Chapter 3

Thea remembered that in high school, Emmalie's crying had lured Duncan to the villa's rockery, where he pushed her down. Thea broke her ankle while Duncan pointed and joked with Emmalie. Afterward, he daily snatched Thea's walking stick on their way to school, forcing her to endure excruciating ankle pain. This resulted in a painful nickname that haunted her throughout high school and continues to cause her ankle pain even now. For Emmalie's sake, Duncan stopped at nothing.

Thea turned as her path was blocked. The entire Rowland family surrounded Emmalie, solicitously inquiring about her well-being, completely ignoring Thea's plight.

"We have a room for you. If you don't want to sign now, you can rest at home for a while," Duncan said, producing a file from his briefcase—clearly prepared beforehand—with the intention of forcing Thea to sign.

Thea refused. "Recuperate? Duncan, aren't you afraid Nicolas will come looking for me? He could send your ex-fiancée back to jail for me. I heard she was recently released on bail." Duncan, preoccupied with Emmalie, disregarded Teri's situation. Seeing Emmalie's pale face secretly delighted him, yet also annoyed him.

Arrogantly, he declared, "Do you think I'm afraid of Nicolas?"

He received no reply. Max then saw Nicolas entering, wishing he could silence Duncan. Does he want to drag down the entire Rowland family? he thought. "Duncan, what nonsense are you talking about? Thea nearly died and needs to recuperate. She should return to Mr. Hendrix. You can't force her to stay," Max declared, his attitude sharply changing.

Noticing this shift, Thea turned, sensing something. Nicolas approached, a few wet strands of hair falling onto his forehead, looking not disheveled, but noble and exquisite. Thea could almost hear his heart beat. The Hendrix family is not easily dealt with. Why did Nicolas come? she wondered.

Rowland family security guards instinctively stepped aside at Nicolas's arrival. His cold aura silenced the living room, even subduing Duncan's arrogance.

Ignoring everyone, Nicolas asked Thea, "Who hit you?" He strode forward, grasping her icy hands. His heart ached for her.

Thea couldn't dodge, but Emmalie, no longer pale, forced a smile. "Nicolas, Duncan was just anxious because Thea pushed me. Family quarrels happen. Don't blame him," she said, her familiar tone suggesting a wife-like familiarity to those unaware of the truth. Nicolas ignored her.

The moment Nicolas's cold gaze locked onto Duncan, his powerful aura caused Duncan to break into a cold sweat—an unprecedented experience that revealed Nicolas's true power.

"Which hand did he use?" Nicolas asked, not of Duncan, but Duncan's left hand, the one that struck Thea, trembled involuntarily. Nicolas noted this; instantly, Duncan cried out in pain as Nicolas decisively retaliated, nearly crushing his hand. Thea knew this was revenge. The feeling of support was indescribably good.

"Mr. Hendrix!" Max yelled, sweating profusely. Even despite their strained relationship, Max felt humiliated if Duncan were crippled on Rowland family property. "Duncan means no harm; he's just anxious. Please don't hurt him!"

"How dare you tell me what to do?" Nicolas retorted. His casual words conveyed the same pain Duncan had just felt. Max recoiled. "I wouldn't dare. We're family fighting will only invite ridicule."

"The Rowland family is unworthy of being related to the Hendrix family," Nicolas said, releasing Duncan, chilling Max to the core. "I married Thea; it has nothing to do with the Rowland family. Mr. Max, you've profited from my relationship with Thea. My silence didn't mean ignorance. The Rowland family daring to bully my wife are you challenging me?"

Terror rendered Max speechless. Ivy intervened, "It's not bullying. Thea's suffered; we want her to recuperate at home. I'm her mother; I care for her." Ironically, the Rowland family, who claimed to care for Thea, often hurt her most.

Chapter 253 (continued)

Nicolas's eyes remained cold. Only Thea could change his mind. "Nicolas, that's enough. I just want to rest. These people aren't worth the trouble," Thea said. Nicolas softened, returning to her side. "Alright, I'll take you home."

Home? Where is my home? Thea thought.

After Nicolas's attack, Duncan dared not mention Thea's shares. Servants no longer blocked her path.

Nicolas warned, "Since Thea has severed ties, the Hendrix family will take her in. Don't appear before my wife and cause her unhappiness. Otherwise, every time I see you, the Rowland Group's share price will likely drop 10%." He had the power to make it happen.

Max's face paled; he couldn't protest as Nicolas held Thea's hand. Sunlight bathed them in a golden glow—a picturesque scene.

Emmalie clenched her fists, suppressing jealousy. "Duncan, are you alright? Nicolas liked us before. I don't know what Thea told him. Why doesn't she understand that a powerful Rowland family strengthens her position with the Hendrix family?" she said. But her usual tactics failed; Max impatiently silenced her. "Shut up! Don't discuss them here!"