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    "Huh?!"


    The ter family, upon hearing the news, widened their eyes in disbelief, "What?!"


    The three little ones also had their eyes wide open, equally shocked.


    Tarquin, unfazed, smoothed a crease on his suit sleeve and repeated, "I am the guardian of these kids. What do you, the ter family, want to discuss? How do you want to settle this?"


    N was bbergasted, "Tarquin, have you lost your mind? They''re not your kids. How can you im to be their guardian?!"


    Tarquin looked at her, "If I say I am, then I am. Got a problem with that?"


    "I..." N bit her lip, feeling utterly wronged.


    Aileen knew trouble was brewing the moment Tarquin made his stance clear. Her heart sank, and she fainted.


    "Mom!" N cried, rushing to Aileen''s side.


    The family doctor quickly attended to her, assuring everyone that Aileen had just passed out due to overwhelming emotions and was otherwise fine. Donovan, having just recovered from the shock of their family heirloom being destroyed, red at the three youngsters. He wished he could tear them apart, but with Tarquin protecting them, he dared not act rashly.


    He turned his furious gaze towards the servants of the ter family, "What exactly happened here today? I want the full story, and nobody better lie to me, or else!"


    Donovan''s outburst had the ter family''s servants trembling and falling to their knees in fear! There was the ter family''s butler, the family veterinarian, and N''s personal maid. Under the fierce scrutiny of Tarquin and Donovan, they confessed one after the other,


    "Sir, it was Miss N''s doing!"


    "Miss N and her mother had arranged to meet these kids to confront them about spreading rumors of Miss N''s pregnancy. Furious, Miss N wanted to teach the kids a lesson! So she had the veterinarian inject a mature horse with a stimnt, hoping the animal would go wild and hurt the kids!"


    "Little did they know, these kids were lucky. Not only did they escape unharmed, but they also ended up causing chaos all over the ter estate on the back of the crazed horse!"


    The maid sobbed, "We were wrong for letting Miss N carry on with her scheme, please forgive us, Mr. Bradford, spare our lives..."


    N, upon hearing this, pped her maid, "You traitor! After all the years I''ve taken care of you, this is how you repay me? Do you have any proof it was my doing?!"


    The people kneeling on the ground shivered, not daring to make a sound.


    N then turned to Donovan and Tarquin, tears streaming down her face, "I''ve been framed! I don''t know what they''re talking about! I never intended to harm anyone, let alone children. They''re making all this up; they''re framing me!"


    Tarquin ignored her, turning to Donovan with a cold gaze. Donovan, no fool, knew the truth even without evidence. His breathing became erratic with anger!


    He gave N a stern look before addressing Tarquin, "Tarquin, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure the kids get a proper exnation. Give me a few days, and if it turns out as the butler and maid have said, I will personally bring N to apologize to the children''s guardian. We will also seek the guardian''s input for appropriatepensation."


    "There''s no need. Once you''ve figured it out, just contact me directly. I don''t want any outsiders bothering them anymore," Tarquin added, "The kids were quite frightened today. If they end up with any psychological trauma, the ter family will be held ountable!"


    Donovan paused, the kids frightened? He must have missed that entirely! Feeling frustrated but unable to retort, he simply nodded in agreement.