Chapter 499: Mary's Humiliation

Oscar and Hannah exchanged glances. Oscar simply shrugged, unable to intervene. Hannah surmised Karen's abrasive behavior stemmed from excessive pampering.

Mary, a woman unaccustomed to being wronged, was instantly agitated by Karen's accusations. She protested vehemently, "No, that's not true! Karen broke it; I tried to catch it, but it was too late. I never said what she claimed!"

Karen stammered, eyes wide with surprise, "You mean I wronged you? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told them... I didn't mean it..."

Mary, flushed with anger, retorted, "You're lying! You told me Hannah was mean, and that you preferred my company. How can you slander me?"

Karen, equally astonished, exclaimed, "What did you say?"

Mary continued, "Hannah has always been kind to me, like a sister. My parents wouldn't have sent me to live with her if they didn't trust her. Why are you spreading lies?"

Mary, choked with fury, was speechless.

Lorie, her face clouded with disappointment, rebuked Mary sharply. "I thought you'd learned your lesson after what happened to your father and siblings! I thought you'd changed. To sow discord again... Mary, you've deeply disappointed me!"

Mary grabbed Lorie's hand, pleading, "Grandma, that's not true! I didn't do it; Karen framed me! She made up the complaint! Please believe me!"

Lorie pushed her away, unconvinced. Seeing Karen's distressed expression, Lorie, swayed by her apparent vulnerability and prejudiced against Mary, deemed Karen the victim. Mary had lost her grandmother's trust.

Tears streamed down Mary's face. Regaining Lorie's favor was paramount; she couldn't afford to lose her support. Panicked, she knelt, confessing, "Grandma, I'm so sorry! I swear it won't happen again!"

"Of course you did it! You're shameless!" Lorie's anger flared.

Lorie had assured Miguel and Michelle that Mary had reformed. This betrayal caused her immense shame.

Mary, begging and weeping, pleaded, "Grandma, please forgive me! I was jealous of Hannah's kindness to Karen. I wanted that same affection. I was wrong..."

Hannah, though unimpressed by Mary's display of remorse, was nonetheless surprised by Karen's cunning manipulation.

Michelle, ever sympathetic, intervened, "Let's check if Karen is hurt. Miguel, call a doctor."

Miguel finally acted.

Michelle helped Karen, saying, "Let's go to the living room." Karen, ever well-behaved around outsiders, complied. Oscar remained silent, concealing Karen's true nature.

Alone, Mary, still kneeling, felt Lorie's estrangement acutely. Hoping for reconciliation, she planned to apologize later. Raising her head, she saw Hannah's sardonic smile.

"You made Karen set me up!" Mary accused, seething.

Hannah retorted mockingly, "Flattered, but I doubt I possess that kind of influence over Karen."

"What do you mean?" Mary demanded.

"Don't mess with someone I can't afford to offend."

Mary's fists clenched. This was a crushing blow.

Hannah softened her tone slightly, "But someone deserved it; she started this. Don't you agree, Mary?"

Humiliated and powerless, Mary knew she couldn't confront Hannah. Her survival, let alone any ambitions, depended on Hannah's goodwill.

Hannah's tone turned serious. "Mind your own business. Cooperate, and you might survive. Otherwise... you'll face something worse than death. And I mean it." She paused, then added, "One more thing. Stay away from Oscar."

Mary, terrified yet driven by her desires, refused to be deterred. She craved everything Hannah possessed – love and a secure future. She wanted to take it all away.