Jennifer smiled at Maxwell. "I've already prepared your bath. You should head in. Was today... exhausting?"Maxwell looked at her, puzzled and slightly surprised. He was still adjusting to Jennifer's sudden change in demeanor.Sensing his thoughts, Jennifer smiled sheepishly and explained, "I thought about what you said last night, and I think... you're right."Maxwell paused. "Really?"Jennifer nodded. "Yes, I've thought it through. Maybe you're right. I should have come to you first when something like this happens. So, Maxwell, I'm ready to confess. If you believe me, help me look into it. If not, I'll let my brother keep investigating. I know she's your mother, and I understand how difficult that can be for you."Maxwell was determined. "Do you remember what I told you? I'll always stand by your side no matter what. I'll believe you as long as you're willing to talk."Jennifer huffed, unconvinced. "Liar! You didn't believe me or the kids when Cal pushed your mother."Maxwell
Jennifer awkwardly cleared her throat. Hugo's temperament was something… Jennifer worried that any girl who ended up with Hugo might face a rough time."Alright, you don't need to worry about my brother's love life." Jennifer pushed Maxwell. "Go take a shower already. You're so annoying!"Maxwell cupped her face and kissed her before heading to the bathroom. He realized that while Camila's actions might stir his anger, they no longer broke his heart. Only Jennifer's emotions truly affected him. Now that they had cleared up their misunderstandings, he felt a weight off his chest. As for Camila... He was disappointed.Before bed that night, Maxwell went to check on Caleb. Caleb had been avoiding Maxwell for days out of guilt."Daddy..." Caleb looked up at Maxwell, nervous that Maxwell might be here to punish him.Maxwell recalled Jennifer's words. If they were true, then Camila's behavior was deeply unsettling. Encouraging Cassidy to harm Jennifer seemed like something she would do.
Maxwell gently placed Cassidy on the bed. He felt guilty. "Cass, I'm not here to blame you, so don't be scared."Cassidy backed away. "So, you're taking me to see a psychologist?""No," Maxwell replied softly. "I'm here to apologize. I didn't investigate thoroughly before and almost wronged you. Can you forgive me?"Cassidy looked confused and asked in disbelief, "You... really don't blame me anymore?"Maxwell sighed. "Although this incident wasn't your fault, you shouldn't have kept secrets from Mommy and me and let your imagination run wild. Do you not trust us? How could we ever abandon you?"Cassidy felt guilty. "Mommy already scolded me. I... I won't trust Grandma again. I only trust you and Mommy, and also Cal."Maxwell kissed his daughter's cheek and smiled. "That's right. Now go to sleep. I will take you and Cal to school tomorrow."Cassidy tilted her head at him. "So, are you and Mommy back together? You're not fighting anymore?"Maxwell chuckled. "Have we ever fought
Jennifer immediately opened her phone and saw the trending topic on Twitter. "Famous doctor at Haven Hospital abuses mother-in-law!" She stared blankly at the news. What was even more infuriating was the comments slandering Jennifer. They were all Camila's friends. After all, these women were prominent figures in Haven and their verified accounts added credibility.Just then, a group of reporters burst into the office. "Susan is here, everyone come quickly!" one reporter shouted, causing a swarm of reporters to rush in.Jennifer was no stranger to such scenes. She turned to a nearby nurse. "Please call security and inform them the reporters are disrupting the place."Just then, the reporters began with their questions."Dr. Susan, what was your husband Maxwell's response when you were abusing your mother-in-law?" "Dr. Susan, could you really be a kind doctor if you're abusing your mother-in-law back home?" Jennifer didn't answer any of their questions. Instead, she picked u
"Thank you, Dr. Gardner. Your trust is all I need," Jennifer said. Preston left after that.Not long after, Maxwell called her, sounding anxious and worried. "Jennifer, are you okay? I just finished a meeting and saw the news online. Don't be afraid. I'll clean up this mess as soon as possible. I'm going back to confront my mom right now.""Could you pick me up on your way back?" Jennifer sighed helplessly. "The hospital told me to take maternity leave early, which, to put it bluntly, means I've been suspended."There was a moment of silence on the other end before he mumbled, "Jennifer, I'm sorry.""I'm not blaming you. You're your own person." With that, Jennifer hung up.Half an hour later, Maxwell arrived at her hospital and took her home. Upon arriving home, they found that the women who had been slandering Jennifer were all there. Camila was surrounded by them, appearing as if she had been wronged.Maxwell walked in with Jennifer, his face red with anger. He didn't car
Fiona's words gave these women their confidence, and they regained their calm. They turned to Camila. "Camila, we'll head back for now. If anyone else bullies you, just give us a call! We won't believe that an ungrateful daughter-in-law can get the better of us!" They left after that. The living room finally fell silent.Jennifer turned to Maxwell. "Do you see your mom's true colors now?"Maxwell was filled with disappointment and anger. If Camila weren't his mother, he would have thrown her out by now! Having reached this point, he completely understood Camila's true nature. Even without finding Madison, he realized how evil Camila truly was. He shouldn't have just sent her to the countryside but straight to prison instead.Maxwell suppressed his anger. "Jennifer and I have given you enough chances. We even brought you back home, wanting to let the past go. But you didn't cherish that chance. Do you think I have no way to deal with you?"Camila dropped the pretense, leaning ba
Despite Maxwell's fury, Camila didn't show the slightest sign of fear. Instead, she raised her voice and declared, "Go ahead, try it! If I suffer even a bit more, let's see if the media lets you off the hook."And don't think Mrs. Inkling, Mrs. Moore, and Mrs. Patterson will sit back and do nothing. They'll make sure I get justice!"Maxwell sneered, nodding. "So, that's your goal, isn't it? Getting others to do your dirty work? You've certainly gotten good at it."By then, the bodyguards had arrived, waiting for his command.Maxwell understood that the public's outrage hadn't subsided, and any retaliation against Camila now would only make things worse for Jennifer. It would be as if he had stood by, blinded by love, while she mistreated her mother-in-law.It took every ounce of his self-control to hold back the burning urge to end Camila once and for all. Noticing his hesitation, Camila knew she had won. She had bet on the right outcome!A triumphant smile played on her lips.
