“Skylar’s car got hit, too,” Maverick said. “I thought it was weird, so I texted him. He said his car scraped another one right before he got to the Lambert family. Just got it sorted out.”

Tuff was taken aback, feeling even more uneasy.

Skylar was a top-notch driver who had been with the Prescott family for years. If he was behind the wheel, there was at least a fifty-fifty chance he could avoid an accident.

Yet, tonight, his car had also been scraped.

‘Was it just a coincidence? Things like this don’t just happen by chance,’ Tuff thought.

“Maverick, can you check out what went down tonight? Just don’t make it look like it’s coming from the Prescott family,” Tuff said.

Maverick was taken aback. “You mean…”

“Just go already!” Diane jumped in first. “If you can’t even handle something this simple, you might as well pack it up and stay home.”

“Alright, leave it to me!” Maverick thumped his chest, full of confidence.

As dawn approached, Maggie woke up.

Seeing Tuff and Kayla by her side, she felt so wronged she wanted to cry. “Is my leg still there?”

“It’s still there, just a fracture. It’ll heal with some rest,” Kayla reassured her.

“Where’s Diane?” Maggie asked.

Diane smiled. “I’m here! I’m not as badly hurt as you, so don’t worry about me.”

“Good,” Maggie murmured.

Her eyes were rimmed with red.

She’d been living the good life for so long that this sudden disaster hit her hard.

But right now, her husband was nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Maverick was fussing over Diane like she was made of glass.

“Mom, why were you the one driving?” Tuff asked.

“It was an emergency. There wasn’t any room in the ambulance, so I had to drive myself,” Maggie replied.

“Where was the Lambert family’s driver?” Tuff asked.

“He had a stomachache and was holed up in the bathroom, just wouldn’t come out. If I didn’t go, Joyce wouldn’t get the help she needed. No one could wait that long. I can drive, so I just did it… I’m sorry,” Maggie said, her voice trailing off into a whisper.

Right in the middle of the holidays, and things had to turn out like this. When her husband got back tomorrow, he’d definitely give her an earful.

“Mom, it’s not your fault. The garbage truck was totally to blame,” Tuff said.

Maggie felt even more wronged. “That guy had no idea how to drive. He just came out of nowhere…”

Kayla was at a loss for words.

If it weren’t so inappropriate, she’d be cracking up right now.

They always said women who knew how to act cute had the best luck, and Maggie was the textbook example.

Not especially talented, but she still managed to stay on top as the matriarch of the Prescott family.

Betty never made things hard for her; her son was outstanding, and her husband… Well, Kayla hadn’t really met him yet, so she’d reserve judgment for now.

“Mom, it’s all good now. Just get some rest,” Tuff said, trying to calm her down.

It took a while, but eventually, Maggie’s emotions settled.

Kayla asked, “Mom, what did you see when you got to the Lambert family?”

“Blood. So much blood,” Maggie replied, her eyes widening as she recalled the scene, still shaken. “Joyce must have lost her mind. Cutting one wrist wasn’t enough. She went for both.”

“But she still didn’t die,” Mimi said quietly. “Tuff, isn’t she a doctor? If she really wanted to end it, why not go for the artery?”

That one sentence snapped everyone to attention.

Right—Joyce was a doctor. She’d know exactly where to cut if she meant it. Yet she slashed both wrists and still survived.

Kayla took a deep breath. “She didn’t really want to die. She just wanted to stir up drama and make sure we never get any peace.”

“Exactly! That’s it!” Diane snapped. “Maggie was way too soft-hearted. We should’ve just stayed out of it.”

Maggie kept sighing, feeling so upset she could barely stand it.

She tried to help someone, and look where it got her—stuck in the hospital. Now the whole family was spending the holidays here, keeping her company.

Maggie thought, ‘That brat Joyce! She’s such a pain!’

“Mom, from now on, just stay out of her business,” Kayla said.

Maggie nodded. “Yeah.”

“Don’t worry about it, Mom. Try to get some sleep,” Kayla said.

“Alright,” Maggie murmured.

Feeling both wronged and worn out, Maggie soon drifted off into a deep sleep again.

The house staff came in to switch shifts, and Maverick took Zara back home.

Kayla and Tuff didn’t dare leave, so they just made do and caught a couple hours of sleep right there in the hospital room.

At first light, Kayla headed home to check on Landen and have breakfast with Betty.

With the new year just starting, if she stayed away from home, Betty would definitely start getting suspicious.

Tuff called his dad, told him what was going on at home, and finally asked, “Dad, when are you getting here?”

Raymond said, “This afternoon.”

“Mom’s not doing so well. When you get in, can you check on her?” Tuff said.

Raymond said, “Okay.”

Tuff frowned, thinking, ‘He sounded unhappy to hear that.’

“Tuff…”

The voice was so whiny and syrupy it made Tuff cringe, especially with that hint of tears.

He turned around to see Joyce, supported by her father, standing about six feet away.

She was wearing a hospital gown, looking pale and fragile.

Tuff didn’t want to see her, so he turned and walked away.

“Tuff, wait! I need to talk to you!” Joyce called out in a frail voice.

Tuff turned back with a cold smirk. “What, trying to act all sweet and innocent now?”

Joyce was speechless.

“Don’t bother with that act. It doesn’t work on me. Just get lost and nurse your wounds. I’ll deal with you about last night some other time!” Tuff snapped.

Joyce’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Crap, did he catch on already?’

“Tuff, why are you talking like that? The accident last night wasn’t our fault either. Her mom got hurt too, you know!” Xzavier snapped.

“If your daughter hadn’t been stirring up trouble, my mom and Diane would’ve been home enjoying the holiday. None of this would’ve happened!” Tuff’s voice grew sharper with every word.

Everything was Joyce’s doing. She was nothing but trouble.

Tuff thought, ‘How could someone as sharp as Dominick end up with a sister like her? No, none of the Lamberts are any good. Dominick was just a genetic fluke.’

“Tuff, I knew you’d blame me. I didn’t want things to turn out like this… I have depression. Sometimes I just can’t help myself…” Joyce whimpered, looking so pitiful and fragile, like a delicate flower about to be blown away by the wind and rain.

“Depression? Why not just say you’re insane?” Tuff was so pissed he could barely hold himself back from slapping her.

She was a doctor. She had a stellar education, came from a well-connected family, and started racking up achievements as soon as she began working. In just a few years, she was already well-known in Lunova’s medical circles.

‘Depression? No one would buy that!’ Tuff thought.

“It’s true,” Xzavier said, his face heavy. “Ever since you leaked that video all over the place, she’s been totally stressed out.”

“Don’t go pointing fingers. We weren’t the ones who spread that video,” Tuff cut in. “If you don’t believe me, call the cops. They can track down the original source.”

“Not you? Then who else could it be?” Joyce looked genuinely shocked.

Tuff narrowed his eyes.

He’d figured it was just Joyce putting on another drama for attention. Guess that was not it after all.

‘So who the hell spread that video?’ Tuff wondered.