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.

knelt down and gently invited Ted to play with the

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

dispelled the tension with a gentle pat on

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

soft but firm.

of pity for Rachel, but now, she could see that Rachel was the

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

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

Mrs. Reyes' makeup was running down her face, making her look like a soaked rat. Rachel, ever the gracious hostess, guided her into

wants her. With that

Reyes’ face. “Do

Mrs. Reyes’s eyes as she caught the insinuation in Rachel’s tone. She was not alone in her disdain. “Do you

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

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

the others, as if the previous dispute had never happened. With a warm smile, Rachel invited her. “Mrs. Bennett, do

immediately sensed the trap, having anticipated

at the table, there was no way she could leave

not wanting to be

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

remained silent,

Good.

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

trapped, powerless against a force that

and it was getting

watch. Was Caden coming

leaned back in her chair, her smile almost

sharpened and she met the challenge. "Mrs. Reyes, how much do you want to

“Not much. Just three

Alice's lips twitched. Three thousand dollars? She should

bad round and you could lose tens of thousands in an instant. And these women – smiling behind their perfectly manicured facades – were

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 some left over

remained cold, her voice firm. "Then you

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

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