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.

gently invited Ted to play with the

the others, gave Alice a devilish grin and waved

tension with a

don't let something so insignificant dampen your spirits, okay?

voice soft

been a time when Alice had felt a pang of pity for Rachel, but now, she could see that Rachel was the

aloof attitude, in Rachel's eyes, was nothing but arrogance. They were from different worlds, after all. Alicia was beneath her in every way. Even after Alicia humiliated

Rachel's skillful mediation, the tension in the air began to dissipate as everyone slowly returned

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

“No wonder no man wants her. With that attitude, she deserves everything

hummed softly, her fingers working skillfully on Mrs. Reyes’ face. “Do you want to

insinuation in Rachel’s tone. She was not alone in her disdain. “Do you have any

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

with time to kill before dinner, Rachel set up a few tables for card

Mrs. Reyes and the others, as if the previous dispute had never happened. With a warm smile, Rachel

the trap, having

there was no

not wanting to

with false delight. “Perfect! Mrs. Reyes can

silent,

Good.

why older men often complained about being forced to do

trapped, powerless against a force that left her no easy

it was getting closer to

watch. Was Caden

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

the challenge. "Mrs.

smiled with satisfaction. “Not much. Just three

twitched. Three thousand dollars? She should have expected

of the table: one bad round and you could lose tens of thousands in an instant. And these women –

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 you have

her voice firm. "Then you must

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

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