"Seriously. Why are you doing this in public? How embarrassing!" Quinton scowled.Demetria was indignant. "I'm just mad at her. Did you hear what she just said? Isn't that inhumane?! She killed Mira, yet she's saying she didn't hurt anyone!"Quinton shot a sharp glare at Serenity. "You're out of prison now. Whether or not there's a wrongful conviction is a matter for the courts to decide. But when you talk about rights..."His eyes glowed with disdain. To him, Serenity was as weak as a worm he could trample on. "You don't have the right to talk about power in front of me," he said to her. Quinton then turned to the guards beside him and ordered, "Kick her out. Now. Also, share the photos of her with the other guards and mall management. She won't be allowed in this mall again."The security guards surrounded Serenity, one left and one right, and they forced her to get moving."M-my belongings are still on the floor." Serenity finally understood what was going on. Quinton spoke w

A dangerous gleam flashed in Quinton's eyes. "It's not hard to put someone like her back in prison. I'll just get someone to do it." Quinton spoke lightly, almost as if manipulating the fate of others was a very normal thing.Demetria's eyes lit up. She said through gritted teeth, "Let's get her a life sentence this time. I want her to stay in prison for the rest of her life!" It seemed to be the only way to ease her hatred."Well, let's do as you wish." Quinton soothed, "But don't hurt yourself thinking about Mira. Think about Jenny.""I know that very well. Jenny is our only daughter left now. Why wouldn't I think of her?" Demetria added, "It's a pity she's in love with a guy from the Shaw family. If she loved Jackson, we'd still be Jackson's parents-in-law!" Demetria said this with a shrug of resignation.Quinton reminded, "We can't have every nice thing in life. Well, Jenny... She's finally getting what she wants.""You'll have to let me have my way. I want to see Serenity go

Demetria was confused and finally noticed the grave look on Jenny's face. "Jenny? What nonsense are you talking about? Apologize? Are you telling me to apologize to Serenity? That's impossible! She's lucky I didn't smash her in the face! Why do you want me to apologize?!""You two must apologize now before it's too late!" Jenny took out her phone, but her mother took the phone away before she could ring her father."What the hell is going on? Let's get this straight." Demetria's eyes locked on Jenny.Jenny took a deep breath. "Mom, Serenity has Jackson's support. We can't afford to mess with the Valor family!"Demetria's expression changed from confusion to a look that was full of shock. "How can that be? Are you kidding me?!" "I wish I was kidding, but it's true!" Jenny rasped. "Remember Joy Shaw? Didn't you ask about her leg before? Why Joy hadn't healed for so long and how she got hurt?"Demetria's nerves tingled at the grave look on Jenny's face. She had a feeling that t

Jackson's brow furrowed as soon as he heard the news. He took the phone from Connor and played the video, his eyes cold.Jackson soon exuded an air of quiet fury. Connor knew that his boss' anger was not directed at him, but the fury in Jackson's eyes was so icy that he thought he might freeze to death.Mr. Valor's wrath could rock the whole of Solaria. Serenity was Mr. Valor's precious person, and he would never let anyone hurt Serenity. The Hall family had made their move on Ms. Lewis, humiliating her in public. Not only that but there was a video filmed and posted online."Remove this video from the internet! Don't let me see it online ever again!" Jackson ordered. "Also, find the person who took the video and get the original file deleted permanently." "Understood," Connor responded.Jackson threw the phone back at Connor. Then, he grabbed his jacket and headed out of his office.Connor did not have to ask. He knew Mr. Valor was on his way to see Ms. Lewis.Connor had been

No one answered him in the room.Jackson spun around and headed straight to his room instead. He then entered Serenity's room through the inner door that connected the two rooms.Serenity's room was dark, and the lights were off. Jackson glanced around in the semi-darkness, relying on the faint sunlight shining through the curtains. Although dim, it did not affect his vision.Jackson soon found Serenity in the corner of the room, sitting curled up. She had wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in it. She seemed like she was trying to curl into a ball.Jackson vaguely remembered seeing her hiding in a corner with a similar posture some time ago. At the thought of this, a sudden pain stabbed at him, just below his heart. The scenario from the video he had seen just moments before flashed across his mind.In the video, Serenity had gotten slapped in the face and then escorted out of the mall. The video had been recorded from a distance, too far away to hear the conver

