"Coddle her—that's all you've done since she was a child. She's spoiled beyond reason because of you."

Benson glared at her with dissatisfaction. "I don't know what's wrong with you. Gretchen is your biological daughter, yet you always favor that girl!"

"That's enough, Benson. Just stop it for a minute, will you?"

Just then, a maid rushed in, announcing, "Sir, ma'am, Miss Gwenda is back."

"Gwenda's back?" Pauline stood up anxiously. "Why did she return alone? Did the doctor discharge her?"

"Good! I'll teach her a lesson!"

Following Benson's angry outburst, Gwenda entered the room.

Pauline immediately approached her, asking with concern, "Gwenda, why didn't you tell us you were coming home? How are you feeling? What did the doctor say?"

Faced with Pauline's concern, Gwenda felt like she was dreaming. In her previous life, she'd been unaware of Pauline's scheming. She'd believed her stepmother pitied her for losing her mother, thus showering her with excessive care. This excessive attention, however, had fostered arrogance and unruly behavior, leading people to dislike and avoid her. Even her own father had been dissatisfied.

"Gwenda, Gwenda" Pauline looked worried, noticing Gwenda's daze. "Are you alright?"

Snapping out of it, Gwenda coldly glanced at Pauline and started to head upstairs.

This stunned the three in the room.

Benson shouted angrily, "Stop! What deplorable manners! Shouldn't you apologize to your sister after what you've done?"

"Apologize? Me?" Gwenda scoffed. "Didn't she tell you why I slapped her?"

Gretchen looked at her mother in panicked silence.

Pauline quickly intervened. "Forget it, Benson. As long as Gwenda's back and safe, that's all that matters."

"Why not? She dares to do it, but not admit it?"

Gwenda cast a cold look at Pauline, then at Gretchen. "Gretchen Evans seduced my fiancé behind my back. After catching them, why shouldn't I slap her?"

The three were shocked. Gretchen flinched. Benson looked at her incredulously. "Is that true?"

"Dad I" Panic flickered in Gretchen's eyes as she shrank back into the sofa.

Pauline quickly shielded her. "Gwenda, your sister knows she was wrong. If you're angry, take it out on me."

"On you? So you knew what she was doing all along?" Gwenda said disdainfully. "Not surprising. You probably taught her to do it."

Pauline froze, unprepared for Gwenda's changed demeanor.

Benson, meanwhile, was still processing Gwenda's revelation. He stared at Gretchen. "Are you really with Martin?"

Gretchen, unable to avoid the question, nodded.

"You bitch!" Benson, enraged, slapped her. Gretchen's face swelled further. "You are a disgrace! He is your future brother-in-law!"