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.

invited Ted to play with the

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

peacemaker, dispelled the tension with a

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

hand, her voice soft but firm.

she could see that Rachel was the one who had gotten caught in this web of superficial pleasantries. Sensing Alice's withdrawal, Rachel's face

worlds, after all. Alicia was beneath her in every way. Even after Alicia humiliated Randolph, Rachel had let it go. However, Alicia still

the air began to dissipate as everyone slowly

Mrs. Reyes' makeup was running down her face, making her look like a soaked rat.

wonder no man wants her.

her fingers working skillfully on Mrs. Reyes’ face.

Reyes’s eyes as she caught the insinuation in Rachel’s tone. She was not

subtle smile. “Oh, yes I do. But unlike her,

up a few tables for card

previous dispute had never happened. With a

the trap, having anticipated this

was

Alice replied coldly, not wanting

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

remained silent,

Good.

understood why older men often complained about being forced to do things

felt trapped, powerless against a force that

minutes passed and it was getting closer to

watch. Was

her smile almost predatory.

sharpened and she met the challenge. "Mrs.

Reyes smiled with satisfaction. “Not much. Just

Three thousand dollars? She should have expected the

know the rules of the table: one bad round and you could lose tens of thousands in an instant. And these women – smiling behind their perfectly manicured facades – were professionals at exploiting her

you? I thought Mr. Yates would have left you plenty of money after

cold, her voice firm. "Then you must

Reyes’ lips curved into a mocking smile. “Oh,

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