Renee's malicious voice echoed at an opportune moment.
"She knew everything long ago, and it's all written in her diary! Aunt Linda, Lina, the real liar here is her! She has ulterior motives for getting close to the Thompsons!"
Lena yelled, "Stop it!"
Renee laughed heartily. "What's wrong? Feeling guilty now? Hahaha! Just like that phrase you once said, thief crying thief—I'm returning these exact words to you!"
"Renee Thompson!
"You are the thief, and your mother is one too! She even seduced my uncle!"
"Shut your mouth!" Lena lost her composure. She rushed forward to hit Renee but was held back tightly by Lina.
"Lina, do you know who her mother is?" Renee continued to add fuel to the fire. "Her mother is Krystal, the human trafficker who almost sold us off!"
"Shut up!" Lena screamed, tears streaming down her face.
Anger, panic, shame, and various emotions mingled together in her heart, reaching their climax like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Lina and Linda were both stunned, but Lina snapped out of it first and rushed forward to support Linda.
"Mom..."
Linda trembled and struggled to catch her breath as if her heart had been through a tormenting ordeal. A sharp pain made each breath a challenge.
Yet, she managed to glean a fragment of clarity from her chaotic thoughts. Lena, younger than Lina, was apparently Nicholas' child. This implied that he might have been with another woman after their marriage.
"Hush!" Zuko warned him hastily.
Chris chuckled. Just then, the butler arrived in a panic.
"Sir... something happened! You need to return home quickly!"
"What happened?" Chris stopped him. "Which sir is it? Be clear!"
"It's the Thompsons!" The butler panted. "Someone from the Thompsons came s-saying that Ms. Renee led reporters to the front gate and said some outrageous things. She made Madam so angry she fainted on the spot!"
"What?!" Zuko and Chris shouted simultaneously, alerting the two old men in the water.
"What happened to Linda?" Nicholas rushed up, not even bothering to put on his shoes. "Hurry... Zuko, take me back!"
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