Simon was exasperated. "When have I ever pushed back against you?" he asked."Just look at that bitch you've been seeing!" Fiona huffed. "How many times have I told you to cut ties with her? But did you listen?"This whole mess with the Lances has made one thing clear to me. You should never pick a wife from an unknown family! Just look at Jennifer! What kind of upbringing does she have? She even has the nerve to mistreat her mother-in-law."And that woman you're involved with? She's just as bad. If you marry her, I'll end up like Camila! Hailey is the right choice. She's a proper, educated woman from a respectable family. She would never stoop to such disgraceful behavior!"Simon didn't want Fiona to keep bringing Laura up. So, he replied, "How does this have anything to do with what we're actually dealing with? Aren't we discussing your lawsuit? Do you even want to resolve it?"Only then did Fiona remember why she had summoned her son home. If he weren't the most renowned lawyer
Simon finally looked up from his computer screen and gave Alex a stern look. "Do you not understand what I said, or do you have nothing better to do? Should I assign you more tasks?""No… No need for that! I'll leave now." After being scolded, Alex left the office dejectedly. Britney was still waiting downstairs. Seeing him come out, she rushed up eagerly. "So? How did it go?"Alex scratched his head and forced a smile. "Mr. Moore said… Ms. Scott needs to come in person." Britney sighed, disappointment written all over her face. "I knew it!" Alex was about to console her when she suddenly broke into a bright smile. "Still, coming here today wasn't a total waste. At least I ran into my high school classmate and got your number!"She winked at him playfully and added, "We're both from out of town. So, we've got to look out for each other!"Alex was flustered and nodded. "Of course!""Well, I'll get going then. Let's keep in touch!" Britney shrugged off the rejection. Althou
Britney hesitated but finally gave in. "Fine, I'll give it a try." … With Laura's task weighing heavily on her shoulders, Britney set off for Valor Law Firm solemnly.As expected, it turned out exactly as she had imagined. She was turned away almost immediately.She recalled the last time she had come here with Laura. Back then, Laura had also waited for a long time. Determined to ace the interview, Britney decided to stick around and wait. Surely Simon would meet her, considering how she always supported him and Laura and had even tipped him off before. "Britney!" A voice suddenly called out. Britney turned around and her eyes lit up with surprise. "Alex? What are you doing here?" Britney added, "I had some business here. Wow, you've changed so much since high school! Do you work here? Everyone here looks so formal in their suits.""Yes, I work here." Alex was happy to see a classmate. "Are you here because of some trouble? Do you need a lawyer?"Britney explaine
After leaving Simon's office, Laura headed straight to the studio. The workday had ended when she arrived, and all her colleagues had left. Laura sat at her desk, turned on her computer, and began writing down everything she had seen and heard today. With her fingers furiously typing away, she poured out the full story of Brooks Group's workplace incident. Whether it was out of anger or agitation, the keyboard clattered loudly beneath her hands.In just 20 minutes, she had completed a full article. As she typed the last word, she began to calm down. Looking at the article that was filled with sympathy for Nick's family and criticism of Brooks Group, Laura realized she was betraying her journalistic integrity.She hesitated before deleting the draft. After all, she was a reporter. She shouldn't bring her personal feelings into her work. This article contained too much of her own bias. Such a news piece would be unprofessional. Laura sighed. She checked her phone but ther
Laura had to accept reality. Simon feigned nonchalance. "Wait for me. I have some work to finish, and then I'll take you out for dinner, alright?"Laura sat quietly on the couch nearby, listening to the sound of him typing on his computer. Her heart tightened.Her mind replayed the events of how she and Britney had gone to interview the victim's parents. Their cries echoed in her ears as did Simon's conversation with William. Finally, Laura walked over to him. "The work you're handling... Is it related to Brooks Group?" Simon paused and looked at her. "How do you know about this case?" Laura replied truthfully, "My boss assigned me to interview the victims. I... I just visited the family this afternoon and got back from the countryside not long ago.""I see." Simon didn't think much of it and even teased, "Well, it looks like we might see each other more often now. You could say we're mixing business with pleasure." Laura wasn't in the mood to joke. "Are you going to
