Dahlia''s ims about Sandy''s mistreatment seemed to strike a chord, which must be why she was so taken aback when Sandy denied any wrongdoing.


    "Sandy didn''t lie, so why use her?"


    "Dad, he''s the bad guy. You need to arrest him now."


    Sandy had no interest in seeing Wesley or acknowledging anyone but Charles as her father.


    Charles gave a nod to the bodyguard, "Take him to the police station."


    Without hesitation, the bodyguard grabbed Wesley and began leading him out. But Evelyn quickly moved to block their way, her own bodyguards taking positions on either side, creating a tense standoff.


    "Evelyn, step aside," Charles said coldly.


    "Charles, I''ve told you, Wesley ising with me."


    "If you dare send Wesley to the police and use him of assault, I''ll make Sandy''s real parentage public, letting everyone know she''s the child of a criminal," Evelyn threatened, her gaze icy.


    Charles'' expression turned frosty as he instinctively covered Sandy''s ears, trying to shield her from Evelyn''s harmful words that could scar her young mind.


    "Evelyn, Sandy is innocent," he said, his voice somber and his eyes cold as ice. Evelyn shouldn''t let her hatred for him and Dahlia spill over to the child.


    "Oh, she''s innocent, and Charlie wasn''t?" Evelyn ignored the caution in Charles'' eyes, her tone even colder.


    No matter how much time passed, Charles'' defense and affection for Sandy always reminded Evelyn of the injustice and mistreatment Charlie endured at his hands. She would always feel wronged on Charlie''s behalf, and it didn''t sit well with her that Charles could dismiss Charlie''s death so easily.


    Mentioning Charlie softened Charles'' demeanor significantly. His voice was gentler now, "Evelyn, Dahlia and I owe you and Charlie an apology. This has nothing to do with Sandy. Don''t take it out on her."


    "And what if I want to?" Evelyn remained unmoved.


    In her view, why should she show kindness to those she deemed wicked? Against evildoers, one must demonstrate even fewer limits. Kindness is for the good- hearted.


    "Evelyn, you''re a mother too. How can you use such cruel tactics against Sandy? She''s only seven... if you expose her parentage, revealing she''s the daughter of a criminal, how will she hold her head high in the future?"


    Seeing Charles soften towards Evelyn, Dahlia immediately began to cry out in distress, putting on a show of heartbreak over Sandy, trying to tarnish Evelyn''s image in Charles'' eyes.


    Evelyn, however, couldn''t care less. She sneered, "Does it matter to me? I''m malicious, conniving, and willing to do whatever it takes. This isn''t the first time you''ve realized that."


    Evelyn''s tone was dripping with sarcasm. From the moment Dahlia entered Charles'' life as his ''one true love,'' Evelyn had been painted as the viinous, scheming woman. Didn''t they always say she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted? Now, she was merely ying the role they''d cast her in.


    Dahlia understood Evelyn''s implication and was momentarily speechless.


    "Evelyn, I know you''re not like that," Charles said deeply, having once thought otherwise due to misunderstandings. Now, hearing Evelyn say such things to his face, he felt a pang of regret.


    He recalled the five years he''d misunderstood Evelyn and mistreated her and Charlie.


    Ultimately, he owed them both..


    What he owed Charlie could never


    be repaid, and he didn''t know how to


    make amends to Evelyn.


    Thinking of the deceased Charlie, Charles'' gaze softened as he looked at Evelyn.


    It was his fault Eve had be this way.


    "No, I am," Evelyn said, no longer caring how Charles viewed her, ignoring the emotions swirling in his eyes.


    To her, as long as Charles continued to protect Dahlia and cherish Sandy, he didn''t deserve to be Charlie''s father.


    She turned to the speechless Dahlia, her smile growing more mocking.


    "Dahlia, I''m malicious, so I can


    er


    ignore Sandy Can you ignore her too? Didn''t you always im to love your daughter dearly? As a mother, how can you bear to see your precious daughter subjected to ridicule?"


    "As long as you don''t use Wesley, he''s not a criminal. Wouldn''t that solve everything?"


    Dahlia opened and closed her mouth, unable to utter a word. It was such a good opportunity to get rid of Wesley and this troublesome matter, yet she couldn''t bring herself to let it go.


    But if she didn''t relent, she''d be contradicting her im of loving Sandy dearly. Evelyn''s words forced her to relent.


    "Charles, let Wesley go. I can endure some grievances, but I can''t watch Sandy be pointed at and whispered about. She can''t handle it."


    Moreover, if this matter were exposed, people would know she was assaulted. How could she ever marry into the Jenkins family then? This matter had to be suppressed, not publicized.


    "As long as my Sandy can grow up well, happy and healthy, I can endure some grievances," Dahlia said, her voice full of feigned humility. She had no choice but to back down.


    Charles looked deeply at Evelyn, then signaled the bodyguards to release Wesley, speaking coldly, "Are you satisfied now?"


    "Very satisfied," Evelyn replied with a smile, as if taking joy in Dahlia and Sandy''s


    pain.


    She knew Charles adored Sandy and wouldn''t dare to gamble. And Dahlia, in order to maintain her image as a good mother in Charles'' eyes, had no choice but to retreat. Wesley had to be taken away.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!