Adah was left speechless by Claire's sharp retort.
Seeing Adah at a loss, Nathan's anger boiled over. He hissed, "If I’d known you were incapable of change, I never would have taken you from that orphanage. I should have left you there to fend for yourself."
"After running away for a month, I bet you bought those clothes with filthy money earned from selling yourself! And now you plan to use the Aberdeen gala to seduce men? Dream on. As your father, I have every right to discipline a shameless daughter like you."
Nathan's words exploded like a bomb in the crowd, causing a wave of murmurs and judgmental glances directed at Claire.
Nathan, feeling triumphant, thought to himself, This little brat, I’m her father, and she won't get away from me.
"I was too lenient before, letting you get away with everything. But now, you've reached a new low. It's my fault as your father, but I won’t let you continue like this. Even if I have to beat you, I’ll stop you from your reckless behavior."
Nathan swung his large hand toward Claire, ready to strike.
Adah rushed forward, hoping to restrain Claire so Nathan could hit her.
"Claire, stop being stubborn. Haven't you embarrassed us enough?"
But before they could reach Claire, Liam and the driver intervened, kicking them both to the ground.
Nathan and Adah attempted to fight back, but Liam had called security, who quickly pinned them down.
Nathan's face turned crimson with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes wide with fury.
He was the chairman of The Linwood Group, a prominent figure in Cresthaven's elite circles. Yet here he was, forced into a humiliating kneeling position.
Glaring at Claire with venom, he shouted, "Do you know who I am? You’ll regret treating me like this!"
Adah, sobbing, cried out, "Claire, we're your parents! How can you let them treat us like this?"
Now they remembered they were her parents?
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom