Mr. Wayne's expression turned severe, but Julia still went on to whine petulantly, "This must be Serenity Lewis's doing! She's showing off her power! What a wicked woman! Just because Jackson Valor is interested in her now doesn't mean that she can put on airs like that..."

But Mr. Wayne's unease only grew stronger and stronger. Perhaps this matter might not resolve quite so easily as he thought.

"Dad," said Julia with a pout, "since they say they're too busy right now, let's just go home."

But just as soon as she had finished her sentence, Mr. Wayne's phone rang. He answered it and shortly after, all the color was drained from his face, and he broke out in cold sweat.

Julia was puzzled when she saw how crestfallen her father seemed after hanging up the phone, so she asked him, "What's wrong, Dad?"

As a reply, her father raised his hand and slapped her hard on the face.

"This is all your fault!" he yelled. "Because of you, our whole family is done for!"

The tax evasion scandal c