“Apologize.” Stephen was clearly getting impatient as his gaze turned colder.

“No! I won’t! I refuse! Why should I apologize to Tessa? I did nothing wrong!” Jacqueline screamed hoarsely as tears streamed down her face. It was obvious that she had no desire to apologize.

Her face was streaked with tears as she cried out in anguish, casting her dignity aside. “Why? Why can’t I love you? We grew up together and are not at all related. Why can’t you see me as a woman? How am I in the wrong for loving you? Why is it wrong for me to want to be with you forever?”

A crisp sound echoed across the hall.

Sophia had slapped Jacqueline across the face before shouting angrily, “Shut your mouth!”

Jacqueline’s face had jerked to the side from the blow, and the red imprint of Sophia’s palm was visible on her cheek.

“How dare you say such things?” Sophia glared at Jacqueline, her face pale with rage. “Stephen is your brother and will only ever be your brother! Forget your status as the Jacobson family’s adopted daughter. There’s no way you and Stephen would ever be together even after you’ve left this family!”

Jacqueline let out a cold chuckle.

“Do you think I wanted you to adopt me?” She raised her head to stare straight into Sophia’s eyes. “I wouldn’t have become his sister if it weren’t for you. Did you ever ask for my opinion when you adopted me? I never wanted to be his sister!”

“I can’t breathe.” An overwhelmed Rowena clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.

“Get my mother’s medication! Quickly!” Caleb yelled anxiously.

The staff hurried off to get Rowena’s medication.

Stephen shot Lawrence a look, who caught his silent order and swiftly kicked the back of Jacqueline’s knee.

Jacqueline, who was caught off guard, immediately fell to the ground.

Lawrence then ruthlessly stepped on Jacqueline’s back, pinning her to the ground. Her pale face was pressed against the floor, and she looked utterly miserable.

Stephen leaned against the couch, exuding a bloodthirsty air. “It’s fine if you don’t want to apologize. You can show your sincerity by groveling instead.”

Lawrence understood the task at hand and grabbed Jacqueline by her hair. He lifted her head off the ground before slamming it back down.

Jacqueline’s head banged against the ground several times.

Rowena nearly keeled over after watching such an absurd scene play before her eyes.

Fortunately, the staff member, who had gotten Rowena’s medication, arrived just in the nick of time.

Rowena shakily took the pills and gradually regained her breath.

“I’m done. I still want to live for a couple more years. I’m washing my hands off this mess.” Rowena rubbed her chest and left with the staff member’s support.

Tessa scrunched her brows as she swept her gaze over the groveling Jacqueline. Then, she turned to look at Stephen, who was sporting an austere expression. “What do you mean she’s had others killed?”

Stephen didn’t want to tell Tessa that Jacqueline had murdered innocent people.

Tessa was already worried sick over

the Granger siblings, Lucas and Anne. She couldn’t sleep or eat well because of them. He didn’t want to imagine how distressed she would get if she found out that innocent victims had met their tragic demise at Jacqueline’s hands.

So, he replied calmly, “I was talking about Susan.”

“Alright.” Tessa lowered her lashes. She had a feeling that things weren’t as simple as they seemed.