Mrs. Ayers''s face turned a deep, angry red, almost purple with indignation.


    She had always been quick to demand others kneel and apologize, the words rolling off her tongue with ease. But now that the tables had turned, it was a different story.


    Despite her underlying resentment, Mrs. Ayers couldn''t help but feel intimidated by Neville''smanding presence. Though annoyed, she still managed to keep her tone civil.


    "Mr. Connolly, don''t you think you''re being a little unreasonable? The security footage made it clear-your child threw the first punch. No matter what, violence is never right. Instead of apologizing, you expect us-the victims-to kneel and beg forgiveness? How does that make any sense?"


    "It doesn''t," Neville replied, his voice slow and deliberate. "But what I say goes. I''ll give you one minute. Kneel and apologize to Star, and I''ll let today''s incident slide. If you insist on defying me..."


    A crooked, dangerous smile yed on Neville''s lips. "Well, the weather''s turning cold. Maybe it''s time for a certainpany to go bankrupt."


    At first, Mrs. Ayers had assumed Neville was only here to demand an apology for his son Marvin getting hit. She''d already been weighing the idea-better to swallow her pride and have Sheldon apologize to Marvin than escte things further.


    But she hadn''t expected Neville to demand that she apologize to Ste.


    The truth was, one of the main reasons she looked down on Ste-and constantly belittled her in front of the children-was sheer jealousy.


    How could a woman with nothing but a pretty face, no money or influence to her name, end up married to a man as remarkable as Haynes? And how could her child turn out to be so bright and well-behaved?


    Meanwhile, Mrs. Ayers hade from a family of schrs, only to be pushed into business for the sake of the family, and forced into a strategic marriage. Her husband? A man who''d lucked into his position early on, yet spent most of his days chasing after women. And her own son? He''d inherited all his father''s worst traits-neither intelligent nor handsome.


    All her envy for Ste had curdled into scorn and mockery.


    So when Neville demanded she apologize to Ste, her gut reaction was instant: "Me? Apologize to that woman? Never, not in a million years!"


    Neville nodded, unfazed by her defiance.


    "I may not be some all-powerful mogul, but taking down the Ayers Group? That''s hardly a challenge."


    With that, he pulled out his phone in full view of everyone and made a call.


    His voice was calm, almost chilly. "The Ayers Group just crossed me. Handle it. I want it done in ten minutes."


    Mrs. Ayers''s breath caught in her throat. "You... you can''t be serious. I don''t believe you for a second!"


    Neville replied coolly, "Let''s see if you''re still this brave ten minutes from now." Just then, Jasper arrived.


    Not yet aware of the full situation, he nced around. "Haynie, you called me over in such a hurry-what''s going on?"


    He turned and saw the crowded room, and then noticed Marvin''s injury. A smirk tugged at his lips. "Well, well. Someone got himself into trouble, huh?"


    Haynes''s eyes were sharp and cold as he locked his gaze on Jasper. "Jasper, tell me the truth. Was it you, using my name, who told everyone at the preschool to ostracize Marvin?"


    Damn, how did he find out so quickly?


    Jasper instinctively nced at Rachel, but she kept her head lowered, refusing to meet his eyes.


    Jasper''s gaze flickered, restless and uneasy.


    By now, he realized he''d been caught. There was no use denying it. If Haynes was asking, it meant he already knew the truth.