Amanda was the first person Adelaide had ever seen who could shamelessly wield mental illness as a get–out–of–jail–free card.Â
“Where are you? I’ll come now.” Adelaide had no choice but toÂ
give in. She couldn’t let Teresa get dragged into this.Â
Amanda was smug and triumphant. She knew this was Adelaide’s weakness, and she fully intended to exploit it.Â
cheÂ
gave an address, making it clear that Adelaide had to arriveÂ
within an hour.Â
Once the call ended, Adelaide quickly regained her composureÂ
and calmly packed her tablet into her bag. She glanced over at Reginald, who seemed to be in a video conference.Â
She approached Nathan’s desk and explained in a low voice,Â
“Mr. Hurst, I’m going out to gather some on–site inspiration.Â
Could you please inform Mr. Thorton for me later?”Â
Nathan had noticed her taking that call in the break room, andÂ
he simply nodded. “Got it. I’ll let him know.”Â
Only then did Adelaide hurry out.Â
Amanda had booked out an entire restaurant.Â
When Adelaide arrived, there wasn’t a single staff member inÂ
sight.Â
It looked like Amanda was ready for a fight.Â
And that was exactly what Amanda had in mind.Â
As soon as Adelaide sat down, she noticed Amanda gritting herÂ
teeth furiously and clutching a coffee cup. Almost on reflex.Â
Adelaide shifted to the side, just in time to dodge the scaldingÂ
coffee Amanda tried to throw at her face.Â
Having missed, Amanda clenched her jaw in frustration.Â
Adelaide calmly moved to another chair and sneered, “Did youÂ
ask me out just to throw coffee at me? Heh, I thought you wereÂ
going to pull another suicide stunt.”Â
That hit a nerve. “Adelaide, even if you and Garrett have beenÂ
together for years, so what? He fell for my body first! He enjoysÂ
making love with me!”Â
Maybe it was her mental illness, but Amanda had always beenÂ
this blunt and crude. Adelaide was used to it by now. The factÂ
that this was all she had left to lash out with only proved sheÂ
was desperate.Â
“Oh? If he loves your body so much, why won’t he divorce me?”Â
“That’s only because of you!” Amanda’s face contorted withÂ
Chapter 20Â
rage.Â
“Right, because of me.”Â
“You bitch!”Â
Adelaide sneered, “Amanda, do you think you’re the only person who knows how to throw coffee at someone’s face? Let me tell you, when sane people snap, we’re no weaker than someone with a mental illness. Want to find out?”Â
“You wouldn’t dare!” Amanda laughed, eyes full of contempt like she was looking at a stray dog. “You’re just a fake that my parents pity. Living under our roof, you have to follow our rules. Do you think you can touch me? Unless you don’t want toÂ
be the daughter of the Pierce family anymore.”Â
That was one of the reasons Adelaide wanted to cut ties withÂ
the Pierce family.Â
Finley insisted on keeping her around because she had value. But in the eyes of Amanda and her mother, it was Adelaide whoÂ
refused to leave the Pierce family.Â
Amanda had tried to force Adelaide out of the Pierce familyÂ
before, but Finley wouldn’t allow it.Â
Afraid of her father, she could only swallow her frustration andÂ
resort to verbal attacks instead.Â
Chapter 20Â
But Adelaide had long grown numb to such insults.Â
She smiled coldly. “Let me guess. You went crying to Dad again, trying to kick me out.”Â
Instantly, Amanda’s face contorted even further with rage andÂ
hatred.Â
Chapter 27Â