"Don't worry. I've already had the video deleted. The video hasn't been on the internet for long. It won't resurface again," Jackson promised, his finger tracing the swollen bruise on her cheek.Serenity let out a whimper and drew in a sharp gasp.Jackson's face grew colder. "I'll get the doctor here.""It's fine. I'll get a cold compress to treat it later," Serenity refused."Don't make me worry. Let the doctor take a look at it," Jackson urged. "Alright, I’ve decided. Did the security guards at the mall hurt you? Are you hurt?""I'm fine. I didn't get hurt elsewhere," Serenity tried to play it down, not wanting Jackson to worry. "Oh, right. By the way, I-I'm visiting Granny tomorrow. I went out to get something for Granny, but I couldn't buy anything. Why don't you come shopping with me after dinner tonight?" Serenity deliberately changed the topic.Jackson gave her a deep look. A long moment later, he finally responded with a single syllable, "Sure."Just then, there was a kn

Quinton and Demetria Hall had completely lost the previous haughtiness they had displayed with Serenity when they acted as if they could easily step all over her.But now, it was their turn to be the worthless bugs!Jenny, being a professional actress, was now the one who could best conceal her real feelings among the three of them. She put on a guilty look and said, "Jackson, my parents bumped into Seren–Miss Lewis at the mall today, and they lost their temper and treated her a little too aggressively, so we came here to apologize to her and ask for her forgiveness in person."It was hard for Jenny to utter the words "Miss Lewis". After all, she had always despised that woman. Serenity was as worthless to her, yet she had to force herself to address this woman respectfully now. It felt as if her dignity was being trampled on!"Really?" asked Jackson calmly. His deep dark eyes were unfathomable. No one could tell what he was really feeling inside. "They lost their temper, huh? Why

Regardless, Quinton remained composed and hid his true feelings."That's unnecessary," Jackson said in a flat voice. "I don't think she has any desire to see you."Jenny and Demetria instantly sighed in relief. To them, not having to apologize to that woman in person would mean that they were spared a humiliating situation. After all, how could they accept being forced to apologize to a woman they regarded as nothing more than a dirty bug? Especially since she was a murderer in their eyes, and to Jenny, she was even once a love rival to her.However, Quinton did not seem to feel relieved at all. In fact, he frowned even more. An ominous premonition arose in his heart. He feared that this matter was not as simple as he thought. "In that case," said Quinton, "we won't be disturbing you anymore. It's time for us to leave."He then gave his wife a look to urge her that it was time to go. Only then did Demetria get up to get ready to leave, but they were soon interrupted by Jackson's

Demetria thought of how she had always been highly regarded in the elite circle. She had never been treated with such ridicule before."I won't let this slide," she declared. "I must teach that woman, Serenity Lewis, a lesson! She must've run to Jackson and whispered horrible things about me in his ear! He has never treated me this way before!"Demetria was determined to push all blame on Serenity."That's enough!" Quinton reminded her. "From now on, don't ever mess with Serenity Lewis again! Let it end here and now!"Demetria stared at her husband in disbelief."What?! But that woman is the murderer that killed our daughter!"A look of conflicted feelings flashed across Quinton's eyes. He turned away as if deliberately avoiding his wife's eye contact."If you don't want the whole Hall family to follow Mira into the grave, just do as I say!"Demetria seemed to have more to say, but Jenny pulled her aside and told her, "Just listen to Dad this time, Mom. At the very least, we sh

The more dependent on him she got, the more likely it was that it might slowly and gradually become a habit of hers to always rely on him...He leaned down and gently kissed her red and swollen face. The kiss was so soft and tender that it felt like a feather playfully tickling her face."Just rely on me, then," he murmured. "I want nothing more than for you to be dependent on me."How he wished that she would always depend on him so much that she could never leave him...About half an hour later, the Valor family doctor arrived at the Valor Residence. After examining the reddened bruises on Serenity's face, he prescribed some medicine to reduce the swelling.After the doctor had left, Serenity was just about to apply the medicine, but Jackson quickly snatched it before she could and said, "Let me help you.""Okay," she replied briefly.He then dipped his long fingers in the ointment and gently spread it on her face. His gentle touch was followed by the cool feeling left by the