Chapter 678
Chapter 678:
The way Gabriela acted struck Lauren as deliberate—she was certain Gabriela was playing dumb.
“What’s with the act? Don’t play innocent with me. Your mother was nothing but a brazen homewrecker, and you’re cut from the same cloth. How much of our family’s money have you bled dry already, yet you still stand here pretending to be blameless p>
Lauren had poured a fortune into plotting her move, calling in every favor she could to summon Dustin as her secret weapon. But in the end, Gabriela had walked away unscathed—saved at the last second by her husband.
Lauren hated Matthew for demanding a divorce, yet her stubborn heart still clung to him. The man she had hired to strike at Gabriela had left her husband injured instead, filling her with a mix of fury and regret.
C𝘩𝗶𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 n𝘰𝘃𝗲l𝗌 𝘁𝗋aոѕla𝘵𝘦d 𝗼ո
Pain throbbed at her temples, her thoughts spiraling until her tongue slipped free of restraint, regardless of where she was.
Matthew tried to rein in Lauren’s fury, but Gabriela had already snapped back with sharp words.
“How dare you insult my mother! Your mouth is full of nothing but filth. Maybe it isn’t me who’s the problem—maybe it’s that your heart is so twisted you can’t see anything clean anymore p>
Lauren’s face contorted, her anger twisting into something almost savage. “You insolent brat! I’ll beat some damn manners into you p>
Seething, Lauren lifted her hand high, aiming another vicious slap at Gabriela.
Alarm jolted Matthew, and he lurched out of bed despite his injuries.
Rebecca and Lauren both scrambled toward him, each reaching to steady his faltering steps.
Beverley’s gaze cut sharply toward Lauren, her voice low but commanding. “Stand aside. I’ll take it from here p>
She had watched long enough to judge that Gabriela was still in the dark, and so she stepped forward with a carefully measured gentleness.
Choosing her words with care, Beverley skimmed over the past—deliberately softening the edges, offering events without the full reasons behind them.
The revelation left Gabriela momentarily frozen, her heart lurching before she forced her expression into composure. A deep frown shadowed her face. “I don’t believe it. My mother would never tear apart another family p>
Matthew, pale with guilt, tried to pull himself upright, his voice unsteady. “Gabriela, at the time I’d been in a car accident. The concussion blurred my memory—I forgot I was even married. Alanna had no idea I had a wife p>
He rushed to add, “I truly cared for her. I never meant to fool her p>
Rebecca, bristling at Matthew shouldering the blame, snapped before she could restrain herself. Her eyes burned with disdain as they landed on Gabriela. “No matter what happened, the truth remained: you are a bastard born out of wedlock. Get the hell out of here! Our family doesn’t want a worthless piece of shit like you p>
Matthew’s voice cracked like a whip. “Rebecca, that’s enough! Apologize to Gabriela p>