That night was not a calm night.
To the occupants of the Newton residence, especially, it was a sleepless, painful night.
Jasmine had paid a visit to a relative of her mother’s.
She was unreachable because she had turned off her phone.
After Gwendolyn and her group left, Craig ordered the bodyguards to locate Jasmine immediately.
Five hours later, at daybreak, Jasmine was dragged back from her relative's house and flung into the ancestral hall.
“Hey! Go easy, would you? Are you trying to kill me?” She massaged her sore buttock as she grumbled at the bodyguard.
Without a word, the bodyguard departed the ancestral hall after one last bow.
With a bang that startled Jasmine, he slammed the doors to the ancestral hall shut.
In the pitch-black darkness of the night, the candles in the ancestral hall remained lit.
Shivering at the occasional cold breeze, Jasmine swallowed guiltily as she got to her feet.
“Remain on your knees.”
An icy male voice that chilled her to the bone sounded behind her.
Jasmine shuddered with a fear that penetrated her bones when she heard the voice.
Clumsily, she whipped around and saw Craig standing before the plaques of their ancestors with a menacing scowl.
Even more frightening, he was holding the cane used to uphold their familial laws.
The slick-looking cane looked imposing.
It was plain that it had been soaking before it was produced, prepared especially for her.
Terrified, she braced herself before stepping forward and kneeling, giving a weak chuckle as she did so.
“You scared me, Craig. What did | do wrong to warrant the use of the cane?” Craig did not speak.
His face, contorted with rage, looked as cruel as a bloodthirsty demon's.
“We can talk about this, Craig. My skin is too delicate to withstand the cane. Besides, you've never struck me. Calm down.”
She put on an act of indignity by biting her lip.
Standing over her, Craig gazed down imperiously.
His tone was cold, as if he was interrogating a criminal.
“Answer my questions. If | find out you're lying, I'll break your legs.”
Jasmine turned pale.
She shook her head vigorously.
“I won't. Ask your questions, Craig. | will not lie.”
“Why did you seek refuge outside tonight?” She froze, recalling Gwendolyn's repeated reminders earlier that day to feign ignorance.
“| did no such thing. Why do you say that, Craig? It was Genevieve who called me over to play like she always does.
| wasn't planning on coming home today, but you sent someone to retrieve me.
| spend the night at her house all the time.
Was that so wrong that it warrants intimidating me with the cane?” Narrowing his eyes, Craig studied her expression.
“Are Gwendolyn's crystal earrings with you?” Having arrived at the point, Jasmine began to grow nervous.
She reminded herself to answer according to how Gwendolyn taught her.
Otherwise, | may not survive the night.
At that thought, she looked up innocently.
“Yes, they're with me. Is there a problem?” Craig scowled.
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