Kevin’s face darkened with anger, a storm brewing in his gaze.


    Evelina approached, linking arms with ra and sighed heavily, “Mom, Dad, let it go. Lizetta has long


    moved past our childhood memories. If it weren’t for trying to defend her honor, Remington wouldn’t


    have gone to such lengths against our Hawthorne family. It’s clear she never intended to help from the


    start.


    But don’t worry, I won’t let our family fall. I’ve managed to secure a meeting with Mr. Grover from


    Crestview Trust through some connections. I’m certain I can persuade him to extend a loan to us


    tonight, Evelina was exaggerating, trying to stir the pot.


    Kevin, already stressed from trying to secure funding, erupted in fury and swung at Lizetta. “You’re


    ying us! We wasted our affection on you as a child”


    Lizetta hadn’t anticipated the physical lunge and was caught off guard at the moment. The blow was


    imminent.


    But the expected pain never arrived. Ynda, hearing the dispute from the room, rushed out just in


    time to grab Kevin’s wrist.


    “Ow! Let go!”


    Ynda’s grip was iron–tight, eliciting a cry of pain from Kevin


    Holding his wrist, she pushed him aside, stepping in front of Lizetta with a mocking sneer, “Dare to


    bring up Liz’s childhood? Why not mention how theartlessly you abandoned her?


    Now, Evelina is your precious daughter, and the Hawthome Group is hers to inherit. What does that


    have


    to do with Liz?


    Want Liz to take care of it? Fine, draft a will making Liz the primary heir Otherwise, drop the guilt


    tripprig


    Let me tell you, I’ve got zero tolerance for jerks. Liz might respect you enough not to retaliate, but I


    don’t share that restraint. Try anything like this agais, and I dislocate your armi


    After a few shoves, Ynda finally released Kewis, who stumbled into a wall, his face a mask of livid


    embarrassment.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Ynda turned to approach Lizetta, but Evelling, seizing the moment, grabbed a bowl of hot soup from


    a passing waiter and threw it at Ynda


    “Yoli, watch out!”


    Lizetta, in shock, pushed Ynda out of the way. Most of the soup had been sshed on Lizetta’s


    sleeve, the scalding liquid trickling down


    *Liz


    Ynda was horrified and quickly helped Lizetta remove her jacket. Thankfully, Lizetta’s water resistant


    down jacket spared her from worse harm, leaving only a small burn on her hand.


    “Evelina!”


    Vnda red at Evelina, who smirked at Lizetta, “Lizetta, remember when you spilled coffee on me?


    Consider this payback”


    Lizetta had previously promised her parents she’d help, but her sudden refusal must have been


    influenced by Ste. Perhaps she and Remington had another fallout.


    If she couldn’t have the man, why should Lizetta, the pretend heiress, stand a chance? What was she?


    Feeling a twisted satisfaction, Evelina linked arms with ra and Kevin, heading towards the front


    room.


    Ynda was furious, but Lizetta’s burn was the immediate concern. She hurried Lizetta into the


    restroom, running cold water over the reddened hand.


    “Evelina’s lost it! Does it hurt a lot?” Ynda was frantic with worry.


    Lizetta shook her head, about to reply when a familiar voice rang out, “Did she get burned? I have


    some burn ointment right here; please, apply it for her.”


    Lizetta turned to see a woman of elegant beauty and gentle demeanor. She offered a tube of ointment


    to Ynda from her purse.


    Draped over the woman’s arm was a dark gray men’s cashmere coat. Lizetta recognized it as the one


    Remington had worn when he left that morning.


    Her breath caught, the stinging burn on her hand now seemingly spreading to her heart. What a


    coincidence, to run into her rival in such a disheveled state.


    It was Ste. There, with Ste likely meant Remington wasn’t far behind, especially since his coat was


    in her possession.