The media conference had been aplete disaster for them.


    Lilian immediately said, "Wendy, I''m sorry. I misunderstood you earlier. Let me exin. I had no idea..."


    Wendy turned to look at her. "Are you sure about that?"


    At that moment, a police officer stepped forward and addressed Lilian. "Lilian Landon, you hid and assisted George during his escape. We reasonably suspect that you are an aplice. Pleasee with us for questioning


    Two officers grabbed Lilian by the arms.


    Her head buzzed. She remembered that, when George escaped, she had indeed sheltered him.


    Lilian stared at Wendy in disbelief. "You''re behind this?"


    Wendy had arranged for Zayn to release George, knowing all along that he would try to approach the Crone family.


    Wendy looked at Lilian innocently, a slow, almost knowing smile creeping across her face. "I don''t understand what you''re talking about. Mom, you don''t need to exin to me. You should go exin yourself to the authorities."


    Lilian was left speechless. "You little..."


    At that moment, George, being dragged away, cried out in desperation, "I don''t want to go to prison! Mrs. Crone, help me! Please, help me!"


    Everyone''s gaze immediately shifted to Lilian as whispers filled the air.


    Her "good mother" image was about to shatter.


    Lilian''s face drained of color. "Shut up! Someone make him shut up!"


    The reporters began to murmur, "That scoundrel, George, was imprisoned ten years ago for child molestation. How could Mrs. Crone not know about that?"


    "She knew and still kept associating with a guy who hurt her own daughter... What kind of mother is this?"


    "I heard Mrs. Crone''s just an old, desperate woman, crawling after Harry and then after Jessica."


    Lilian''s face twisted in fury. She hated beingbeled like that-absolutely hated it.


    "No! That''s not true!"


    She tried to say more, but the officers quickly grabbed her, one on each side, and began dragging her away. Jessica stood frozen, her mind racing. She was in a panic. What was happening? What was she supposed to do? t they This media conference had backfired in the worst possible way. They were trying to tear Wendy dowr ended up destroying their reputation.


    "Mom!"


    Jessica tried to call out to Lilian, but as the crowd turned to stare, her voice caught in her throat, She immediately fell silent.


    The most confused person in the room was Benny. He could barelyprehend what was happening.


    Then, he noticed a pair of clear, striking eyes staring at him—it was Wendy.


    Actually, Benny felt a little guilty. He hadn''t known about the things Wendy had gone through.


    Right then, Wendy approached him, her voice calm and casual. "Mr. Gondale, are you hungry?"


    What?


    Benny was taken aback by her strange question.


    A momentter, Wendy smiled and added, "If you''re thirsty, you should eat some walnuts. It''s good for your brain.


    And with that, she walked away.


    "Pfft."


    Cecelia let out a quietugh before following Wendy.


    Benny, now snapping back to reality, blinked in confusion. She wanted him to eat some walnuts for his brain? Did she really think he was that much of an idiot?


    Any trace of guilt disappeared as if it had never been there. Benny was now seething with rage. "Wendy, get back here and exin yourself!"


    Just then, Jessica approached him. She couldn''t afford to lose Benny now. She said in a pitiful tone, "Benny, I don''t know how this happened. How could George be such a monster?"


    Benny looked at her, his face dark with disdain. "Don''t talk about that scum. He won''t being out again—he''ll die in there. Jessica, don''t me yourself. You''re beautiful and kind-hearted-he fooled you with his facade."