Morgan hadn't expected such a formidable opponent and was stunned. His face paled slightly before he stammered, "Forgive me, you must be Miss Evans. I just"

"Don't play games here! I won't tolerate insincere apologies!" Gwenda interrupted, launching into a scathing rebuke. "Besides, your son was clearly responsible for today's incident, yet he hid behind you and said nothing! That's hardly an apology; even I wouldn't accept it!"

Piper, impressed by Gwenda's forthrightness, realized she'd misjudged the young woman.

Naomi tensed, instinctively arguing, "He's just a child"

"Yes, a child," Gwenda retorted sharply, "which is precisely why we won't let him off easily!"

Naomi was speechless. At that moment, Jimmy Wright burst out, pointing at Gwenda and shouting, "You're a bad person! You're a bad person!" He even lunged for something on the coffee table to throw at her.

Morgan stopped him with a sharp slap. "Fool! Where are your manners?"

Jimmy, crying from the pain, clung to Naomi's leg. "Mummy"

Naomi shielded her son, frowning at Morgan. His face thunderous, he glared at them before attempting an apology. "Miss Evans, my son is not sensible. I hope you will"

"If he's not sensible, are you?" Gwenda interrupted scornfully. "I think your son is beyond redemption. Just leave and stop making fools of yourselves."

Morgan gritted his teeth. "Miss Evans, our family has wronged you, but everyone here is your senior. You can't decide this."

"She can!" Suzanne declared. "Whatever Gwenda says goes."

"Get lost!" Gwenda declared, emboldened by Suzanne's support.

Morgan, his face darkening, sighed. "Madam, must we end things this way?"

"How shameless," Piper mocked. "This is clearly your fault! Get out, or the Reeds will throw you out!"

Humiliated, the Wrights were thoroughly disgraced. Naomi urged, "Morgan, let's go," but he refused to yield. He knew that leaving would sever ties with the Kinneys and Reeds—an outcome he couldn't accept.

"Mrs. Kinney, consider this carefully," he pleaded. "Our families recently partnered on a land acquisition. The contract's signed. If you insist on this"

"Afraid of what?"

A cold male voice cut through the air. Tyrell Kinney entered, his face icy.

Morgan blanched. "Mr Mr. Kinney."

Piper, seeing her son, rushed to him, tears in her eyes.

Tyrell reassured her before turning to Morgan. Morgan, cowering, stammered, "Mr. Kinney a misunderstanding! I didn't mean"

Tyrell was unmoved. "Regardless of your intentions, all business between our families is terminated. We're done."