With a heavy thud, Grace copsed onto the floor.


    "Mom!" Victor cried as he rushed forward to hold her in his arms.


    "Diana, pick up Selena. I''ll take Mom to the hospital first. Hurry up! We''ll drive there together," he said.


    "I''m a doctor," Hector interjected, stepping forward to block Victor''s path.


    "I''ve already examined Ms. Langley. She''s fine, just pretending to faint," he said calmly.


    "Let me check if Mrs. Langley Senior is pretending as well."


    "Get out of my way!" Victor snarled, skirting around Hector. He dared not stay any longer. Their reputation had already beenpletely ruined.


    Victor knew that Natalie had no affection left for their family. If she could obtain a video like that, it meant she had more evidence in her possession, only choosing not to release it at once.


    "Mr. Langley, Mrs. Langley Senior is an elderly, and her health has always been poor. If she suffers a heart attack out of anger and doesn''t receive emergency care, as her son, you''ll bear the responsibility."


    "I don''t trust you. Even if you''re a doctor, we, as family members, have the right to refuse your help," Victor spat, ring at Hector.


    "Wake up," Hector said with a careless smirk. "After all, pretending to faint seems to run in your family. Surely, you''re not truly worried."


    Natalie stepped forward, her hand lightly gripping Grace''s wrist. After silently taking her pulse, a mocking smile curved her lips.


    Hector was right. Grace was indeed pretending to faint.


    Retracting her hand, Natalie spoke coldly, her voice like frost. "Mr. Langley, your family hasn''t apologized to me yet. Especially Ms. Langley. She insulted me time and again, spreading nder and vile rumors. You may take Mrs. Langley Senior to the hospital, but Ms. Langley is not leaving."


    Natalie''s icy gaze turned to Selena. Woken up earlier by Hector''s sharp methods, Selena had initially nned to continue feigning unconsciousness. However, upon seeing the video disyed on the screen, she quickly abandoned the act.


    She couldn''t believe her grandmother had such a double-faced nature. Seeing how Grace treated Natalie, Selena began to doubt her own assumptions. Perhaps her grandmother never loved Natalie, or maybe Grace had a split personality.


    Regardless of the truth, Selena felt a twisted sense of glee.


    But when she heard Natalie say she couldn''t leave, Selena''s smug expression froze. Her face darkened as she considered pretending to faint again, but one look from Hector made her abandon the thought. His "awakening" methods were far too unpleasant.


    Meeting Natalie''s icy gaze, Selena''s eyes darted around, scanning her surroundings. She spotted Tyler standing in the distance, his face pale with disappointment. Meanwhile, Marcus was nowhere to be seen.


    Her initial disappointment turned to relief. As long as Marcus wasn''t here, he wouldn''t see the incriminating videos and photos of her with other men. However, Tyler, with his pale face and despondent expression, made it clear he would no longer trust her.


    Lowering her head, Selena clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. After steadying herself, she looked up at Natalie, her lips curling into a mocking smile.


    "You want me to apologize? Fine. Ms. Walker, I''m sorry."


    Selena swayed unsteadily as she stood. She bowed deeply and loudly dered, "Ms. Walker, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have spread those rumors, insulted you, or ndered you. Please forgive me. Don''t press charges, and don''t make my disgrace public."


    When she straightened up, she fixed her gaze on Natalie. "Ms. Walker, is this enough for you?"


    "That''s your idea of an apology? I''ve never seen someone as shameless as you." Mason stepped forward, his voice dripping with disdain.


    "You asked for an apology, and I gave you one. What more do you want?" Selena snapped, her fear momentarily reced by defiance. She no longer cared about her reputation. She had faced too many humiliations already.


    So what if she had done those things? She only wanted to survive. What fault was there in that?


    Natalie had only been forced to give a little blood while living with the Langley family. Could she evenpare to everything Selena had endured to stay alive, pleasing those who controlled her and being coerced into doing countless things she never wanted to do?


    "Natalie, if you were me, you wouldn''t have survived." Selena sneered. "What hardship did you really endure in the Langley family? You were well-fed, well-dressed, and grew up safely. All you suffered was a little blood loss. What''s there to make such a fuss about?


    "I don''t know how you discovered my past or exposed it to the public. But let me tell you this, as long as I don''t care, you can''t hurt me."


    Her tone was resolute, and the panic from earlier was gone.


    She turned to Tyler, her lips curving into a smile. "Tyler, do you despise me now? It doesn''t matter if you do. It doesn''t matter if you don''t want to marry me. As long as I''m the true daughter of the Langley family, I''ll find a way to turn things around."


    Straightening her posture, Selena walked toward Diana, her eyes filled with determination. "Having my parents is enough."


    Diana''s eyes brimmed with tears. Large droplets fell as she nodded, and she choked up on her words. "Yes, that''s right. I don''t despise you. I only feel sorry for you."


    Pulling Selena into a tight embrace, Diana turned to re at the hired extras. "If any of you dare to spread a word of what happened today, I won''t let you off."


    "Oh, how terrifying."


    "Will she kill us to keep us quiet?"


    "She can try. I just live-streamed the entire event. If anything happens to me, make sure to report it!"


    "If something happens to me, she''s the prime suspect."


    "Just arrest her. Problem solved."


    The onlookers were unfazed by Diana''s threats. If she had approached them politely, they might have been more amodating. But her aggressive stance only fueled their defiance.


    "This family is ridiculous. They act despicably, then try to y the victim."


    "First, the granddaughter pretended to faint, then the grandmother. Is pretending to faint some kind of family tradition?"


    Listening to the mocking voices, Diana was mortified. "You... you..."


    "Mom, don''t waste your breath on these people. As long as we remain unshaken, what can their words do to us," Selena said with a cold smile.


    Turning to Tyler, she asked, "Tyler, will youe with us to check on Grandma?"


    Tyler snapped out of his stupor when Selena called his name.


    "Yes, I''lle," he replied reflexively. At this moment, he truly wished he had nevere to Dithoria.


    "Ms. Walker, I''ve already apologized. Can we leave now?"


    As Selena and Diana approached the door, they found it blocked by private security hired by the Walker family. Turning back to Natalie, Selena sneered. "Ms. Walker, are you nning to use your power to oppress


    us?


    Looking at Charlotte, she said, "Mrs. Walker, you''ve seen the video. You know that apart from some blood donations, the Langley family never truly harmed Natalie. But me? The true daughter of the Langley family? Do you know the kind of life I lived?


    "Mrs. Walker, Mr. Walker, and Ms. Walker''s brothers, if your daughter or sister hadn''t encountered my parents and grandmother, her life might not have been so fortunate."