Emma stared at Natalie, who remained calm and indifferent, dividing the jackfruit without sparing her a single nce. It was as if everything unfolding had nothing to do with her.


    But this all started because of Natalie!


    Tears welled up in Emma''s eyes as she pursed her lips, cautiously asking, "If I kneel on the shells, will Natalie forgive Cindy?"


    She turned to Lincoln and pleaded, "Lincoln, Cindy only said those things because she was worried about me. She couldn''t stand to see me wronged, and she acted on impulse. She''s spent her entire life serving our family and raising me since I was a child.


    "Now that you''ve fired her, what is she supposed to do? Can''t you talk to Natalie and ask her to forgive Cindy this once? I promise she won''t make the same mistake again."


    When Lincoln didn''t respond, Emma turned to Natalie. She stepped forward carefully, avoiding the jackfruit shells, and kneeled before her. "Natalie, I''m begging you, please forgive Cindy just this once!"


    Natalie stepped back, avoiding Emma''s hand as it reached for her pant leg. "Ms. Emma, if you have a problem with your hearing, I rmend a visit to an ENT specialist," she said coolly.


    "Ms. Natalie," Emma began, swallowing her pride. "It''s my fault. I didn''t manage my helper properly, and Cindy spoke out of turn. Ms. Natalie, please tell me what I need to do to make things right and have Cindy forgiven so Lincoln doesn''t fire her."


    She had lived in the Walker family for 20 years, yet now she found herself reduced to an outsider, begging Natalie like this. The humiliation burned within her, and she silently vowed to make Natalie pay for it.


    Natalie looked at Emma with an unreadable gaze. Emma''s makeup was top- quality—she had cried so much, yet it hadn''t smudged. Her delicate, tear-streaked look made her seem even more fragile and pitiful.


    "Stop trying to guilt-trip Nat," Lincoln said, taking a few steps forward and grabbing Emma by the arm. "You''re smart enough to avoid the jackfruit shells."


    Emma stomped her foot, ring at him with resentment. "Lincoln, I grew up with you! How can you treat me like this? What do all those years of sibling bond mean to you now?"


    Lincoln sneered, mocking her, "You''ve been taking advantage of me, and I''ve had nothing but bad luck."


    Mason, who had been sitting on the couch ying on his phone, couldn''t hold back augh. Hector gave him a calm nce before pinching his thigh.


    "Ow, that hurts! Hector, why are you pinching me?" Masonined, looking aggrieved. "Lincoln, Hector pinched me!"


    Lincoln frowned slightly. "Mason, what about all those years of sibling bond between you and Emma? Answer me."


    Mason immediately straightened up, sitting perfectly upright like an obedient first- grader. "Lincoln, my answer is the same as yours. She''s taking advantage of me, and I''m having bad luck too. Hector and Timothy feel the same way. On behalf of all of us, I''d say that''s the answer."


    As for Sky, Mason regarded him with bad luck and decided not to mention him. "I''m here. You don''t need to speak on my behalf," Hector said with a slight smile, meeting Emma''s gaze calmly. "Don''t look at me. It''s not going to end well."


    Emma''s body shook as she processed Mason and Hector''s words. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrobly. "Lincoln, Hector, Mason, I came back excitedly, bringing gifts for everyone. How could you all suddenly hate me this much?"


    Her voice trembled as she continued, "I''m so happy that Natalie is back. I really want to get along with her I''ve always treated her like a real sister!"


    "Why has everything changed so suddenly?" Emma pleaded, her teary eyes darting between them. "Lincoln, I can''t take this. Hector, say something!"


    Finally, she turned to Hector. "Where''s Sky? I need to talk to Sky."


    Lincoln impatiently interrupted her, "Emma, don''t overestimate yourself. If you want me not to fire Cindy, it''s simple—either you kneel, or she kneels. You choose."


    The helper standing by smartly ced two jackfruit shells in front of them.


    Lincoln nced at the helper who had ced the jackfruit shells. "Not bad. This month, have Gorge send you your bonus."


    "Thank you, Mr. Lincoln," the helper said before quickly returning to her position.


    ????


    On the surface, it seemed as though Lincoln was venting on behalf of Natalie, who had just returned. In reality, it was an invisible power struggle between the real heiress, Natalie, and the fake adopted daughter, Emma.


    If Emma won today, it would prove that her position in the Walker family was still superior. However, if Natalie won, it would show that the true heiress wasn''t someone to be taken lightly. In that case, Emma would


    have to tread carefully within the


    Walker family from now on.


    Even the helpers could discern the underlying meaning, let alone the people directly involved.


    Emma''s eyes were bloodshot as her emotions spiraled out of control. She red viciously at the helper, and the helper quickly took a step back, avoiding her deathly re.


    Emma''s re was terrifying enough to make people shudder. Everyone whispered that fake heiresses often carried a vicious streak, and Emma seemed to fit the description perfectly.


    The helpers quietly resolved that it was better to side with the real heiress, Natalie.


    "I''ll kneel," Cindy dered abruptly, dropping to her knees on the jackfruit shells without hesitation. The sharp spikes pierced her flesh, causing her to scream in agony.


    As Emma''s personal helper in the Walker family, Cindy had been spared from menial chores over the years. Though still a servant, she had grown ustomed to a life of rtive ease andfort.


    The jackfruit shells were so excruciatingly sharp that gently kneeling down would have been unbearable, let alone mming into them.


    Cindy broke out in cold sweat from the pain. Her body trembled as she bowed repeatedly to Natalie. "Ms. Natalie, I was wrong. I didn''t know my ce, and I was disrespectful. Please forgive me this once!"


    She then turned to Lincoln, pleading desperately. "Mr. Lincoln, please don''t fire me! I promise I''ll never do anything like this again!"


    As Cindy continued to bow and plead for forgiveness, Emma''s nails dug painfully into her palms. Her heart felt as though it was being ripped apart as she saw the woman who had raised her grovel so miserably.


    With a loud thud, Emma dropped to


    her knees on the jagged jackfruit shells. Unlike Cindy, who trembled uncontrobly from the sharp pain, Emma forced herself to stay upright despite the agony piercing her knees.


    "Ms. Natalie, please forgive Cindy this time. Can you also forgive me?" she


    pleaded, raising her tear-filled eyes to meet Natalie''s gaze.


    Though her tears blurred her vision, they could not fully conceal the cold hatred simmering beneath her sorrowful expression.