?<strong>Chapter 194:</strong>


    Belinda often puzzled over the thoughts of the arrogant people around her. Take Madonna and Ryan, for instance. Neither had climbed their socialdders with any semnce of integrity. Yet, they didn’t hesitate to relentlessly assail her with insults, as if determined to crush her beneath their scorn.


    Could it be that Madonna and Ryan thought belittling her would somehow cleanse their own tarnished reputations?


    Before Madonna could get a word in, Belinda rose swiftly, grabbed her bag, and made for the exit.


    When Madonna watched Belinda walk away, a sneer of fury contorted her features. This bitch! She refused to believe anything Belinda had just said. Madonna scoffed at the thought. How could the Thomas family extend such favors to someone who wasn’t even rted to them like Belinda? It seemed utterly absurd!


    After leaving the coffee shop, Belinda went to the parking lot and took out her phone, dialing a number.


    She said to Harold over the phone, “I won’t be home for dinner tonight, and I might note back to sleep in the rk family’s residence today. My mother is really struggling right now and needs me to be by her side.”


    A pause followed before Harold responded, “Okay, I’ll send Lucas to apany you.”


    Belinda’s eyes darted briefly, showing her hesitation, as she quickly responded, “No need for that, Harold. I can handle this on my own.”


    Harold replied gently, “Don’t say no so quickly. Seeing you and Lucas together could really cheer your mother up. Believe me.”


    “Where are you right now? I’ll send Lucas to pick you up.”


    Belinda remained quiet, digesting Harold’s words. After a brief pause, she agreed and shared her location.


    “Alright,” Harold responded before ending the call.


    Belinda put her phone away, settled into the driver’s seat of her car, and waited for Lucas to show up. It took about forty minutes before Lucas arrived.


    Belinda got into his car, and they drove off to Vera Vis.


    On the way, Belinda broke the silence. “Did this interrupt your work?”


    Lucas scoffed, shot her a quick nce, and answered sarcastically, “What if it did?”


    Belinda yfully tilted her head and said, “Then, I guess I can only say that I am sorry.”


    This coaxed a cold chuckle out of Lucas. After a brief pause, he said, his tone bing grave, “What’s going on with your mother?”


    Belinda pressed her lips together for a moment and then answered, “She’s been mistreated by my Aunt Madonna. I can only imagine how distressed she is now.”


    Lucas fell silent after her response.


    When they reached Vera Vis, Belinda authenticated her entry with a fingerprint scan. The house stood in darkness, not a single light glowing. She turned on the lights in the living room but didn’t find Holley there.


    Concerned, Belinda proceeded to Holley’s bedroom, which was also engulfed in darkness. Switching on the light, she discovered a deeply troubling scene: Holley was curled up on the bed, her body shaking with silent sobs, a clear disy of deep emotional turmoil.


    “Mom,” Belinda said softly, her voice filled with concern as she sat down on the bed.


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