Chapter 31: Apologize and Slap Yourself Five Times

As soon as she finished speaking, Waverly, in tears, threw herself before Raylee, pleading desperately. “Raylee, please! No matter what, don't let Mr. Lorimer send Shanice to prison! If anyone is to blame, it's me! I upset you first. Yell at me, hit me—I won't fight back!”

She appeared utterly fragile and innocent, a stark contrast to Raylee's usual arrogance. Waverly was the very picture of a delicate wallflower.

Samuel quickly pulled Waverly behind him, his touch both tender and protective. His voice was firm, yet tinged with sorrow. “Wavy, you’ve done nothing wrong. Why apologize to her?”

His gaze then locked onto Raylee, his expression hardening with fury. “Don't worry—neither you nor Shanice will be going to jail today. As long as I'm here, she won't touch either of you!”

His words were laced with defiance as he glared at Raylee, his sharp gaze intense. His voice held a cold command: “You will pay for what you did today! First, apologize to Shanice and atone for hitting her. Your atonement? Slap yourself five times!”

“Second,” he continued, “hand over the pink diamond Jeremiah gave you. I’m offering thirty million, its market value!”

Raylee was momentarily stunned. Had Samuel lost his mind? The first demand was absurd enough—forcing self-punishment. But the pink diamond? Jeremiah had spent one hundred and fifty million on it. Did Samuel truly believe he could acquire it for a mere thirty million?

A smirk played on Raylee’s lips as she scoffed. “Mr. Goodridge, you might as well change your name to Shady Goodridge.”

Folding her arms, she continued nonchalantly, “If you want to negotiate, talk to Jeremiah. As for these auction items, I have no interest in any of them—except Grandma’s ring.”

“Don’t use Jeremiah as a shield!” Samuel’s face darkened, and he swiftly grabbed Raylee’s wrist, his grip tightening painfully.

Casimir watched silently. He saw Raylee growing too confident, relying on Jeremiah’s support. Left unchecked, who knew what trouble she would stir up next?

Raylee’s voice dropped to an icy tone, laced with a warning. “Mr. Goodridge, if you don't let go, I’ll scream. And when the Goodridge family’s reputation is ruined, don't blame me.”

A small crowd had gathered, and a flicker of unease crossed Samuel’s handsome face.

Waverly, still crying, pleaded again, “Samuel, please let her go. If Mr. Lorimer sees this, he might have you arrested. Mom and Dad would be devastated!”

Samuel, already wary of Jeremiah, found Waverly’s words, intended for reconciliation, only fueled his resentment toward Raylee. Reluctantly, he released her, his expression icy.

“Raylee, don’t think that because you’ve grown up, you can do whatever you want! Your relationship with Jeremiah isn’t settled, yet you dream of marrying into the Lorimer family? People should know their place. If you don’t keep a low profile and continue making waves, your downfall will come unexpectedly!”

Shanice added, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “Seriously, she’s a fake heiress with a criminal record, dreaming of marrying into the Lorimer family? What a joke! Besides, Jeremiah’s an illegitimate child. Who knows his standing? Marrying him—who’s to say life would be good?”

Casimir, visibly irritated, cut her off. “Shanice, be quiet. Didn't I tell you not to meddle with the Lorimer family? Even gossiping is asking for trouble!”

Suzanne huffed but remained silent, her resentment lingering. “Raylee hit me today, humiliated me. Do you really think I’ll let it go?”

Samuel reassured her. “Don’t worry, Ms. Sutherland. Raylee will explain today!”

His cold gaze returned to Raylee as he commanded, “Apologize to Ms. Sutherland. Then slap yourself five times as penance! If you don’t, I will!”

Raylee stepped forward, tilting her face defiantly. “Go ahead, hit me!”

Her fiery gaze met his without flinching. “I did nothing to provoke any of you today. Yet you insulted and disrespected me, and now demand atonement? What have I done to deserve this?”

Samuel’s voice was unwavering. “I have video of you hitting Shanice. You even ordered Jeremiah to have her and her friend locked up! The evidence is clear—how can you deny it?”

A chilling look crossed Raylee’s face, an unfathomable darkness settling in her gaze.