Hugo''s trembling lips froze in mid-cry.


    He hesitated for a moment, his hands fidgeting nervously. "I... I''m getting married.


    I need... I need a hundred thousand dors as a dowry, just this much."


    Mughed in exasperation, her expression darkening suddenly. "Just this much? You''ve got some nerve. What do you have that makes you think you can demand so much from me?"


    Hugo turned beet red, instinctively ncing at Charlotte, who gave him a sharp look before he finally spoke up.


    "Sis, I haven''t asked for anything for years. This time, I''m just asking for a little help with the wedding costs. Your husband is so wealthy, this isn''t a big deal for him. You''re my sister; you can''t just abandon your family after getting married. That''s not how a daughter or sister should behave."


    Charlotte chimed in to support him.


    "Yeah, sister, this isn''t right."


    "The family raised you, and now that you''re doing well, you''re being stingy over a small amount. Is this how you repay your family?"


    "People will call you ungrateful if they find out!"


    "And besides, Hugo is your brother, the only one you have besides your parents. If anything happens to you, he''s the one who will be there for you. Now, you''re haggling over this small amount, but if your husband''s family ever turns their back on you, you''ll be all alone!"


    "Smack!"


    The noisy argument came to an abrupt halt. Charlotte clutched her cheek, now bright red from M''s p, staring in shock at the woman who was calmly lowering her hand.


    She dared to hit her!


    M stood tall, looking down at her with a cold voice, "Who do you think you are, speaking out of turn here?"


    Charlotte was terrified, tears streaming as she cried and clung to Hugo, who rushed over.


    "Hugo, how can your sister act like this? I''m pregnant, and she hit me! What if something happens to our baby? She''s trying to harm your family!"


    "Sis!" Hugo''s eyes were full of rage. "How could you hit someone? Apologize now!"


    "Oh, pregnant, are you?" M sneered, stepping forward to grab Charlotte''s wrist. "Perfect timing, I just learned some things from the doctor. Let me check if your pregnancy is stable."


    Panic-stricken, Charlotte screamed and hid behind Hugo. "Help me, Hugo! She''s trying to kill our baby!"


    In a flustered moment, Hugo pushed M away with more force than intended. She lost her bnce and fell backward, her forehead hitting the corner of the table next to the sofa, narrowly missing her eye. The sharp pain and dizziness left a deep red gash on her pale face as blood flowed from the wound.


    Shey on the floor for a moment before shakily getting to her feet, touching her face and seeing blood on her hand.


    The two of them were terrified. Hugo, pale as a sheet, stammered, "Sis, I-I didn''t mean to. I didn''t think you''d fall. I didn''t push hard, I swear..."


    M looked at the vivid red on her hands, her vision blurring from dizziness.


    She gazed at her brother, who was protecting Charlotte, and startedughing, tears welling up in her eyes... Family? What a joke.


    She swayed, picked up the ss teapot from the table, and, with tears and anger, smashed it over Hugo''s head.


    The teapot shattered into pieces.


    Warm water sshed on M''s face, mingling with tears or water, she couldn''t tell.


    She choked out, "When you sold me off all those years ago, I told you, we''re not family anymore. It''s over! I''ve given you a million-dor house, and you''re insatiable. I owe you nothing!"


    Ovee by dizziness, she copsed to the floor, blood from her head wound mixing with her tears.


    Hugo staggered and fell too, his head covered in blood.


    Charlotte stood frozen, then let out a piercing scream that alerted the servants outside.