Andre nodded. "I understand. I know what I need to do."


    "Good," Emerald replied.


    "I have other matters to attend to, so I won''t take up any more of your time. See you tomorrow," Andre said, excusing himself.


    "Alright, I''ll have Filipe see you out," Emerald answered.


    After Andre left, Emerald returned to her desk and called for a maid. "Tell N toe to the study."


    N had just returned to her room when a maid informed her that Emerald wanted to see her. Her expression immediately darkened with frustration.


    When she arrived at Emerald''s study, she didn''t bother hiding her irritation-every bit of her dissatisfaction was written inly on her face.


    Emerald ignored it and said calmly, "I heard from Andre that you kept dozing off during your lesson today."


    N frowned. "Is that why you called me here?"


    "You just need to answer the question, not ask your own," Emerald shot back.


    N resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes. But there are two reasons for that. One, you had the service staff wake me up way too early. And two, I''m just not interested in business."


    "If waking up early is a problem, then go to bed earlier. And if you''re not interested, find a way to make yourself interested. No one here is going to cater to you," Emerald retorted.


    N scoffed. "I never expected you to, and I stopped having any hopes for you a long time ago."


    Emerald nodded as if in agreement. "Good. Since you know that, then do as you''re told andplete whatever tasks I assign to you."


    "Don''t worry. I''ll y my role well as your pawn. But if you darey a hand on anyone I care about, then don''t me me for turning from a pawn into a sword," N warned.


    With that, she turned and walked out.


    As she was heading back to her room, Delia suddenly blocked her at the corner of the hallway.


    Delia red at her. "The person teaching you today was Andre?!"


    Seeing the jealousy in Delia''s eyes, N raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Why? Do you know him?"


    "I''m you-stay away f


    him! If catch you trying to seduce


    him I won''t let you off. Delia hissed


    N smirked. "Oh, so you like him?"


    "Shut up!" Delia frantically nced around, ensuring no one else was nearby before ring at her again. "I''m serious! Don''t even think about it-he would never be interested in someone like you!"


    "Someone like me?" N echoed.


    "Yeah! A shameless woman who''s already been married and even has a bastard child!" Delia spat.


    N''s gaze instantly turned ice-cold.


    Before Delia could react, N raised her hand and pped her across the face.


    A sharp, echoing p filled the hallway.


    Delia clutched her stinging cheek, staring at her in shock. "Y-You actually hit me?! How dare you?!"


    She lunged forward, trying to p


    N back, but before she could ret


    x grip.  t


    her, N caught her wri


    firm


    "If I ever hear you insult my son again, I will p you every single time," N threatened coldly.


    Delia struggled to break free, but N''s grip was stronger. Humiliation and fury burned in her eyes.


    "So what if I insult him? Am I wrong? Your son is just a filthy little bastard!"