Rachel stumbled and fell hard to the ground. Her high heels only worsened the fall; the impact left multiple scrapes and bruises on her wrist and forearm.


    Cecilia wanted to rush to Rachel’s side, but the crowd pushed and jostled so much that she couldn’t. get through. She could only stand there and watch belplessly.


    Behind her, the spectators wore gleeful expression, pointing fingers and gossiping without


    restraint.


    “Serves her right! This is karma! Who told her to force Mr. Lloyd to sign the will and try to steal the Lloyd family’s fortune?”


    “Whoever pushed her, I owe them a thank–you. That was satisfying to watch!”


    “How can a woman be this shameless? If I were her I’d be too embarrassed to show my face here!”


    “Get lost! Lloyd Enterprise doesn’t want you here!”


    Rachel forced herself to endure the pain radiating from all over her body and tried to get up.


    Suddenly, a pair of hands appeared in front of her. She instinctively looked up.


    William stared down at her.


    “I told you earlier, didn’t I? I could’ve handled all this for you. Why are you always so stubborn, Rachel? I’ve said this before–being so stubborn isn’t always a good thing.”


    Even injured, Rachel’s eyes remained bright and resolute. “I don’t need your help, Mr. Lewis.”


    William’s concern was rejected outright by Rachel. His ego was hurt.


    “You’ve brought this on yourself!”


    His voice had returned to calm, but a chill still seeped through each word.


    Rachel’s defiant posture only disgusted the Lloyd Enterprise employees around her even more.


    “She really doesn’t know what’s good for her. Mr. Lewis was being gracious and extended a hand for old time’s sake, and she still acted all high and mighty!”


    “Exactly! She acts like she’s some saint! Does she seriously think she’s going to be the future leader of Lloyd Enterprise?”


    At that moment, Rachel felt like the entire crowd was stomping her pride into the ground–as if every single person there wanted to trample her dignity.


    She clenched her jaw and stood up shakily. Despite the sharp pain shooting through her body, her back stayed straight and her gaze never wavered.


    That one moment was like a spark to William’s fuse It ignited a firestorm in his chest.


    “You’re in this condition, and you still won’t lower your head and ask for my help? If you’d just say


    the word, I’d help you!” he roared.


    But Rachel let out a cold scoff, her defiant stare stabbing into William’s heart like a dagger. “I’d rather be spit to death by every single person here than ever ask you for help.”


    William was thoroughly provoked. The fury bubbling inside him nearly burst out.


    “Fine! Let’s see just how tough you really are!”


    He retrieved his phone from his suit pocket, opened a video, and yed it for the crowd.


    “This is the video of Rachel forcing Mr. Lloyd to sign the will!”


    On the screen, Rachel held the will in her hands while speaking to Jim. Although what she said wasn’t clear, Jim’s expression visibly grew agitated His chest heaved as his emotions rose. <i>Soon</i>, hisplexion turned red, and his body convulsed


    The shareholders erupted in fury, mming the table and yelling at Rachel.


    “What do you have to say for yourself? Look at what you did to him! He was driven to that state by you, and you still shamelessly asked him to sign the will!”


    “Even if he wasn’t your biological father, he raised you like his own! Do you really feel no gratitude at all?”