Chapter 692
Chapter 692:
Cindy’s face drained of color.
She forced a fragile smile. “Uncle Matthew? What are you doing here p>
Matthew had come with a single purpose: to apologize to Gabriela.
A few curt words over the phone would never suffice; his presence was needed.
He had lingered outside her office, waiting patiently while Gabriela wrapped up her meeting. Their conversation had barely begun when Cindy’s sharp voice cut through from outside. Matthew’s expression darkened. “Cindy, who asked you to come here p>
Fear tightened around Cindy’s chest. She couldn’t betray Rebecca, yet she also dreaded Matthew’s wrath. So she lowered her gaze and stayed silent.
Gabriela, however, remained a calm anchor amid the tension. Her expression was neutral, and her voice steady. “Mr. Howard, whatever you wish to discuss with me, please take her away first p>
Matthew’s shoulders slumped, shame flooding him. “I’m sorry, Gabriela. I’ll take care of this p>
Matthew then escorted Cindy back to the Howard Estate.
𝗧𝗋𝗲𝗻𝖽𝗂𝘯𝗀 𝗻𝘰𝘃еlѕ о𝗻.со𝘮
Beverley, having heard Matthew’s account, immediately understood who had sent Cindy to stir up trouble at Gabriela’s company. Rebecca, naturally.
Yet with Lauren already under repeated scrutiny, Beverley had no intention of punishing Rebecca for now. The girl had been living in constant fear lately, and Beverley felt a faint trace of sympathy.
Cindy, however, the foolish pawn, could not go unpunished.
Beverley’s gaze turned icy. “Alberto, make her stand in the sun without pause for two hours. No water p>
The midday sun blazed mercilessly. Two hours under its glare would be pure torment, though not fatal.
Cindy’s face twisted with misery as she fell to her knees. “Mrs. Howard, I was wrong. I won’t dare cause trouble for Gabriela again. Please, forgive me p>
Beverley opened her eyes slowly, her voice steady yet razor-sharp. “What made you think I would allow a distant relative to treat my own granddaughter like that? If I let you go unpunished, others will believe they can do the same p>
She could pick on Gabriela, but others could not.
This punishment was as much a lesson for Cindy as it was a quiet declaration to her son: boundaries were set, firm yet calculated, giving both sides a chance to retreat without losing face.
With no choice but to comply, Cindy trudged toward the courtyard, shoulders slumped under the sun’s merciless glare.
Meanwhile, Lauren endured yet another round of questioning.
This was her third session in as many days. Without the protection of the Howard family’s lawyers, their guarantees, and their ability to post bail, she would likely already be in detention.
The shame was suffocating.
Fury simmered beneath her skin. The moment she stepped out of the interrogation room, she stormed back to the McCoy residence, eager to vent her outrage to her parents.
“Mom, Dad, I can’t take this anymore! That shameless Gabriela struts around, acting fearless just because Matthew stands behind her. I don’t want to go to prison. You must help me p>
Herman had always spoiled his only daughter. If he hadn’t, he would never have stooped to schemes years ago to push her into the Howard family.
Now, with evidence he had hidden for more than a decade, he went straight to the Howard Estate to threaten Beverley.
In his hands was proof that, during the Howard family’s takeover of a project, high-grade materials had been quietly swapped for cheaper substitutes.
His face was solemn, his evidence undeniable.
“Beverley,” he said with deliberate care. “I know Lauren’s behavior in the past was excessive. And now, with her and Matthew at odds, even talking about divorce, I cannot blame him. But even if our families are no longer tied through marriage, surely it is wiser not to turn into enemies, wouldn’t you agree p>
Beverley’s fingers trembled as she held the papers.
The McCoys had sat on this secret for more than ten years, lurking in the shadows, quietly watching the Howards stumble, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Beverley forced a smile, her fury hidden beneath calm words. “Of course. Even if Matthew and Lauren part ways, Rebecca will always be the Howard family’s beloved child. She will always have her rightful share of the family’s fortune p>