Chapter 102:

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Mrs. Reyes let out a shrill scream.

She spent no time fixing her smudged makeup and immediately rushed to help her son, Ted, who was sprawled across the soft grass.

Her breathing hitched as she knelt beside him, her hands quickly but gently feeling for any signs of injury. “Are you okay?”

The grass beneath him was more forgiving than anything else, but Ted's flushed face was a storm of anger. His round cheeks, red from embarrassment or frustration, puffed out as he glared at Alicia. “It's all your fault, you stupid girl!”

Alicia blinked, her eyes widening slightly at the outburst. Ted was only eight, face still chubby, brow still furrowed, but the sharpness of his words stung.

Mrs. Reyes, who had already pulled Ted to his feet, turned to Alicia with a hard look.

"Alicia, if anything happens to Ted today, I won't let you go so easily," he said, his voice warning.

Alice responded to the boy's gaze with a slight smile, not of amusement, but of complicity.

He understood that such petty disputes as that could spiral out of control if given the chance.

Instead of fanning the flames, he turned his gaze to Rachel, the host of the meeting.

“Mrs. Gray,” Alice began softly, her tone deliberately calm, “surely you can tell me… have I done anything wrong here?”

Rachel, ever serene, let out a soft sigh, her expression one of gentle reproach.

“Miss Bennett,” he said, his voice lilting like the wind brushing through the trees, “why argue with a little girl?”

Alicia hesitated, her smile hardening as Rachel walked past her, reaching out to smooth Ted's tousled hair with motherly tenderness.

“I was just messing with you,” Rachel continued lightly. “Why didn't you just play along? Do you really think a child could hurt you?”

Alice's smile disappeared, replaced by a shadow of disappointment that crossed her features.

She studied Raquel for a moment, waiting for some flash of understanding, but Raquel's attention had already wandered elsewhere.

down and gently invited Ted

running off to join the others, gave Alice a devilish grin and waved her off. “Wait,” his eyes seemed to

playing peacemaker, dispelled the tension with a gentle pat on

so insignificant dampen your spirits, okay? The girl didn't mean anything by

her voice soft but firm. “If you say

time when Alice had felt a pang of pity for Rachel, but now, she could see that Rachel was the one who had gotten caught in this web of superficial pleasantries. Sensing

her in every way. Even after Alicia humiliated Randolph, Rachel had let it

the tension in the air began to dissipate as everyone slowly returned to their

her face, making her look like a soaked rat. Rachel, ever the gracious hostess, guided her into the house to fix

man wants her. With that attitude,

fingers working skillfully on Mrs. Reyes’ face. “Do you want to

the insinuation in Rachel’s tone.

curved into a subtle smile. “Oh, yes I do. But unlike her, we won't stoop to crude antics.

kill before dinner, Rachel set up a few tables for

previous dispute had never happened. With a warm smile,

immediately sensed the trap, having

there was no way she could leave

Alice replied coldly, not wanting to be drawn into their

false delight. “Perfect! Mrs. Reyes can teach you. It’s

remained silent, sighing

Good.

older men often complained about being forced to do things they didn't want to, because she was in

force that left her no

and it was getting closer to

looked at her watch. Was Caden

in her chair, her smile almost predatory. "What's wrong, Mrs. Bennett? Are you afraid to

the challenge. "Mrs. Reyes, how much

satisfaction. “Not much. Just three

Alice's lips twitched. Three thousand

and you could lose tens of thousands in an instant. And these women – smiling behind their perfectly

Reyes's eyes glittered as Alicia fell silent, her laughter laced with cruelty. “What's wrong, Mrs. Bennett? Is it too much for you? I thought Mr. Yates would have left you plenty of money after the divorce. Surely

remained cold, her voice firm. "Then you must teach

mocking smile. “Oh, no problem. “I’ll

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