Selena''s words made both Diana and Victor stop fighting. Victor looked at Selena in disbelief, and Diana''s face was just as rigid.


    Right after Selena finished shouting, she noticed their sudden change of


    expression and felt a twinge of regret.


    However, she refused to believe she was at fault. She just red at them usingly.


    "Mom, Dad, what on earth are you two doing? Would you really have beaten each other to death if I hadn''te down? It''s a good thing I''m clever."


    Selena paused, then added, "I said all that on purpose. See? I only had to say a few words, and you both stopped."


    Diana and Victor remained silent. In a moment of desperation, words often revealed one''s true thoughts, so it was highly likely that Selena had just spoken her mind.


    "Mom, Dad, you don''t really think that''s what I meant, do you?" Selena asked, feeling uneasy inside but refusing to admit she might have meant every word.


    "Were you actually dumb enough to fall for that woman''s ploy? I only said that to make you stop fighting."


    Selena looked at Charlotte icyly. She resented Natalie, but she hated Natalie''s birth parents even more.


    She used to think Natalie''s real parents were just ordinary workers. She secretly looked forward to seeing Natalie suffer once she went back to them.


    However, she never expected those ordinary workers to actually be wealthy people from Dithoria State. She also never imagined Charlotte would go to such extremes for Natalie.


    "The real enemy is right here. How can you two still stand there fighting each other?" Selena coldly remarked, scolding Diana and Victor. "We''re a family. We need to band together."


    Diana''s face went from pale to livid. She had been disappointed by Selena''s outburst a moment ago.


    Now that Selena had softened her words, Diana tried to reassure herself that her daughter made some sense. If Selena had tried to say anything else, Diana and Victor probably would have ignored her.


    Even though Selena''s words were harsh, they had worked-Diana and Victor did stop beating each other.


    Diana shoved Victor aside and pulled Selena over to sit on the couch.


    "Victor, Selena''s right. We''re family. We can''t let that wretched woman turn us against each other," she said coldly, siding with Selena.


    Charlotte merely curved her lips. "Mr. Langley, your wife just insulted me again." "I got it," Victor replied.


    He moved forward and pped Diana hard across the face. Before Diana could scream, he turned and gave Selena several ps as well.


    "If you two can''t learn to watch your mouths, then I''ll teach you properly," he said through clenched teeth.


    Victor''s face was dark with anger. Charlotte was his golden ticket right now. She was essentially the financial lifeline he needed to secure this big project.


    With it, he could finally hold his head high and prove himself capable to Grace and the others.


    Messing with Natalie was one thing, but insulting Charlotte was just in stupid. He refused to be like Diana and Selena, who had no sense at all.


    "Diana, Selena, both of you remember who''s paying for everything," he snapped. "Right now, this minute, apologize to Mrs. Walker. Otherwise, get out of my house."


    "You''re crazy!" Diana sprang to her feet, shaking with rage. What Victor was doing now was a direct p in her face, both figuratively and literally.


    "If you don''t listen, we can get a divorce," Victor said coldly. "I have no need for a wife and daughter who only spend money and drag me down."


    "Victor!" Diana shrieked, her eyes reddened with fury. She lurched forward to fight him again, but Selena quickly grabbed her.


    "Mom, calm down." Selena was selfish to the core. She judged everything by how it affected her. She could swallow even the gravest humiliation as long as her interests were on the line.


    "Dad, we''ll apologize to Mrs. Walker," she said, biting her lip and shaking her head at Diana.


    If her parents really did get divorced, she would end up kicked out as well. She had only recently returned to the Langley family and had barely begun


    to enjoy a life of luxury. She couldn''t


    afford to be thrown out nowon''t


    After looking into Selena''s eyes, Diana gradually calmed down and nced over


    at Charlotte.


    Charlotte sat there calmly, as if she were just watching a show. She had seen enough of this family''s ugly side.


    "Apologize," Victor pressed. He was desperate to please Charlotte. Nothing mattered more to him at this point than that lucrative project.


    "We''re sorry, Mrs. Walker."


    "Mrs. Walker, we apologize."


    Diana and Selena both spoke at once, though it was clear neither of them meant


    it.


    Charlotte let out a softugh. "Mr. Langley, your wife and daughter don''t sound very sincere."


    Victor turned obsequious again. "Then please, Mrs. Walker, tell me what you need from them for you to be satisfied."


    Charlotte raised her hand and casually examined her perfectly manicured nails, a faint smile on her lips. After a moment, she finally spoke in a calm, unhurried tone.


    "I hear there''s a beautiful ce called Cedar Hill in Amberton. At the top, there''s a well-known chapel. Mr. Langley can take Mrs. Langley and Ms. Selena there. You can walk up from the foot of the hill to the summit, kneeling at each step to reflect and show your sincere repentance."


    When Charlotte finished, the faces of the three Langleys shifted dramatically.


    Cedar Hill was indeed a ce of great beauty, but there were 9,999 steps leading


    to the top. Kneeling all the way from the bottom to the top was practically a death sentence.


    Charlotte smiled elegantly at them. "Mr. Langley, what do you think of my suggestion?"


    Victor turned pale, sweat beading on his forehead. He didn''t like this suggestion at


    all, not one bit.


    "The project is already yours, Mr.


    Langley. But whether it goes forward depends on my final word," Charlotte said as she stood up. "I have a


    gu13


    wee party to prepare for my


    daughter. I hope you won''t waste my


    time."


    At that, she turned and walked toward the door.


    "Wait!"


    Just as Charlotte was about to step outside, Victor finally spoke up. "Mrs. Walker,


    we''ll do it. We''ll kneel all the way to the top."


    For the sake of that project, Victor was ready to do anything.


    Charlotte''s expression brightened with satisfaction. "I knew you were a man who recognizes an opportunity, Mr. Langley."


    People would do anything for money, and Victor had no real ability. He only


    wanted this project to prove his worth. So, he was bound to agree to any terms


    she set.


    If he missed this chance, no one else would bring him such a profitable deal


    again.