Chapter 12
Nadine was suddenly reminded of how cruel the world could be to a woman who did not stand her
ground<b>.</b>
She had treated Evelyn and Gigi like her own family, and how had they repaid her genuine kindness? By
inviting Jean over and treating Nadine like she was no better than a pest.
If that were the case, Nadine saw no point in treating them like her own kin anymore.
She thought she had been well within her rights to call Gigi a giant log after thetterined of her ”
yapping<b>“</b>.
The housekeeping staff on the sidelines immediately knew what Nadine meant. They had to look down
and bite on their lips to keep fromughing out loud.
Some of them didn’t get the joke at first, but they struggled to contain theirughter when they did.
The insult would have flown over Gigi’s head if she hadn’t heard the housekeeping staff’s suppressed
Nadine had implied that Gigi was as dumb as a log.
Flying into a rage, Gigi pointed at Nadine and seethed, “You bitch! How dare you call me stupid! I’ll rip your
throat out for that!”
She was fuming as she shrugged off Evelyn’s hold on her and stormed up to Nadine. She raised a hand, ready to p Nadine.
However, Nadine caught Gigi’s wrist in time and narrowly avoided the assault.
Unable to move her right hand, Gigi raised her left one and attempted to p Nadine a second time.
Nadine did not give her the chance to do so. With two hands, she wrenched Gigi’s wrist until the pain silenced thetter and made all the blood drain from her face.
Wincing, Gigi hissed, “You wicked bitch! Did you have to go so far just because I called you names?”
Nadine did not let go of Gigi’s wrist and merely stared at her ferociously.
She <b>had </b>lost count of the times Gigi had picked on her since she married Brad five years ago. Her behavior today was a warning to Gigi that she was not a pushover.
Evelyn was relieved that Gigi had not been struck.
She red at Nadine and asked sourly, “What do you think you’re ying at, Nadine? Are you so high and mighty that you can’t take some criticism from Gigi?”
Evelyn was furious that Nadine would resort to using violence against Gigi. Nadine was getting more out of hand after Adam sided with her, which made Evelyn’s blood boil.
She decided it was time to put Nadine in her ce.
Chac12
In the past, Nadine would have tried to maintain some modicum of peace within the family even if it
meant putting up with Evelyn’s condescension.
After all, Evelyn was Brad’s mother. It was Nadine’s obligation to respect and take care of Evelyn as she
would her own mother.
But Nadine had enough of putting up with Evelyn’s nonsense and contempt. Today, she would stand up
for herself.
Her knifelike gaze fell on Evelyn as she countered, “Criticism? Gigi tantly insulted me, and everyone
here can testify that I was merely responding to her snide remark.
“Did you think I would keep quiet after being called a bitch? You said I was high and mighty; I think it’s
because you feel so inferior that you have to put me down to feel better about yourself.”
Nadine did not hold back. She did not care that she had crossed a line with Evelyn and Gigi today. She
saw no need to spare them the admonishment.
Evelyn tried to argue, but no words came out of her mouth.
Gigi was in so much pain that she couldn’t even speak. She stared at Nadine with wide eyes, silently
pleading with her to let go.
Unfortunately for Gigi, Nadine ignored the plea in her eyes.
Nadine turned to smile at Adam as she suggested, “Grandpa, I think you were right when you said Gigi is
far too spoiled. Giving her a time–out might not be an adequate punishment for her.
“Perhaps you should have her write lines instead. Mrs. Hamilton will be celebrating her birthday soon, writing lines could help calm Gigi’s temper and straighten her out before the big event.”
Gigi wouldn’t suffer in a time–out. At worst, she would only have to go to bed without supper.
Knowing Evelyn, she would find a way to break Gigi out of time–out or sneak her bits of food. As if Nadine would let Gigi get away with that.
Writing lines was different; it was something Gigi had toplete on her own.
She couldn’t enlist anyone’s help, either. Everyone’s penmanship was different and it would have been too obvious that she had someone write her lines for her.
Adam seemed pleased with the suggestion. He <b>gave </b>Nadine a look of approval before addressing Daniel, “Nadine’s right. Gigi has been spoiled rotten by you and Evelyn, and now it’s time to rectify her behavior!
“I want her to write out the line “I will not misbehave or throw a tantrum and always remember to uphold the family honor a thousand times.
“That ought to calm her down and remind her how a youngdy should behave, not to mention give the <b>entire </b>family some much–needed reprieve from her tantrums. It’s <b>a </b>win–win situation.”
Daniel thought this <b>was </b>a rather trivial matter and saw no point in getting Adam upset about it, so he said,
“Fair enough.”
Evelyn, however, tried to plead Gigi’s case. “Adam…”
“It’s decided, then!” Adam said with finality. “Gigi will write that line a thousand times and hand in her
work to me in a week.”
He gave Gigi a warning look. “If you even think about taking the easy way out, I’ll punish you the traditional Hamilton way!”
Gigi barely had time to argue for her cause before the butler dragged her away to write her lines.
Brad was silent the entire time and merely watched the whole ordeal with cold indifference.
There was a dark look in his eyes as he turned his gaze to Nadine. He felt like there was something different about her.
When peace resumed in the Hamilton household, Adam returned to the head of the table. He looked exhausted, and he had lost his appetite.
“Go ahead and eat without me,” he <b>said </b>as he reached for Sean’s hand. “I’ll go for a walk with Sean.”
With that, he and Sean left to take a stroll outside.
Daniel watched as Adam left the dining room before ncing at Brad, who sat at the table and dined elegantly.
“Things areplicated enough at home as they are, Brad. Haven’t you had enough of this nonsense?”
Adam berated, upset that Brad had invited Jean over for dinner.
This was supposed to be a wholesome family dinner, but Jean had ruined it with her presence. Adam
even nearly had a heart attack because of her.
Safe to say, Daniel did not like Jean one bit:
“Brad, society expects you to be monogamous. We must maintain a united front as a family if we want.
our stocks to do well on the market,” Daniel pointed out gravely.
He continued, “How am I supposed to entrust you with running thepany if you can’t even manage your private affairs?”
Brad’s behavior was iprehensible, and having his mistress show up at the family home and seated at the dining table with his wife was beyond madness.
Daniel was convinced that Brad had lost his mind.
Jean couldn’t bear the sight of Brad getting admonished <b>and </b>quickly came to his defense, “No, Mr. Hamilton, you’ve got it all wrong. This isn’t Brad’s fault, it’s mine.
“I couldn’t stop pining over him, and I wanted toe by to see him. I ended up staying longer than ! expected, and I couldn’t turn Mrs. Hamilton down when she asked me to stay for dinner.
“I should have said no.”
As she said this, she stood up and bowed her head <b>at </b>Daniel in apology. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hamilton. I didn’t
lean to <b>cause </b>you so much trouble. I promise I won’t show up here ever again!”
ean bolted out of the dining room with her hands covering her face.
rad shot to his feet and made to chase after Jean when he saw her leaving the room tearfully.
urious at <b>this</b>, Daniel shouted after Brad, “If you take even one step out of that door, Brad, I will disown
ou!”
<bs</b>, Daniel’s warning fell on deaf ears, for? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.
d dashed after Jean and went out of sight… Meanwhile, Nadine remained in her seat and watched Brad leave, her gaze devoid of warmth.