Mark's sudden move to turn the tables on them sent the three women into a rage.
Shelly was now even more convinced that Mark and Claudia were in it together.
She pointed at Claudia. "You don't have to admit it. There are security cameras at the entrance."
Ann's sister-in-law, Fiona, lunged at Mark. "You look so respectable, but you have such a black heart! You were the one who brought men to block us, and now you're trying to frame us!"
Mark shielded his face with his arms, stumbling back as Fiona attacked him, but he stuck to his story that he was just passing by.
Claudia said, "I believe Assistant Mark. He wouldn't lie."
She had known Mark for several years and was certain of his character.
Claudia warned Shelly, "Mrs. Quinn, I know you hold a grudge against me, but it was your niece, Ann, who broke the law. She brought this upon herself. You have no reason to blame me."
Shelly flatly denied it. "Dr. Watkins, don't make baseless accusations. I came to this restaurant to eat, not to find you."
Claudia's tone grew impatient. "Shelly, you're at your age, and your position in the Quinn family depends on that child. You should stay home and focus on having a healthy baby. If you keep trying to 'do something' to me and end up losing your child, your time as Mrs. Quinn will be over."
"How dare you curse my child?!"
Shelly grabbed a glass of juice from the table and hurled it at Claudia.
Peter, quick as lightning, pulled Claudia to his side. Mark, stepping in to shield Claudia, was drenched in juice.
Seeing this, Claudia quickly grabbed some tissues and handed them to Mark.
SMACK!
Darleen's hand flew, slapping Shelly across the face. "You bitch! How dare you throw that at my si—... my sister! I'll slap you silly!"
Darleen caught herself before calling Claudia her sister-in-law.
Humiliated and furious from the slap, Shelly was speechless.
Celia pointed at Darleen in disbelief. "Miss Ferguson, you dare to hit a pregnant woman? Aren't you afraid the Quinn family will make you pay for this?!"
Afraid Darleen would be at a disadvantage, Claudia stepped in front of Celia and slapped her soundly. "So I hit you. Tell me, how exactly are you going to make me pay?"
The four women were now a tangled mess.
In the end, it took several waiters and a few passing customers to separate them.
Shelly's face was swollen from Darleen's slaps.
She collapsed into a chair, clutching her stomach and ordering Fiona to call the police.
Fiona, her hair a mess and looking every bit the shrew, panted as she pointed at Claudia's group. "None of you are going anywhere!"
Celia's jacket was on the floor, her hair was disheveled, and her face was red with slap marks.
She warned Claudia defiantly, "I bet you don't know, but the chief of police is a Quinn. You're all in for a world of trouble."
Claudia ignored Celia's taunt.
Noticing that several buttons had been ripped from Mark's shirt and that his face and neck were covered in bloody scratches, she said, "I'm sorry, Assistant Mark. You got dragged into this because of me."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: No Divorce? The Billionaire's Love Chase!
I love this new version of this story....