Haynes'' eyes narrowed as he saw Ste injured, his voice dropping to a grave tone. "Mom, ease up a bit, will you?"


    Deanna, instead of calming down, only grew more incensed. "Haynes, how can you still side with her at a time like this? She''s been a threat to me, and now Keen''s getting bullied because of her."


    "Isn''t her role supposed to be taking care of the family? She''s failed at that. What''s the use of her now?"


    Sensing the tension, Callie O''Brien yed the peacemaker, trying to smooth things over. "Look, Ste, don''t take it too hard with Mom being upset today. This is about Keen. Whatever happens between us adults is one thing, but we can''t let the child suffer, can we?"


    She then shot Deanna a meaningful look. "Mom, calm down, Keen''s right here. You don''t want to scare him. Let''s have Ste apologize, and we can put this on hold for now. Keen''s situation is what matters."


    Although Deanna was still seething with anger, she was aware of Keen and Haynes'' presence and reluctantly suppressed her rage. Her voice was tense as she said, "Fine, since Callie''s speaking for you, just apologize and we can overlook what happened today."


    Ste wiped the blood from her cheek, the pain setting in atst. She looked up at Deanna''s condescending expression and suddenly smiled. "No wonder Haynes is always asking people to apologize. It''s a family trait, it seems."


    Usually, Ste would have expressed thanks, but today, she responded with sarcasm instead of showing gratitude.


    Deanna''s hard-wonposure shattered, her rage ring anew. For the sake of the child, she''d tried to swallow her anger, but Ste had the nerve to undermine her!


    Deanna couldn''t hold back any longer. "How dare you speak to me like that?! On your knees!"


    Ste stared icily at Deanna, saying, "I kneel to the God, and to my parents-who are you? You didn''t raise me, not even for a day. Why should I listen to you? Because of your title, Deanna? Your title means nothing to me, not a cent. Demanding people kneel-do you think you''re the Queen? If you''re still dreaming, head back to bed. In your dreams, you can be the Queen of heaven if you like."


    Deanna was so furious her chest heaved, her finger trembling as it pointed at Ste. She was beyond words.


    Haynes, seeing his mother nearly faint from anger, turned cold eyes on Ste. "Ste, show some respect."


    Ste''s face was impassive. "Respect is mutual. I''ll treat others the way they treat me."


    Deanna ground her teeth. "You''ve got some nerve, Ste,ing here to show off! Someone fetch the family discipline!"


    Upon hearing her words, two servants approached with a threatening demeanor. It was well-known that Deanna harbored a dislike for Ste. In the O''Brien Mansion, Deanna reigned supreme, and defying her was a guaranteed route to disaster. Ste''sfortable days were drawing to a close.


    Haynes'' handsome face darkened as he was about to intervene, but then he saw Ste take a step back, her voice rising. "Anyone whoys a finger on me, I''ll charge with assault."


    Her unfeeling gazended on Deanna, her lips curling slightly. "What age are we living in, trying to use ''family discipline'' on me? You think you''re a ruler just because I indulged you for a few days?"