Chapter 529 Unmasking Her Hypocrisy
Patricia immediately called Ryan and not Carter, who was still recovering; the last thing he needed was stress that could impede his healing process. Ryan was the only one left who could help Lassie.
The call connected quickly, and after Patricia explained the situation, Ryan readily agreed to help.
After hanging up, Patricia drove straight to the Moores' residence.
It had all started because of her, so she needed to make sure that Lassie didn't get hurt.
At the Robinson estate, Christine had pushed Lassie to the ground and was pulling her hair, slamming her head forcefully against the floor.
Lassie's head echoed with thuds against the ground. Her ears were ringing, and the pain was blurring her vision.
Just then, a stern voice called out from behind them. "Stop it. What the hell are you two doing?"
Christine, as if deaf to the command, slapped Lassie hard across the face.
Lassie, normally easygoing, had reached her limit. She grabbed Christine's neck, turned over with force, and pinned her down.
"Christine, don't push me too far," Lassie snarled. "I've been patient with you at every turn. Don't take my kindness for weakness."
Christine, her eyes bloodshot with rage, clutched at Lassie's hair. "Who do you think you are, acting condescending toward me? You're nothing without me. You would be nobody, yet you dare to lay a hand on me."
With that, she wrapped her arms around Lassie, and they rolled to the ground. The two grappled fiercely, seemingly matched in their struggle.
Joseph Robinson, seeing his commands ignored, felt his anger boiling over. He ordered the household staff to separate the two women.
At that moment, Joseph's wife, Kyla, descended the stairs and laid eyes on her precious daughter. Christine was disheveled, her clothes askew, her hair a mess, and her face marred with injuries. Throwing caution to the wind, Kayla charged forward and slapped Lassie four times.
Lassie's cheeks swelled from the blows; the pain was sharp and searing. Her lip split, blood oozing at the corner of her mouth. Cradling her stricken face, she looked up at Kyla, her eyes brimming with red-hot tears. Her heart slowly turned cold.
Pierced by that look, Kyla felt a twinge of guilt, wondering if she had gone too far and whether she should apologize. But as the thought surfaced, Christine took her hand.
With pitiful eyes, Christine said, "Mom, I'm sorry; it's all my fault. I shouldn't have fought with Sisi. Please don't be mad at her; if you have to blame someone, blame me."
Kyla demanded, "What happened? Why were you two fighting?"
With her head hung low and tears dropping, Christine confessed, "It's all because of me. I should never have come back. Ever since I did, you and Dad stopped caring for Sisi like before. I should go back. If you visit me once a year, that would be more than enough for me."
Kyla's flicker of guilt extinguished instantly, and her brows knitted tighter. "Did Lassie say that?"
Christine glanced at Lassie before quickly averting her gaze. She shook her head dramatically.
"No, it wasn't her. I thought of it myself. Before I came back, Lassie was the belle of the Robinsons, the center of everyone's affection. But then, you shifted your attention to me. She must feel hurt by that. After all, she's married to Carter Moore now, and his status far exceeds Dad's. We can't afford to offend her. Otherwise, her husband could make things very difficult for us."
Kyla's frown deepened.
Joseph strode in, glowering at Lassie. "Did you put these thoughts into Christine's head? She's so timid and kind-hearted; she wouldn't have come up with this on her own."
It was phrased as a question, but the accusation was clear.
With a self-deprecatory chuckle, Lassie held back the tears brimming in her eyes and asserted stubbornly, "Would you believe me if I said it wasn't me? Haven't you and Mom already made up your minds that it was?"
Joseph became enraged. "Why would you say that? Haven't we treated you well enough? Christine has endured so much. We owe her and want to make it up to her, so favoritism is inevitable sometimes. That includes Carter; he was supposed to marry Christine, but we bent the rules for you. What more could you want?"
His every word was like a knife, savagely stabbing Lassie's heart. No matter how many times she felt this pain, it was always as sharp and clear.
"What do you mean Carter was supposed to be hers?" she said. "How does she have any claim on him?"
She could endure everything but this. Carter was hers.
At first, their union was initially just a business arrangement, without any romantic feelings involved, but now, she genuinely liked Carter. He was the only one for her.
Joseph snapped, "Would Carter have chosen you if you weren't the heiress of the Robinson family? He wanted a woman with both talent and virtue, well-educated and refined. We provided you all of that with our influence, or Carter wouldn't have given you a second glance."
Christine added, "Don't worry, Lassie, I won't compete with you. Although I like him too, I can't take what's yours."
Kyla was stunned. "Christine, you like Carter too? Why didn't you tell me or your father?"
Lassie's heart sank. If Christine spoke up, would her mother have arranged for Christine to marry Carter?
She couldn't bear another second in this house, so she turned to leave, only to be stopped by Joseph.
"Weren't you here to discuss something important with me? We haven't settled the matter yet."
Lassie paused mid-stride, thinking about Patricia, and turned back to her father. "Father, would you be willing to meet with Mrs. Watson?"
Joseph nodded slightly, giving Lassie a moment of hope, only to add, "I can agree to see her—but on one condition."
"What condition?" Lassie asked.
For poor Mrs. Watson, she would do anything she could to help.
"I want you to apologize to Christine," Joseph said.
Lassie turned to Christine and caught a fleeting flicker of triumph in her eyes. Biting her lip in frustration, she swallowed her pride and muttered, "I'm sorry."
"Sisi, I don't hold it against you. There is no need to feel guilty. There are no lasting grudges between siblings."
Lassie wanted to tear away at that hypocritical facade and show her parents Christine's true colors—her docility and obedience was all a sham.
"I've done what you asked; when will you meet Mrs. Watson?" Lassie pressed on.
"First, divorce Carter," Joseph said.
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