“Ugh!” A piercing scream tore from Westley’s throat as he hit the floor and failed to get back up.

Shock locked Gia in place as she stared at Adah. “Y-you…”

A cold laugh slipped from Adah. “Think carefully before you speak. Every lie earns your son another punishment. I can keep going until you decide to tell the truth.”

“This…” Panic seized Gia as the word caught in her throat.

Every scrap of wealth the family currently possessed had been generated by Adah’s mother, and even the villa beneath their feet had been bought with her money.

To Gia, giving everything Adah’s mother owned back to Adah felt no different from cutting away part of herself. Refusal, however, carried its own terror. Gia truly believed Adah would beat Westley until he was dead, since the woman showed no hesitation or mercy when she struck.

Westley himself refused to even consider surrendering what he already claimed as his. He clung to that fortune like his life depended on it, and he would sooner die than give it up. Anger and fear pushed him to yell at Adah, “We live under the rule of law! If you maim me or kill me, you think you’ll just walk away?”

“Exactly! Call the police!” Kimberly felt as though she had grasped a lifeline. She grabbed her phone, fingers poised to dial.

At that moment, Allan entered the room, moving with unhurried, composed steps.

Tailored in a sharp smoke-gray suit, Allan cut a striking figure that highlighted his height and refined build. The moment he appeared, the atmosphere shifted, and the room seemed to brighten, much like it had when Adah first arrived.

His eyes moved from the unconscious bodyguards scattered across the floor to the visibly shaken Norris family. Feigning confusion, he asked, “What happened here?”

Until today, Allan had never once stepped inside the Norris residence. He existed far beyond their social reach, someone they could never hope to impress or associate with. If not for Adah’s engagement, the Shaw and Norris families would have remained strangers forever.

Because of that, Allan’s appearance caught the Norris family completely off guard, leaving them equal parts honored and rattled.

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Unable to contain herself, Gia hurried forward with a flattering smile. “Allan, what brings you to our home?”

Kimberly cut in before Allan could answer, her tone filled with hopeful anticipation. “Are you here for Rowena?”

The idea instantly resonated with Gia and Westley. In their minds, it fit perfectly. Excitement rushed through Rowena’s chest.

After all, gossip claimed that Allan despised Adah and had already broken off the engagement, so there was no reason for him to be here for Adah. If Adah was out of the picture, then Rowena was the obvious choice. No one else in the Norris family could possibly attract someone of Allan’s standing.

Rowena took a step toward Allan but then abruptly stopped when she remembered her crooked nose and dislocated jaw. Panic surged, and she turned around and fled upstairs without another word. There was no way she would let Allan see her like this. She needed a doctor, and she needed one immediately.

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