Chapter 2694


    “Ugh, look who decided to grace us with her presence. Weren’t you too good for these kinds of


    gatherings, strutting around like you’re above it all? What’s got you crawling back. tonight, huh?” asked


    Madeline.


    Regina’s voice dripped with disdain as she gave her stepsister a once-over. Towering slightly above


    Madeline, she could not help but feel a certain sense of superiority.


    “This is my house too, you know. Ie and go as I please. Certainly none of your business to


    comment on myings and goings.”


    Madeline tossed her hair with a scoff, “You can only put on airs around me. Let me tell you, you’re the


    least wee person around here. If I were you, I’d have the decency not to embarrass myself at


    social events. Do you have any idea how much you’ve let Dad down, running around town, chasing


    stories like some paparazzi? Dad’s stressed out to the max, always venting to Mom about it. But then


    again, what would you know about timing and propriety, having never been taught, huh?”


    Regína had heard enough of these snide remarks tost a lifetime, but as she grew older, she had also


    developed a knack for hitting back.


    “Oh, I just can’t figure out how my job as a journalist is such an embarrassment to your-Dad,” she


    emphasized the word ‘your’ with a pointed tone.


    “Madeline, you can’t seriously think that taking on a newst name gives you a new father. But then


    again, there’s no shortage of shameless people in the world, right? People who’d forget their own


    father for a bit of cash. You’ve really opened my eyes to that.”


    “You!” Madeline’s face turned red with fury.


    The mention of this subject was her breaking point. At the time of her decision, she didn’t see anything


    wrong with it. Who wouldn’t seize the opportunity to escape a life of poverty andtch onto a path


    leading to wealth andfort, ditching the surname of a deadbeat dad?


    Even now, she didn’t regret her choice, and given the chance, she’d make it all over again. She did not


    want to go back to living in those squalid, flooded alleys ever again. The mere mention of that surname


    brought back memories of dark days, of her mother getting beaten, and her father, perpetually drunk.


    She was done hiding in closets.


    But how dare Regina use that as ammunition against her? How could she let that slide?


    Unfortunately for Madeline, Regina was no longer the pushover child she used to be. After a year of


    lugging around equipment and scaling all sorts of terrain as a journalist, she had built up some serious


    strength. She grabbed Madeline’s arm with a vice-like grip.


    “Try hitting me? You’re not tough enough, sweetheart.”


    Imogen, their mother, had just reached the top of the stairs when she witnessed their altercation.


    Seeing her daughter at a disadvantage, she lifted her skirt like a flustered duck and hurried over. Just


    then, the study door swung open, and Francis, naturally, caught sight of themotion.


    “What on earth is going on here?”


    Spotting Francis, Imogen stopped in her tracks and burst into theatrical sobs.


    “Regina, if your sister has done anything wrong, I’m here to apologize on her behalf. She’s so much


    younger than you; how could youy a hand on her? Oh, oh, oh!”


    As soon as Madeline heard her mother’s cries, she quickly let go, leaving Regina off-bnce.


    Stumbling a bit, Regina regained her bnce while Madeline fell to the ground, holding her face as she


    too began to cry.


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    “Oh, oh, oh, it’s all my fault, Regina. I’m sorry, I swear I won’t do it again.”