Leo''s expression changed in an instant, his brow furrowing deeply.


    "So you''re that scumbag?"


    Furious, Leo reached for the te of food to take it back. Seeing this, Soren quickly added, "...''s friend."


    "A friend of his is probably no better," Leo retorted. "No wonder Theresa hates you so much."


    Desperate, Soren rushed to exin, "I know him, but we rarely see each other." “We''re all in the same social circle, so it''s normal for our paths to cross, right?" Hearing that, Leo''s anger subsided slightly.


    He ced the food back down.


    Soren felt a wave of helplessness. Back in Serenity City, people would kill for a chance to meet him or be associated with him. He never thought he''d see the day he was despised like this.


    After a moment, Soren added, "But his character probably isn''t as bad as you make it out to be. I can guarantee he''s never done anything like bullying."


    Seeing his adamant expression, Leo, who normally wouldn''t meddle so much in others'' affairs, decided to borate. After all, Soren had told him about Theresa, and he seemed genuinely unable to understand.


    He snorted coldly and exined, "Sometimes you don''t have to actively lead the charge. His status does the work for him."


    "As the husband, when he mistreats his own wife, he''s basically telling everyone else that it''s eptable. When other family members see that, they think if the husband himself is doing it, then they can too."


    Soren wanted to argue, but Leo continued, "If you don''t believe me, think about it. How did his family treat Evangeline?"


    "The moment the first person in the family started bullying her, everyone else, no matter how well they acted, looked down on her in their hearts."


    Leo''s words hit Soren like a ton of bricks. He was stunned, frozen in ce.


    He thought of Flora.


    Flora was rtively simple-minded and had never hidden her disdain for Evangeline in his presence.


    He had never thought anything of it before.


    But now, after hearing Leo''s


    exnation and remembering the attitude of his own mother, Helena, towards Evangeline that he''d seen on his


    afe on one, it was as if something


    finally clicked.


    Soren said nothing, but Leo was getting more and more worked up,unching into another tirade against the "scumbag."


    "It''s normal for couples to fight, even


    to dislike each other. But my mom always taught me that no matter how much you argue at home, you never, ever disrespect your partner


    in front of others."


    "You are thepany you keep. My advice? Stay far away from a friend like that."


    “Besides, listen to your wife, and you''ll have a good life."


    Just then, Theresa''s voice called out from a distance.


    Seeing his cue, Leo didn''t linger. He whispered to Soren, "The kitchen will be empty tonight. Just leave the bowl and utensils there. You can crash in the kitchen for the night. Tilse get you in the morning."


    Then Leo left, taking a roundabout path back to his room, leaving Soren alone in the dark.


    Soren''s chest felt like it was stuffed with cotton, a heavy, suffocating weight.


    In the past, if anyone had dared to speak to him like that, he would have assumed


    they''d been paid off by Evangeline to nder his family.


    But now, he had experienced for himself what it was like to be unceremoniously cast out by Theresa.


    He felt like a rootless weed, adrift and filled with anxious uncertainty.


    Theresa''s dislike for him mirrored the Fawkes family''s contempt for Evangeline.


    And he was only in this situation temporarily, brought low by circumstance. In reality, he still had the entire Fawkes family backing him.