Bethany stormed over, her face contorted with rage. She grabbed Meghan's hair, yanking her from George's arms.

"Mom, let go! You're hurting me!" Meghan cried out in pain.

Bethany slapped Meghan. "You bastard! You still call me Mother? I raised you as my own, and this is how you repay me? How dare you seduce my husband? I'll beat you! You ingrate! You shameless bitch!" She slapped Meghan repeatedly, then scratched her face with her nails. Meghan's face was soon horribly scarred.

"Ah! No! Dad, help me!"

Meghan was no match for Bethany's furious assault. She could only plead for help. George rushed forward to intervene.

"That's enough! Let go of Meghan! Look at what you've done to her!"

"Ah!" Bethany's fury intensified. She turned on George, hitting him repeatedly. "You're a bastard too! How could you? Are you worthy of me? Are you even human?"

Slap! George slapped Bethany hard, shouting, "Enough! Don't make a scene like a shrew! Look at yourself—you're no noblewoman! You're just a ranting shrew!"

"Ah!" Bethany fell, striking her forehead on the table. She trembled in pain, but her heart ached even more. How could my husband and daughter do this to me? How dare they call me a shrew? she thought. They're all shameless!

"Mom!" Samson arrived, having witnessed his father push his mother. He rushed to Bethany's aid, glaring at George. "Dad, how could you do this to Mom?"

Edward entered, his face ashen. He glanced at Meghan on the floor. "Sam, get Mom downstairs. We'll talk later." Samson then noticed George and Meghan were undressed, a disturbing sight. He helped the sobbing Bethany from the room. George went to assist Meghan.

Edward's face darkened. Bethany and Samson, nearing the door, overheard.

"You bastards! What a shameless couple!" Bethany raged, trying to attack them again. Samson restrained her. "Mom, let's wait until they're dressed!"

Bethany cried, "I want to tear them apart!" Samson led her downstairs. Edward, disgusted, looked out the window. Evangeline had been video calling them from outside the window on the third floor. How did she get up here? he thought. He could only deal with his family first.

Ten minutes later, the Gallagher family—excluding the hospitalized Jasper—was in the living room. Bethany wept inconsolably. Seeing Meghan and George descend the stairs together, she grabbed an ashtray and threw it at Meghan.

"You bastard! I gave you a home, and you destroy my family? I was blind to defend you, you ungrateful bitch!" Bethany's eyes were bloodshot.

The ashtray missed Meghan, shattering on the floor. Meghan, frightened, hid behind George.

Meghan said quietly, "Mom, I never meant to destroy this family."

"Isn't it enough to be a Gallagher?" Bethany screamed. "Why do this? Do you have any morals? You're worse than animals!" She searched for insults, her rage escalating when Meghan looked aggrieved. Bethany used to sympathize with that expression, but now it felt like a calculated act. This bastard is a good actress! she fumed. She's the one who did wrong!

"Enough! If you want to make a scene, leave!" George snapped.

Bethany, heartbroken, turned to George. "You did it, and you call me a shrew? Even if I am, I'm better than you two shameless bastards!"

"Shut up! Don't call me Mom!" Bethany shrieked.

Meghan wiped her tears. "Mom, if you don't like me, I'll leave."

George pulled her back. "I'm the head of this family. It doesn't matter if she likes you. You stay."

Bethany sobbed, "George, if you won't let her go, I will!"

George said deeply, "It's your choice. Accept Meghan, or leave. She's staying."

Bethany stared at him, incredulous. "You want her to stay? Live in harmony?"

George said irritably, "Meghan has nothing to say. She's willing to endure this. What are you dissatisfied with? You're still the enviable lady of the Gallagher family!"

Bethany sputtered, unable to refute him.

George continued, "Look at the rich—many have other women. I just have Meghan. She respects you. She won't take anything from you. Can't you be more generous?"

Bethany felt her chest tighten. "If she respected me, she wouldn't have done it with you!"

George frowned. "I've explained kindly, but you're unreasonable. You disappoint me. Meghan isn't leaving. Accept it, or leave."

Bethany broke down. "What evil have I done? I raised a creature worse than an animal! I neglected my own daughter for her, and she takes my husband! She's as shameless as her mother! George, did you know Meghan wasn't our daughter and that's why you're with her? You've been protecting her since Evangeline came home!"

Bethany recalled how she had treated Evangeline badly due to George's constant complaints about upsetting Meghan. She wailed, remembering how her own daughter now viewed her as an enemy.

"Because of Meghan, my daughter hates me, and she steals my husband…This is God's retribution! George, you're worse than me! And Meghan, you ungrateful bitch! You'll suffer a miserable end! Wretches like you be damned!"

Like a madwoman, she rose, cackling through tears. "I'll expose this shameless couple! I'll make you public enemies!"