Chapter 383

Maggie was pacing anxiously, like a cat on a hot tin roof, feeling utterly helpless. As the matriarch of the Prescott family, she had never faced such a predicament before. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if she should resent Joyce for being so domineering, or blame Kayla for being so thoughtless.

‘I told her not to bring a gun, but she just had to! Now she’s gotten us into trouble, hasn’t she?’ Maggie fumed inwardly.

Kayla was sitting across the room, chatting with the socialites and ladies who came over to greet her. Born a socialite, she’d mastered the art of etiquette since she was a child. Even after losing her memory and spending time away from high society, she never lost her poise.

As she moved from toast to toast, she was completely in her element. With her stunning looks, she was the brightest rose in the room.

Joyce was dying of jealousy. If Kayla hadn’t shown up, she would be the queen bee of high society. ‘Damn it, Kayla, why do you have to crash into my world?’ Joyce fumed inwardly.

“Joyce, can’t we talk this over?” Maggie asked, her face twisted in distress. “Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. Just don’t make things difficult for her here.”

“I want Tuff,” Joyce replied without hesitation.

Maggie was stunned for a moment. That was like asking for the moon. How was Maggie supposed to make that happen?

As Kayla mingled with the crowd, she would occasionally cast a glance at Maggie, her eyes full of subtle questions – ‘Is she really going to just sit there and ignore me?’

Maggie avoided meeting Kayla’s gaze, burying herself in peeling oranges one after another, hoping no one would notice her nerves.

“Nobody move!”

Suddenly, the background music cut off, and several police officers burst into the room. Everyone froze in shock. The homeowner, Bob Carter, quickly stepped forward. “Officer, what’s going on?”

“Which one of you is Kayla Kingsley?” the officer demanded.

Bob was put on the spot. His sister, Diane, had reminded him to look after Kayla at today’s party. But now that the police were here to take her away, there was nothing he could do for her.

“I am,” Kayla said, rising to her feet and walking calmly toward the officer.

Maggie put a hand to her face and quietly slipped out of the room.

“Officer, what’s going on?” Diane rushed out, standing protectively beside Kayla.

Kayla felt a warm feeling in her heart.

“Someone reported that Kayla Kingsley has a gun,” the cop said.

Everyone was stunned. The socialites who had just been trying to get on Kayla’s good side, hoping for some family benefits, instantly changed their expressions and backed away with startled cries. They looked at her as if she were some kind of dangerous threat.

“Who reported me?” Kayla swept her gaze across the room, her eyes sharp and unflinching.

Joyce sat there, smirking with satisfaction, while Maggie had already slipped away.

Kayla let out a faint smile, her natural grace tinged with a quiet disdain for everyone around her. Even though her gaze made the other elites in the room uneasy, they had to admit – she carried herself with the commanding presence of royalty.

“Are you Kayla Kingsley?” the officer asked.

“I am,” Kayla nodded coolly. “Officer, I’ll cooperate with your investigation – on one condition.”

“Name it,” the officer replied.

“You can’t just accuse me without proof. If someone reported me, they need to show evidence,” Kayla said, her eyes locking onto Joyce.

Joyce’s eyes flickered, and she lowered her gaze, quietly taking a sip of her drink.

“Ms. Kingsley, when it comes to illegal firearms, all it takes is a rumor for us to search you. We don’t need any proof,” the officer said firmly.

“And what if I refuse?” Kayla blinked, her tone playful. “If everyone’s so sure I have a gun on me, aren’t you worried I might get annoyed and something could go off?”

The officer faltered, clearly unsure what to do.

The socialites edged even farther away from Kayla, as if she were radioactive. If the exits hadn’t been blocked by the police, they would have bolted already.

After a brief standoff, the cops finally caved. “Ms. Lambert was the one who reported it.”

Everyone was surprised.

‘Joyce, you scheming backstabber! Are you trying to get us all killed?’ they all thought.

“And what proof does Ms. Lambert have?” Kayla’s voice was icy and authoritative as she fixed Joyce with a cold, unwavering stare.

Joyce let out a disdainful snort, refusing to back down. “If you didn’t want anyone to find out, then don’t do it!”

“You’re right about that, Ms. Lambert. But where’s Mom?” Kayla asked, her voice cool and steady.

That’s when everyone realized Maggie had already slipped away.

Diane’s face turned pale. It turned out it was Maggie who had instructed Joyce to call the police. That was despicable.

“Ms. Kingsley, are you carrying a gun?” the officer asked.

