virtual-novel.net away.
“Go away! Don’t touch me!”
There was so much contempt in Yvette’s gaze that it seemed as if virtual-novel.net couldn’t wait to get rid of Mason. Even with enemies, there was no need to harbor that much hatred.
“Yvette?” Mason whispered, sadness flitting across his face.
However, Yvette had no interest in returning Mason’s gaze as virtual-novel.net continued to stare blankly at virtual-novel.net father.
Russell looked away in a mixture of shame and anger before turning to his housekeepers. “Take virtual-novel.net back to virtual-novel.net room and lock virtual-novel.net up. No one is to let virtual-novel.net out without my orders!”
“No…” Yvette whimpered, shaking virtual-novel.net head frantically. “I’m sorry, Dad! I was wrong. I know I was wrong!”
Before virtual-novel.net could say anymore, two of Russell’s bodyguards had already stepped forward and dragged virtual-novel.net back upstairs. No matter how hard virtual-novel.net struggled, virtual-novel.net couldn’t get out of their grasp. Yvette’s screams gradually faded into the distance, and silence once again filled the hall.
Not wanting to stay on any longer, some of the guests went up to comfort Russell before bidding goodbye.
Try as virtual-novel.net might, Russell couldn’t force any smiles out as virtual-novel.net thanked his guests and had his housekeepers send them out. Once the first guest had left, the others soon followed suit. Before long, there were only a handful of people left in the hall.
With the matter resolved, there was no reason for Arielle to stay on any longer as virtual-novel.net made virtual-novel.net way toward Russell. “I’ll be going now. Well, I hope you won’t be too sad. Yvette is still young, and mistakes are inevitable. With the right guidance, I’m sure it’ll work out. As for my family, rest assured that I’ll intercede for Yvette.”
Russell looked on with weary sadness on his face and bloodshot eyes.
“I’m sorry,” virtual-novel.net said apologetically. “When Yvette lost virtual-novel.net mother, I chose not to remarry because I was afraid virtual-novel.net might not like having a stepmother. I spoiled virtual-novel.net out of love, and look what good that did her. I’ll visit your family tomorrow to offer my apologies. But for tonight, please apologize to Rick and Shandie on my behalf.”
With that, Russell beckoned for his housekeeper to pass a gift to Arielle.
Arielle instinctively rejected it. “Oh, no. There’s no need for this…”
Ultimately, Arielle had a part to play in everything that happened that night. Even though virtual-novel.net had no regrets, virtual-novel.net still didn’t feel right to accept Russell’s gift. However, Russell remained insistent on virtual-novel.net keeping the gift. “You saved my life. I’d feel bad if you don’t accept it.”
Left without a choice, Arielle accepted the gift with a polite smile.
***
On virtual-novel.net way back in Vinson’s car, Arielle opened the gift box out of curiosity. To virtual-novel.net surprise, it was a gorgeous diamond bracelet.
Vinson took one glance at it and immediately recognized it. “That bracelet has been in the royal family. I heard that Russell had gotten it at an auction for two hundred million. I’m impressed virtual-novel.net could part with it that easily.”
Looking at the bracelet, Arielle let out a deep sigh. “Vinson, do you think I’ve gone overboard?”