Chapter 2849


    “Watch your tone. My mother married into this family after your mom Magina passed away.”


    Regina hated to hear her mother’s name from Madeline’s mouth, and she never allowed it to happen.


    But now, Madeline was bringing up her mother’s death with such a flighty tone. Regina could tolerate a


    lot, but disrespect towards her mother was where she drew the line.


    Her face turned a shade paler with barely contained rage.


    “Truth be told, your mother knew exactly what was what.” Regina continued with a coldness that made


    the air around them seem to drop a few degrees. “My mother may have been taken from me too soon


    by illness, but let’s not pretend your mom was some kind of saint. I was young, sure, but not oblivious. I


    know more than you think, so drop the act, Madeline.”


    Taking confident strides toward Madeline, Regina closed the distance between them, her taller frame


    casting a shadow over her stepsister. Regina had inherited her mother’s grace and Madeline,


    unfortunately for her, was rather short like their father.


    Madeline had tried hard to hold her own in the Tanner family, alwaysparing herself to Regina. She


    managed to keep in shape to some extent, but when it came to height, there. was simply no contest.


    “If I’m supposedly unworthy of Nn’s affection, then you’re out of the league entirely. And don’t get it


    twisted, Madeline, just because you’ve been a Tanner in name for years doesn’t mean you’re one of


    us.”


    A small, mocking smile yed on Regina’s lips, and Madeline’s face flushed a deep red with


    frustration. She knew Regina had always looked down on her!


    “What are you so proud of, Regina? So you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. What else


    have you got that I don’t?”


    Madeline’s voice was bitter, “Oh, I can’tpete with you, can I? With a mother like yours – oh, but


    wait, she’s long gone, and now my mother is the queen of your father’s heart…”


    It dawned on Regina that her biggest mistake over the years had been her tolerance. Both Imogen and


    Madeline had grown bold, thinking she was a pushover. They said what they wanted, did what they


    wanted, believing she would always remain silent.


    But after the recent dressing down from Nn and all that had happened, Regina had lost all patience.


    Without a second thought, she pped Madeline across the face.


    The p caught Madeline off guard. She covered her cheek with her hands for a while, as she


    struggled to process what had just happened. Since her arrival in the Tanner household, no one had


    daredy a finger on her, let alone p her.


    “You-you-you!” Tears welled up in Madeline’s eyes.


    Regina, somewhat surprised by her own reaction, widened her eyes and watched.


    “Well, that was a convincing performance.” Regina said sarcastically. “Remember to act like that in


    front of Dad next time, but make sure to tone it down a bit. You’re not on a soap opera. Don’t


    exaggerate.”


    “You’ll pay for this, Regina! I swear you will!” Madeline sobbed, her hand still on her reddening cheek.


    Regina’s patience was wearing thin. “Oh, I’ll be there. Now, if you would, please leave my house. And


    I’d rather not ask twice.”Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    With a dismissive gesture towards the door, Regina watched as Madeline, no matter how humiliated,


    clenched her teeth and stormed out. Madeline seethed with hatred for Regina. She was thankful that


    no one else was here; had anyone witnessed her disgrace, she would have wanted to bash her head


    against the wall in shame.