Mr. Thorne also shouted, drawing a crowd of onlookers. “Everyone, come judge for yourselves! This is our Thorne family’s adoptive daughter! Just because we gave our family’s fortune to our own biological daughter, she’s now targeting our company in every way, driving us into chaos!”
The surrounding people all gathered to watch the spectacle, pointing and whispering about me. Someone threw eggs and cabbage leaves at me.
“How can a person be so heartless? They kindly adopted her, and she’s still targeting their company!”
“I think she’s just desperate, wanting their property. When they refused, she found every way to torment them.”
“How can someone so shameless be allowed to run a company? Everyone, we must boycott this unscrupulous company!”
My cornpany’s employees immediately shielded me, desperately trying to explain that things weren’t as the crowd believed, but no
one listened. Thankfully, an employee had called the police, and they quickly arrived to disperse the crowd.
It was only when the police were about to take Mrs. Thorne away that Eva finally appeared. She looked utterly pitiful, aggrieved, and bewildered.
“Sister Pathy, I’ve always seen you as my sister. I never wanted to take anything from you. I just wanted to help Mom and Dad. Why are you targeting our company? The Thorne family is your home too!”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Don’t go trying to claim kinship where there is none. I don’t have a sister like you, and my ties with the Tho- rne family have long been severed. Besides, isn’t project competition perfectly normal? The capable win. Why would a partner prefer to collaborate with a small, newly established company like mine over yours? Are you suggesting the partner is an idiot who would just give me money for nothing?”
Eya suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud. “Sister Pathy, you’re still angry with me, aren’t you? You poached all of our core em- ployees and stole a crucial project from the company. Now, because of you, the company is in complete disarray. Sister Pathy, please, let the company go! This is the Thorne family’s legacy, built over generations! If you hate me, if you despise me, hit me, curse me–do anything to me, just please, don’t target our company anymore!” With that, Eva grabbed my hand and slapped herself across the face with it.
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I didn’t dodge. If she wanted to be hit, I’d oblige her. So I put all my strength into it, delivering a resounding siap to her face. Instant- ly, Eva’s face swelled and reddened.
Julian also arrived. Seeing me strike Eva, his expression tightened, and he immediately pulled Eva behind him. “Audrey, you’ve gone too far! What right do you have to lay hands on Eva? You’re utterly malicious!”
I shook my tingling hand, scoffing at Julian. “She asked for it, and I merely obliged. Or are you blind and couldn’t see? If you’re sick, go to a hospital. Don’t throw your fits here.”
Julian looked at me with a face full of disappointment. “Audrey, how did you become this hateful person? So vicious, so cruel, so unfeeling of old ties. You’re simply too disappointing.”
I was unimpressed by his words. “Really? I’ve never changed. You’re the ones who changed. I’ve always been like this: I repay every wrong, I’m calculating. I’m not some benevolent person, so don’t try to morally blackmail me. My actions are perfectly legal and compliant. If you’ve got the nerve, call the police and arrest me! Though your actions today have already broken the law.”
My company’s lawyer rushed over, shielding me, and addressed the Thorne parents, Eva, and Julian. “Your disruptive behavior and rumor–mongering at our company today have severely damaged our company’s reputation.”
The police immediately stepped forward and escorted the Thorne family members into the patrol car. Before getting in, Mrs. Thor- ne was still yelling, “You can’t do this to me! Audrey, we’re your parents! How can you send us to the police station? You’re heartless