But it seemed like Simon was slowly warming up, though Laura couldn't tell if it was just her imagination. Laura tapped Britney on the back of her head. "What are you daydreaming about?"Britney answered solemnly, "I'm worried about you, Laura! Let's check things out at Valor Law Firm tomorrow, okay? After all, each side has its own version of the story. Maybe Mr. Moore will have a completely different explanation tomorrow." Laura felt a sense of unease. When they reached the city center, she got out of the car. "Go back to the studio on your own. I... I need to take a walk." Britney knew Laura was planning to see Simon to clarify things. So, she didn't press the matter and drove off.Laura headed straight to Valor Law Firm. The receptionist saw her and asked, "Do you have an appointment, Ms. Scott? Mr. Moore is currently in a meeting.""It's fine. I'll just wait for him here." Laura had just sat down when she noticed Alex coming in. Alex walked over eagerly. "Are y
Laura spent the entire morning investigating the Brooks Group's construction site incident and the people involved.In the afternoon, she took Britney and visited the victim's family.The family lived in a remote rural area and looked poor. When they heard Laura was a journalist from a well-known studio, the victim's family members broke into tears. "Please, you must stand up for us!"These were ordinary people with no way of beating influential figures. Having someone to speak for them filled them with gratitude. Laura quickly helped the victim's grieving parents to their feet. The deceased worker, Nick Klaus, was only 20 years old. His parents were in their early 40s, yet their hair had turned completely white, and their wrinkles made them look much older.Laura couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness, while Britney looked like she was about to cry from sympathy.The victim's father cried, "Those bastards at Brooks Group are so heartless! It was their fault for not ensuri
Laura sighed to herself. She just needed to coordinate with Simon to get the news. Why did Joseph make it sound like such a difficult task?She promised, "Don't worry, Mr. Zone. Our News Department has coordinated with Valor Law Firm before, and we've done quite a few exclusive interviews with Mr. Moore. This shouldn't be a problem."Joseph smiled. "You're good at keeping work and personal life separate, but I haven't finished yet. The reason we're focusing on this news piece is because the family of the deceased worker is suing Brooks Group for insufficient safety measures. Plus, the workers at the site are agitated. The company is unwilling to pay compensation and hired a lawyer to minimize the settlement. The family of the deceased refuses to accept the proposed 200 thousand dollars as compensation. Both sides are at a stalemate." "200 thousand dollars?" Laura was stunned. "A human life, and they're offering only that little?" Joseph nodded. "Even you're outraged. That's why
"Simon Moore!" Laura had enough and huffed. "I never thought you were so frivolous! I know I can't stop you, nor do I have the right to. But can you leave me out of it? I don't want to watch you guys mess around!" Simon's voice was low and husky. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you. I thought since Joseph is your superior, it might be good to introduce you two so he would go easier on you at work. I didn't expect to upset you." Laura shot him a gloomy look. "Do you wish I was more like those two hostesses? What did you guys even do after I left?" Simon couldn't help but laugh. Her jealousy pleased him.His tone softened. "I could go to any club if I wanted women like that. Why would I need you?"Laura snorted. "Who knows what you and Joseph used to do together? Only a fool would believe you!"Simon knew that she was just upset. He ruffled her hair and explained, "Joseph wasn't always like this. He was hurt by a woman, and... He became cynical and stubborn after. He's bee
Laura's expression turned unpleasant after hearing the rules. She quickly turned to Simon.Did this mean they always played games like these when Joseph visited? The thought of Simon being with hostesses in her absence disgusted Laura. Joseph chimed in, "Come on, Simon! Let's play a few rounds, then we'll eat! I rarely get to visit Haven City, so you have to party with me until I'm satisfied!" The two hostesses by his side set a pair of dice on the table. They smiled flirtatiously. "Let's just play the dice game. If Mr. Zone loses, we'll take something off. If Mr. Moore loses, then…" Simon cut them off. "Laura doesn't play these kinds of games, and she won't." One of the hostesses rolled her eyes. "Isn't this the most basic game in any club?" Simon's expression darkened. Noticing his mood, Joseph quickly shot the hostess a look, signaling her to stop talking. Then, he tried to lighten the awkward atmosphere with a laugh. "Simon, are you keeping things solid at hom