Chapter: 192

Rising from her desk, Maddie walked towards her, her heels clicking on the floor, her red lips curving slightly.

"Technically, that was our second encounter."

Bethany listened carefully.

"I saw you back in high school, working at a fast-food place after school. I found out about you from Dad's phone and decided to see you for myself," Maddie said, her fingers lightly touching Bethany's shoulder as she recounted the past with a detached air. "You were so frail and undernourished then. Do you have any idea how that delighted me?"

Bethany clenched her fists, her eyes boring into Maddie's. "You and your mother are the only ones brazen enough to be mistresses!"

"What do you mean by mistress? Have you ever felt a father's love? Has he ever shown any care for you or your mother?" Maddie scoffed.

“He tried to divorce your mother many times, even resorting to legal action, but she wouldn't consent. Honestly, as a woman, it's pitiful to see someone so desperate to hold on to a marriage certificate."

“and I pity your mother, for living her life known only as a mistress."

That hit a nerve with Maddie.

She raised her hand to strike Bethany, but this time Bethany was ready.

She caught Maddie's wrist and pushed her forcefully, causing her to fall hard to the floor.

Maddie, still recovering from surgery, screamed in pain.

At that moment, the office door flew open.

Jonathan entered, his expression dark and troubled.

“Bethany, what are you doing here?"

Before Bethany could react, Maddie winced in pain and reached out towards Jonathan.

“Jonathan, help me... I'm... bleeding.."

Maddie was drenched in a frightening amount of blood-a startling sight.

Jonathan dialed for an ambulance, moved towards Maddie, picked her up, and quickly exited the office.

He said nothing to Bethany, nor did he even look her way.

After they departed, Maddie's assistant burst in. She surveyed the blood-stained floor and then turned to Bethany, clearly confused.

“What happened here? Is this a crime scene?" she asked.

Bethany hadn't expected her self-defense to escalate into such a grave situation.

It was Maddie who had first tried to attack her.