With a warm smille, Wendy said to Ang and Stanley, "No need to be so formal-it was nothing, really. Just a small favor."


    "Mommy, Mrs. Ang protected me! Let''s go visit their house and y," Be pleaded, her voice soft and childlike.


    Wendy thought for a moment. For now, she wasn''t nning to leave the Capital- she needed to wait for Horace to make good on his promise.


    Besides, Brittany wasing back soon, and Wendy was curious to meet her.


    She turned to Ang. "I''ll ke you up on that invitation."


    Stanley extended his arms. "Be,e here-let me carry you."


    However, Wendy declined firmly. "It''s okay, Mr. Hawk. I''ll carry my daughter.''


    Be blinked her big, sparkling eyes; she first nced at Wendy, then at Stanley. "But Mommy, I want Mr. Handsome to hold me."


    Wendy was speechless. After three years of raising her little girl, she hadn''t expected this sudden betrayal.


    Stanley scooped Be up effortlessly.


    Be grinned and exined, "Mommy, I''m getting bigger and heavier now. I don''t want your arms to get tired, so I want Mr. Handsome to hold me. I love you, Mommy."


    Wendy was left utterly disarmed by her daughter''s high emotional intelligence.


    Ang smiled at the charming Be. "Alright. Let''s go."


    Horace brought Jessica back to the house. In the living room,


    he stared hard at her.


    "Do you understand what you did wrong?"


    "Why do you always favor Wendy?" Jessica snapped back. "It''s because you all side with her that I had to send people to kidnap her daughter! For the past three years, while she was away, I have been behaving well! This is all Wendy''s fault- she shouldn''t even exist!"


    Horace''s anger red. "Whether it was three years ago or now, you me everything on Wendy! Have you ever once reflected on your own mistakes?"


    Jessica''s voice was cold. "I''m not wrong!"


    "How could you be so stubborn..." Horace growled.


    Jessica''s tone suddenly turned desperate. “If you don''t love me anymore, I''d rather be dead!"


    Horace was furious. "You pulled that suicide act three years ago. Don''t you ever get tired of the same tricks? Can''t youe up with something new?"


    On the way home, Jessica had already nned it out-cry, cause a scene, and threaten to kill herself-just like three years ago. She was sure it would make Horace bend to her will again.


    But Horace saw right through her, and she froze.


    Just then, Ida hurried in. "Horace, why are you arguing with Jessica? She''s your only daughter. No matter what she''s done wrong, just talk to her calmly. Don''t scold her!"


    She gentlyforted Jessica. "Your father loves you so much. He''s only harsh because he cares."


    Over the past three years, Ida had been very kind and indulgent toward Jessica. Jessica knew all too well that Ida was trying to win her favor-if Ida got close to Jessica, she might get to marry Horace.


    Horace and Jessica remained locked in tension.


    Then, a clear ringtone echoed through the room-Horace''s phone was ringing. He pulled it out, and the screen shed with the name “Brittany“.


    Brittany was calling.


    Horace answered quickly. Brittany''s voice came through, calm and firm. "Hey, I''m back in the country."


    She had returned earlier than nned.


    "Where''s my daughter?" Brittany continued. "I want to see her now. Arrange for us to meet."