Chapter 287

Yvonne’s voice filled the entire hall, creating such a suffocating pressure that even the butler and the servants felt like they couldn’t breathe. They tried to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

“You’re right. I’m useless. No matter what I do, you’ll never be satisfied. From now on, I’ll do only what I choose to do,” said Rowena.

Her voice was low and raspy, but there was stubborn strength in it. This was the first time Rowena had ever stood up to her mother, and for the first time, she felt a sense of freedom.

Yvonne’s eyes widened in disbelief. She clearly hadn’t expected her daughter to snap at her like that.

“W-what did you say?” Yvonne asked, staring at Rowena.

Rowena met her gaze. “I said, after tonight, I won’t listen to you anymore. From now on, I’ll decide my own life.”

Yvonne was so angry that she raised her hand, ready to slap Rowena.

Rowena stepped forward, her eyes dripping with sarcasm. “Come on, do it. Hit me. Why not just beat me to death? Break my arms and legs? It would make it easier for you to control me, right? Your bare hands aren’t enough. Why not grab a hammer or a knife?”

Yvonne was completely taken aback, utterly shaken. She’d never seen this side of Rowena before. It was like Rowena didn’t care about anything anymore.

“Rowena, how dare you defy me? Who’s been filling your head with these ideas? Without me, you’re nothing. Every cent you have comes from me. How did I end up raising such an ungrateful wretch?”

“Bow right now, admit you were wrong, and swear you’ll never do it again. Maybe then I’ll consider forgiving you for what you did today,” Yvonne snapped.

Rowena sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “And what exactly did I do wrong?”

“Rowena, don’t push your luck,” Yvonne shouted, her voice trembling with rage.

Yvonne was absolutely livid, but beneath the anger, a wave of helplessness and panic crashed over her. It felt like everything was slipping out of her grasp, her carefully planned life veering wildly off course.

Yvonne simply couldn’t let that happen.

Rowena spoke again, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She confessed carelessly, “I just went to an audition. I’m going to act. If you don’t agree, then kill me. If you try to stop me, I’ll jump off the roof.”

This was the first time Rowena was truly facing her mother head-on. She’d thought about ending her stifling existence countless times before, but never had the guts to do it.

All those pent-up emotions she’d bottled up for so long now condensed into a single thought, and that was death.

“Rowena, have you lost your mind? What is wrong with you?” she stammered. Yvonne was floored. She never imagined her daughter would actually say something like that.

“Rowena actually went to an audition? Parading herself in public, acting so shamelessly?” Yvonne wondered.

“Suit yourself,” Rowena tossed over her shoulder as she headed upstairs.

Yvonne stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened.

“You guys are going to investigate right now. Who was she with today? Who’s been poisoning her mind? Who dared to egg her on to say such things?” Yvonne’s face contorted with rage as she clenched her fists tightly.

There was no way she’d ever let her daughter go astray.

Meanwhile, as soon as Winifred got home, Ryan messaged her: [Winifred, the Clare family is looking into you.]

Chapter 257

Winifred: [Got it. Leave it to me. You don’t need to get involved.]

Winifred twirled a grape between her fingers, a playful glint in her eyes.

So Rowena really has fallen out with her family. Now they’re trying to keep her on a leash and stop her from acting? Fine, if they want to play games, I’ll play along, she wondered.