Chapter 68

"I made it all up. I lied," Kayla sobbed, her voice trembling. "Felicia, I won't do it again. Please let me go..."

Felicia's gaze remained fixed on Myra until the latter timidly nodded. Only then did Felicia release Kayla, a look of disdain on her face. She turned to Eugene and commanded, "Take me to the college."

Too afraid to disobey, Eugene immediately turned the car around. He dropped Felicia off at the campus gate. As she stepped out, Felicia felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Her mood lifted, and her worries vanished.

Back in the car, Kayla took a while to lift her head. Her face was swollen and burned painfully. Several lumps, barely touchable, had formed on her forehead from being banged against the door. "Mom..." she whimpered miserably, her tear-streaked face a picture of despair.

Instead of comforting her, Myra frowned. "Stop crying. Felicia was wrong to hit you so hard, but you were wrong to falsely accuse her." Myra's words made it clear she wouldn't intervene.

Kayla knew she was at fault, but the hatred in her eyes flared. In the past, Dexter and Myra would have unconditionally supported her, but things had changed. Felicia had caught Matthew's eye, and Dexter's project had stalled; the Fuller family needed Felicia to marry Arnold. Their marriage was leverage to gain evidence from Matthew and avert a crisis. Felicia's status had risen, but Kayla's had plummeted. The position of the lady of the Lawsons, which Kayla had long coveted, was slipping away. Even her place as the Fullers' treasured daughter felt precarious.

Kayla lifted her head, catching her reflection in the car window. Her hair was a mess; her cheeks were swollen and red. Blemishes marred her carefully crafted face. Even her surgically altered nose appeared crooked. She screamed, covering her face with her hands. "Mom, I need to go to the beauty salon, now!"

Before going, Kayla took photos from advantageous angles. Her face showed visible slap marks, her forehead was swollen, and her eyes were brimming with tears—a perfect image of vulnerability. She sent the photos with satisfaction.

Arnold called within seconds. His voice seethed with anger. "Did Felicia do this to you?"

Kayla hummed, her voice still choked with sobs. "Arnie, now that you're about to get engaged to Felicia, I wish you both happiness. And... let's not meet again."

Kayla hung up and immediately turned off her phone. She planned to avoid Arnold for at least two weeks, until her face healed. She would leave him to confront Felicia. Even if it yielded nothing, it would at least annoy her. Kayla was sure their clashes would only deepen their mutual dislike. A triumphant smile curled her lips as she dialed Talia's number.

"Kayla, weren't you saying Felicia is going to inherit the Walsh family and medical center? I've been thinking... why don't we work together?"