Julia coughed violently, frustration burning in her chest as she tried to exin herself.
For the past two years, she had barely dared to step outside because of this illness, let alone attend social events or high-profile gatherings.
If it weren''t for the medication from Goodwill Pharmacy, she probably wouldn''t have been able to keep up her act in front of Ivan and maintain his favor.
The one thing Julia hated most was people suggesting her illness was contagious. So the moment she heard Charlotte''sment, her temper red.
"If anyone dares spread nonsense, I''ll tear their damn mouth apart!" she spat between ragged breaths.
After finally catching her breath, she wiped away the tears that had welled up from her relentless coughing and stepped forward to help Wendy.
"Wendy, did someone from Goodwill Pharmacy hit you?"
"It was me."
A voice filled with suppressed fury cut through the air.
Ivan''s expression was dark as he stormed forward, grabbing Julia by the arm and yanking her aside. "If you''re not feeling well, then stay in the car. What the hell are you doing down here?"
"Honey, why would you hit Wendy? She''s my aunt!"
Julia struggled to hold back another coughing fit, her voice hoarse. "What did she do to make you so angry?"
"Madam..."
Wendy, who had been lying on the floor, finally gathered herself.
Leaning against the wall, she slowly got to her feet, her eyes welling up with tears as she prepared toin.
But before she could even open her mouth, Ivan said icily, "Julia, if you dare plead for that bitch, then you can get the hell out of the Sinir family along with her."
Julia froze. She turned to Wendy, who looked pitiful and ready to speak, but the words died in her throat.
Ivan had never spoken to her with such indifference, let alone such harsh words. Julia steadied herself, pressing a tissue to her mouth as she fought the urge to cough. Stepping closer to Ivan, she gently patted his chest.
"Honey, don''t be angry. Wendy made a mistake. I''ll make sure to discipline her."
Before she could even finish her sentence, another violent coughing fit overtook her.
In the past, whenever Julia coughed, Ivan would immediately step in, gently patting her back with concern. But this time...
He inexplicably took half a step back.
"Ugh!"
Charlotte suddenly made a gagging sound, her face twisted in undisguised disgust.
"Ivan, you and Samantha aren''t divorced yet, are you? So is this woman calling you ''honey'' the owner of the dog-like housekeeper who bullied my daughter?"
She made no effort to spare Ivan any dignity.
Charlotte had always known about Julia.
Over the years, Julia had repeatedly tried to cozy up to her, hoping to establish a connection. She had even hinted at the idea of setting Ruby up with one of Charlotte''s four sons.
But Charlotte despised mistresses who schemed their way into power. She had never once given Julia the time of day, let alone entertained any of her requests.
When Julia realized she couldn''t win Charlotte over, she switched targets, turning her attention to Luna, Zane''s mother.
Unlike Charlotte, Luna had fallen for Julia''s sweet-talking, eventually agreeing to let Zane and Ruby date.
Zane, ever the filial son, had epted the arrangement, solely to keep his mother from being upset.
But just as he had told Natalie before, his so-called rtionship with Ruby was nothing more than a task from his mother.
He felt nothing for Ruby and had never once gotten involved in any of her schemes.
Charlotte knew a little about the Holt family''s affairs. She also knew that Zane had been working at Goodwill Pharmacy for years.
Since Charlotte was now aware that Goodwill Pharmacy belonged to Natalie and that Zane was one of her people, she made a decision.
If Zane sided with Ivan and Julia, she would immediately have Natalie fire him.
However, on the way here, she had exchanged a few messages with Natalie and confirmed that Zane had nothing to do with them. In fact, he firmly stood on Natalie''s side.
Since that was the case, Charlotte wouldn''t make things difficult for him.
On the contrary, because Zane had firmly stood by Natalie''s side, going so far as to break up with Ruby without hesitation at Natalie''s single word, Charlotte felt he was worth supporting.
After all, Julia had schemed her way into power as a mistress, and children learned what they lived.
Charlotte highly doubted that with Julia and Ivan as parents, Ruby could have turned out any better.
"Charlotte, watch your mouth!" Ivan had finally lost his patience.
He had already lowered himself to apologize. Natalie being young and aggressive was one thing, but now Charlotte was being just as unreasonable and shamelessly protective of her daughter.
"I''ve apologized. I''ve admitted my mistakes. If Goodwill Pharmacy hadn''t refused
to sell medicine to my people, Julia''s housekeeper wouldn''t have insulted Natalie in the first ce.
"I came here to settle this peacefully, lowering my stance as much as possible, yet you Walkers are acting as if I''m afraid of you!"
Hearing those words, Julia finally breathed a sigh of relief. As expected, her position in Ivan''s heart was still irreceable.
Taking the opportunity, she stepped forward and helped Wendy up.
But the moment she moved, a sharp itch red up in her throat, triggering another
bout of coughing. This time, even her chest ached painfully.
"Madam, are you okay?" Wendy quickly shifted her weight to support Julia instead.
By now, Wendy didn''t dare run her mouth anymore. Instead, she stole a cautious nce at Natalie.
She never would have guessed that this unfamiliar woman was the real Walker heiress.
After all, in Dithoria State, everyone had always known Emma as the Walker family''s eldest daughter. And Emma''s face was one they had all seen before.
But Natalie? She was aplete stranger.
On top of that, Goodwill Pharmacy had been around for over a century.
Thest time Julia came in for treatment two years ago, the doctor who treated
her had been an elderly man with a wise and mystical air about him.
Who would have thought that the actual owner of the pharmacy was such a young woman?
At this moment, Wendy finally realized that she had provoked the wrong person. Even after getting pped across the face by Ivan, there was nothing she could do but swallow her anger in silence.
Without Ivan and the wealth of the Sinirs, the Whites were nothing. "Madam, Mr. Sinir, this was my fault. I failed to recognize who I was dealing with. My mouth ran off a bit too much. I''m sorry, Ms. Walker."
Wendy helped Julia settle into a chair before walking up to Natalie. Then, she dropped to her knees.
Without hesitation, she knocked her forehead against the floor in an exaggerated apology. "Ms. Walker you are a generous and kind-hearted person Please don''t hold a grudge against a fool like me from a small town.
"The madam is in poor health, and
she relies on medicine from Goodwill Pharmacy just to stay alive. They say a doctor''s heart is
know you won''t just stand by and watch someone suffer, right?"
"Oh, my eyes are closed. I can''t see anything," Natalie replied smoothly and
actually shut her eyes.
They wanted to y the moral guilt trip game?
Too bad. She never yed to lose.
"Natalie, you used to live in Amberton with the Langleys. Back then, you begged
for help and even gave blood to Diana. Have you forgotten what it was like to be
weak and desperate?"
Ivan suddenly stepped forward, yanking Wendy off the ground.
The Walkers and the Sinirs were already breaking off the engagement, so he
didn''t need to keep up appearances anymore.
He wasn''t doing this for Julia or Wendy-this was about him.
His pride. His dignity.
Why the hell should he have to lower himself before William?
Why the hell should he have to tiptoe around Charlotte?