Chapter 2: Are You Sure You Want to Make Me Angry?

Irene struggled to stand and limped over. Hiram quickly supported her. "Why aren't you sitting down properly?Why do you rise? You should sit to rest."

She looked pitiful. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Even though I know Emma is pretending to be sick, she's still a child andshe's just a child who needs her father. I shouldn't have taken up your time.I shouldn't compete with her. Alexia, don't be angry!"

Pretending to be sick?

In an instant, rage surged through me, and I slapped Irene.

She staggered back into Hiram's arms.

"What are you doing!" Hiram shielded her, glaring at me. "Alexia! She's my stepmother!"

I looked at them embracing and laughed bitterly. "Stepmother? You remember she's your stepmother? You carried her all the way home and now you're holding her. Are you telling me you're mother and son?"

I stared at Irene. "I don't care what your relationship is, but you cannot slander Emma."

Irene shrank back in Hiram's arms.

I turned to Hiram. "Do you also think Emma is pretending to be sick?"

He didn't answer, scanning the room instead. "Where's Emma? Wasn't she always clamoring to see me? Where did you send her?"

"Alexia, are you afraid I'll see through her act, so you sent her back to your mother's house?"

Each question felt like a knife cutting into my heart.

My poor daughter, even in death they suspect her.

I knew he didn't like me, but how could he be so cruel to his own daughter?

Looking at his indifferent profile, my eyes filled with sorrow and anger.

"Hiram, my foot hurts so much, and my face too," Irene covered her face. "Is it swollen? We have a banquet tomorrow; will it affect anything?"

I had slapped her with all my strength, leaving a clear handprint on her pale face which was now swelling.

Hiram's heart ached felt sorry for her as he gently blew on her face.

I remembered once when Hiram and I took Emma to the park. She fell and scraped her knee, crying on the ground.

I tried to help her up and comfort her, but Hiram coldly stopped me.

"Don't help her; let her get up herself."

"She cries every time she falls; how will she ever achieve anything?"

I could only watch as Emma cried and got up by herself before taking her home to apply medicine.

Why? Why was Hiram so biased?

How could he be so cruel to us?

I had begged him to fulfill our child's wish, promising it would be the last time I'd bother him and that I'd give him his freedom afterward.

He had agreed!

But he broke his promise, and Emma left this world with regret.

I hate him! I hate Hiram!

Hiram looked at me coldly. "Alexia, apologize to Irene."

I straightened my back and said firmly, "No!"

Hiram seemed surprised by my refusal.

He carried Irene to the sofa and gently set her down.

I turned to leave.

Hiram's devilish whisper came from behind meHiram's voice, like the devil's whispers, rang out behind me. "Alexia, are you sure you want to anger memake me angry?"

I used to fear his anger the most.

But now, I had nothing left to fear.

Hiram gestured, and several servants came over, holding me down in front of him and Irene.

They sat on the sofa like rulers looking down on me.

"Alexia, apologize to Irene."