?<strong>Chapter 198:</strong>


    Baker’s face hardened, his voice turning cold and resolute. “The matter of Holley and the matter of Belinda are not the same. Madonna, you’re in the wrong concerning the matter with Holley. You should apologize to her.”


    Madonna folded her arms defiantly, her jaw set. “Dream on! I’ll never apologize to that despicable homewrecker!”


    “You!” Baker’s temper red, his voice rising, but he stopped himself, his fists clenched at his sides.


    Madonna, however, ignored his anger, standing her ground. The atmosphere between them grew heavier, the tension thick and unyielding as neither was willing to back down.


    After a long moment of silence, Madonna’s expression shifted slightly, as though a thought had just crossed her mind. She turned to Baker, her tone tinged with a hint of curiosity. “Baker, tell me—what exactly happened to Ryan’s family after he crossed Belinda?”


    Baker’s eyes widened slightly. He was caught off guard by the sudden question. For a moment, he seemed stunned, but then, something clicked in his mind. His expression shifted, a flicker of understanding passing through his gaze. He pressed his lips together as he considered his response.


    Baker’s tone turned sharp, his voice carrying a probing edge. “What do you mean by that? What exactly are you trying to ask?”


    Madonna let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes dramatically. “How would I know? Belinda told me toe back and ask you this,” she snapped impatiently.


    Baker tilted his head slightly, nodding as if pieces of a puzzle were falling into ce. “Looks like it’s about that matter,” he said after thinking for a while. “During one meal, Ryan…”


    He began recounting the events, his voice steady and factual, without any embellishment. He exined everything clearly, ensuring Madonna understood the entire thing.


    As his words sank in, Madonna’splexion paled noticeably. Her breathing grew shallow, and she took several uneven breaths before she muttered, her voice trembling, “No, that is impossible! Absolutely impossible!”


    Her wide, disbelieving eyes locked onto Baker’s as she continued, her voice rising with desperation, “Baker, you’re lying to me! Just so I’ll apologize to Holley, you and your daughter are teaming up to deceive me!”


    Baker’s expression didn’t waver under her usation. He met her gaze with calm resolve and replied, “If you don’t believe me, feel free to ask around yourself. This matter has been the talk of the town—plenty of people know about it.”


    Madonna was rendered momentarily at a loss for words. Her throat worked as she swallowed hard, her visible struggle betraying her internal conflict. Deep down, she knew Baker wasn’t lying. She believed he wouldn’t fabricate something of this magnitude just to make her apologize to Holley. But she just couldn’t ept that this was real.


    If what Baker had said was true, and considering how much the Thomas family valued Belinda, it wasn’t beyond reason that they would refuse to coborate with their family—or even sabotage existing partnerships.


    This realization struck Madonna like a physical blow, and her throat felt unbearably dry. Even swallowing became an effort, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her.


    Beside her, Lillie stood motionless, her shock mirroring Madonna’s. She was at a loss for words, processing the information. Who would have thought Belinda wielded such influence now?


    After a brief nce at them, Baker stood up and adjusted his jacket, his tone calm yet firm. “I’ve said all I needed to say. What you want to do next is up to you. But don’t wait until Belinda takes matters into her own hands to realize your mistakes. By then, it might be toote to apologize to her or make amends.”


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