Chapter 197

Kelly's scolding echoed. "Joyce! Open the door! I know you're inside. You haven't come out since cooperating with the police investigation. Why are you hiding? It's useless! Don't think your marriage to Max will be annulled like this!" On the screen, Joyce's face was visibly pale. "Thea, what should I do? I don't want to marry your brother"

Thea, hearing this, worried. Kelly didn't look like she was giving her daughter away; she looked enraged. She said, "Joyce, don't be afraid. I'll go find you. Don't hang up. Stay in touch."

Thea immediately sought out Ford, borrowing a car from the villa's garage.

Meanwhile, Kelly, losing patience, planned to force entry. The hotel manager, learning Kelly was Joyce's mother, worried about damage and used a master key.

A group of bodyguards stormed in, Kelly close behind. "Let's see where else you can hide!"

"Give up. I won't go with you," Joyce said, eyes vigilant.

Her half-sister, Lily, accompanied Kelly, disdain evident. "Joyce, can't you obey Mom and marry into the Rowland family? Mom's arrangements are for your own good." Joyce countered, "If it's so good, why don't you marry him?"

Lily frowned. "I'm not as lucky as you, Joyce. The Rowland family wants you. If this marriage were mine, I wouldn't cause this trouble for Mom."

Kelly, holding Lily's hand, said proudly, "Lily is the best."

This chilled Joyce. She abandoned the fantasy of a loving mother.

Kelly said, "Joyce, learn from Lily! She's so much more considerate. After all these years, your father raised you like this? How disappointing!"

Regardless of Lily's sincerity, Joyce refused to live under Kelly's controlling influence. Remembering Thea's plight, she thought, How can a family that schemes against its daughter treat me kindly?

Joyce said, "This is a lawful society! There's no arranged marriage! You can't force me. Even if you kidnap me, I'll escape. And you'll sever our relationship. I'll sue you."

Kelly flew into a rage, ordering the bodyguards, "Hold her! How dare she speak to her mother like that!"

Joyce was no match for the men, forced to kneel. She stubbornly looked at Kelly, refusing to admit fault.

"Slap!" Several slaps landed on Joyce's face.

Kelly said, "A lawful society has ethics! I'm your mother! You must obey me!"

Joyce's most humiliating moments occurred after Kelly's return. Unresponsive to force, her cheeks swollen, she glared at Kelly.

"I won't listen, even if you beat me to death!"

Kelly was furious, but Lily intervened. "She's a bride. A damaged face won't do. Let's send her away. Once she and Mr. Rowland we won't worry." Kelly agreed, "As expected of my darling."

Joyce was forcibly removed, her phone left behind.

Thea, frantic, wished to reach Joyce. Driving to Sunnyend Manor via Lark Highway, she was in a near-accident.

A car approached; they avoided a collision, but Thea hit the guardrail. The car was damaged, but Thea was unharmed.

The driver yelled, "Are you crazy? Do you want to die?" It was Chad Daren. He sneered, "Miss Rowland. If you want to die, don't involve others."

Thea approached his car; Corey Xander emerged. He teased, "My driver's a wild one."

Thea felt cursed. "How dare you appear before me?" She knew Corey was aware of Emmatic working for him.

Corey smiled cynically. "Miss Rowland, missing me? Tired of Nicolas? My door's always open."

"Don't be disgusting," Thea grabbed his collar. "I'll settle this later. I need you to do the second thing in our agreement: follow me to"

Corey's gaze lingered. "Difficult. Your friend's married to your brother. Even if I can help, the Rowland family won't let you get away with breaking them up."

"They just married. There's still time," Thea released him. "We have a contract. I'll make the request. You worry about the how; I care about the result."