?<strong>Chapter 316:</strong>


    As Belinda sat there, trying to process everything, her phone rang in her pocket. The name on the screen made her pause: Baker. Her brow furrowed. After a brief hesitation, she answered the call.


    “Belinda!” Baker’s furious voice boomed through the receiver. “Can’t you go a single day without stirring up trouble for me?”


    Belinda’s expression hardened. “What did I do this time?” she asked sharply.


    “Do you even know who Minna is?” Baker snapped. “Do you know the Williamson family’s status in Owathe?”


    “They rank eighth among the most influential families,” Belinda replied in a calm tone.


    Baker’s frustration only escted. “If you know that, why did you go against Miss Williamson? Do you think the Wright family can afford to provoke the Williamson family?”


    Belinda took a deep breath, her voice icy. “Did I provoke her? Or was it Minna and Macie who falsely used me of stealing? What was I supposed to do? Should I have just done nothing to prove my innocence?”


    “You have a record, Belinda!” Baker shot back. “Isn’t it normal for people to suspect you of stealing?” His words sliced through Belinda like a knife.


    Belinda’s grip on the phone tightened, but before she could respond, Baker continued, “Fine. Prove your innocence however you want. But did you really have to expose that Miss Williamson’s ne was a fake? Was it so important to show off your connection to rema’s global art director? What were you trying to prove? You humiliated Miss Williamson in front of everyone!”


    “Oh, really?” Belinda let out a cold, cuttingugh. “So, what you’re saying is that even if someone falsely uses me, I should just take it and not fight back at all, right?”


    Baker’s tone turned sharp as he retorted, “Fight back? Do you even understand your cepared to Miss Williamson? Do you think you have the right to fight back? You have offended the Williamson family and walked away like it’s no big deal. Did you ever stop to think about the consequences for our Wright family? What if the Williamson family channels all their anger toward us because of you? What are we supposed to do then? Can we even handle that?”


    His fury mounted with each word.


    Belinda, unfazed, met his tirade with calm resolve. “Then what exactly do you want me to do now?”


    “Go to the Williamson family personally and apologize to Miss Williamson!” Baker said in amanding tone.


    Belinda’s expression grew colder by the second. Internally, she sneered.


    Look at that. What a “wonderful” father she had! Even though she was the one who had been wronged and falsely used, her father wanted her to apologize to the very person responsible.


    With icy disdain, she replied, “You want me to apologize to her? You must be dreaming.”


    Baker’s voice exploded with fury. “Belinda! You will listen to me this time! If you don’t apologize to Miss Williamson, just wait and see how I’ll deal with you!”


    “Then I’ll wait and see,” Belinda said, her voice as cold as ice, before ending the call.


    Without hesitation, she blocked Baker’s number again. She now realized that unblocking Baker’s number before was a mistake.


    Setting her phone aside, she closed her eyes and took a series of deep breaths, willing herself to calm down.


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