Kayla raised her hands, cool as ever. “Is there a female officer? Go ahead and frisk me.”

A female cop stepped up to search her. Everyone was on edge, waiting for the verdict, while Joyce sat there smirking to herself. If they found a gun, Kayla would be convicted on the spot. Joyce pictured Kayla rotting in jail for years, so that when she got out, she’d see her surrounded by Tuff’s children.

Diane was so nervous she almost jumped in. “Hey, we’re legit business people in the Prescott family…”

“No gun,” the female cop announced.

She was done searching. Diane was relieved and thrilled, and wisely kept her mouth shut.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, still shaken by what just happened.

“That’s impossible!” Joyce sprang to her feet, jabbing a finger at Kayla’s waist. “Her gun is right there!”

Kayla took off her jacket without hesitation. Her chiffon blouse was tucked into her pants, accentuating her slim waist. She smirked. ‘Where’s the gun?’

“Ms. Lambert, do you want me to strip right here in front of everyone?” Kayla asked coldly, her voice icy and unyielding.

Diane snapped, “Joyce, when are you going to stop this nonsense?”

“I…” Joyce started, but Diane cut her off.

“You called the cops with nothing but your word, and even after the search turned up nothing, you still won’t drop it. What else do you want from her?” Diane snapped.

“Don’t you even trust the police now?” Bob was also angry.

Normally, everyone thought Joyce was the outstanding one in the family – a doctor who was always there to help whenever someone got sick, earning her a good reputation within the family. Yet here she was today, making a scene at the party like some drama queen from the streets. It was downright embarrassing.

“Uncle, it’s not that I don’t trust the police, it’s just…” Joyce tried to explain, flustered.

“Just what? You think you need to search her yourself? Who the hell do you think you are, thinking you can lay a hand on Mrs. Prescott?” Bob shot back.

Joyce had always had a good reputation in the family – she’d never been scolded by the elders, not even once. But now, getting yelled at in front of everyone, her face flushed bright red with shame.

“Whatever, let her do it,” Kayla shrugged, strolling right up to Joyce, grabbing her hand and pressing it firmly against her own waist. “Go ahead, Ms. Lambert – make sure you check real good.”

No gun – just pure muscle under her fingertips. Kayla’s waist was trim and solid, all strength and confidence.

Joyce glanced at her own waist… straight as a board, not a curve in sight. She usually relied on clever outfits to hide her lack of shape, but now, with her hand on Kayla, Joyce suddenly felt painfully self-conscious. No wonder Tuff was so obsessed with Kayla, the twice-married woman – he barely even noticed Joyce anymore. Kayla’s waist was a total knockout, the kind that could make any guy weak in the knees.

“Ms. Lambert, did you get a good enough feel?” Kayla teased, her tone playful and sharp.

Joyce quickly pulled her hand back, her face burning with embarrassment.

The police finished up, apologized to Kayla first, then turned to Bob as the host and offered their apologies.

“Alright, let’s get this party back on track,” Bob said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he stepped up to smooth things over with Kayla. “Mrs. Prescott, I’m really sorry about all this…”

“It’s alright, this wasn’t the Carter family’s fault,” Kayla said, her tone calm and collected.

Joyce tried to make a quick exit, but Kayla stepped right in front of her. “Ms. Lambert, did I say you could leave?”

“What… what gives you the right to stop me?” Joyce snapped, though her voice lacked confidence.

“Your show’s over, now it’s my stage,” Kayla said, her fingers flying across her phone as she fired off a lawsuit right then and there. “I’m taking you to court for slander!”

“You…” Joyce stammered, her voice trembling.

Her expression changed dramatically.

“Yeah, sue her!” someone shouted from the crowd.

“Mrs. Prescott is way too chill, letting them search her like that. If it were me, I would’ve raised hell!” another voice chimed in.

“She knew she was the other woman and still tried to take down the real wife? That’s next-level shameless!” someone else scoffed.

“Making up stories and dragging the cops here just for her own drama. Lambert family really knows how to raise their children!” another person sneered.

Joyce was stunned. In these elite circles, only the official wives got an invite – side women and homewreckers were absolutely despised. Joyce was now the center of everyone’s contempt, dragging her parents’ hard-earned reputation down with her.

Meanwhile, Kayla became a legend in one dramatic showdown.

Joyce was frustrated and pissed off, just wanting to get the hell out of there. Her eyes flickered – then, suddenly, she had an idea.

“Oh no, my stomach hurts… Something’s wrong with the baby!”