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.

and gently invited Ted

others, gave Alice a devilish grin and waved

the tension with

Bennett, don't let something so insignificant dampen your spirits,

her hand, her voice soft but firm. “If you say

that Rachel was the one who had gotten caught in this web of

They were from different worlds, after all. Alicia was beneath her in every way. Even after Alicia humiliated Randolph, Rachel had let it go.

began to dissipate as everyone slowly returned to their

her face, making her look like a soaked rat. Rachel, ever the

wonder no man wants her. With that attitude,

softly, her fingers working skillfully on Mrs. Reyes’

sharp gleam lit Mrs. Reyes’s eyes as she caught the insinuation in Rachel’s tone.

I do. But unlike her, we won't stoop to crude antics.

before dinner, Rachel set up a

previous dispute had never happened. With a warm smile, Rachel invited her. “Mrs. Bennett,

sensed the trap,

was no way she could

wanting

Reyes can

silent, sighing

Good.

men often complained about being forced to do things they didn't want

powerless against a force

passed and it

watch.

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

met the challenge. "Mrs. Reyes, how much do you

Reyes smiled with satisfaction. “Not much.

Three thousand dollars? She should have expected

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

it too much for you? I thought Mr. Yates would have left you plenty of money after the divorce. Surely you have some left over

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

into a mocking smile. “Oh, no problem. “I’ll be happy

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