N struck Delia across the face again, leaving a bright red handprint on her other cheek.


    Delia''s eyes burned with fury as she struggled, screaming loud enough to attract the attention of the service staff.


    When the maids saw the two of them grappling in the hallway-especially with Delia clearly at a disadvantage-they looked rmed.


    One immediately ran off to inform Emerald.


    Emerald''s face darkened when she heard that N and Delia were fighting in the corridor. She got up from her chair and strode toward the door.


    From a distance, she could already see the two of them locked in a chaotic struggle.


    Her eyes shed with anger as she snapped at the maids nearby, "What are you standing around for? Separate them immediately!"


    Snapped out of their daze, the maids rushed forward to pull them apart.


    Delia looked utterly disheveled her hair a mess, her clothes rumpled, and both cheeks marked with vivid red ps. She red at N with unmasked hatred. When Delia saw Emerald, tears immediately welled up in her eyes.


    With a pitiful sob, she whimpered, "Mom... she hit me!"


    Emerald''s gaze swept over Delia''s miserable state beforending on N, who— aside from slightly tousled hair-lookedpletely unharmed.


    Her expression turned cold. "Why did youy hands on your sister?!"


    N let out a softugh. "Ms. Kinsey, I don''t recall having a sister who calls my son a bastard."


    Emerald frowned and turned to Delia, her gaze sharp. "Did you really say that?"


    Delia shook her head frantically, tears still streaming. "Mom, no! She''s lying! I never said that "


    "If you didn''t, then you didn''t," Emerald said sternly. "Now wipe those tears away. You''re a grown woman—stop sniveling like a child."


    She then turned back to N, her expression even icier. "You not only attacked your sister but now you''re lying to my face? Truly, you have no sense of decency!"  fo


    N let out a coldugh. "Oh, so when I say something, you don''t believe me. But when Delia dentes, it, youake her word without question What a wonderful mother you are to her"


    Her mocking tone only fueled Emerald''s anger.


    She turned to the maids and ordered, "Lock her in the attic. No food, no water. She


    doesn''te out until I say so."


    "Yes, Madam," the maids answered.


    Behind Emerald, Delia shot N a


    smug, triumphant look, as if


    mocking her foolishness Between. the two of them, their motherwould


    always take her side-never N.


    N had long since given up expecting anything from Emerald, so there was no disappointment, only indifference.


    Soon, the maids led N away.


    Just as Delia was about to leave as well, Emerald stopped her. "Come to my study."


    Upon seeing her mother''s serious expression, Delia''s heart began to pound.


    Could she have guessed the truth?


    Nervously, she followed Emerald into the study. As soon as the door closed behind them, Emerald''s palmnded hard on her face.


    This was different from when N had hit her in anger.


    This time, Delia simply stared at her mother in shock, unable to process what had just happened. Tears welled up again.


    "Mom..." she whimpered.


    "Shut up! How could I have raised such an idiot?" Emerald snapped.


    Delia bit her lip and lowered her head, her voice trembling. "Mom, I''m sorry..."


    Emerald took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. "Do you know why I hit you?"