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eyes.
Tuff was relieved to know Kayla wasn’t mad at him. But someone at his house needed to be taught a lesson. After calming Kayla down, he stormed back to his house, murder in his
The moment Maggie saw him come home, she started avoiding him.
“What, Mom? Hiding from me now?” Tuff called out.
Maggie had to come out, putting on a brave face. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Mom, let me say it one more time–Joyce’s kid isn’t mine. If you keep siding with her and disrespecting Kayla in front of everyone, don’t blame me if I leave you to fend for yourself when you’re old,” Tuff said coldly.
Tuff had always been a good son, but now he was actually saying he’d leave his mother to fend for herself.
Maggie realized how serious things had gotten and tried to explain, “I’m not trying to go against Kayla. I’m just doing this for you, I had no other choice…”
“Mom, if you really care about me, just stop getting involved with Joyce,” Tuff said, his tone firm.
“But she’s got something on you!” Maggie insisted.
“What does she have on me?” Tuff asked, baffled.
Maggie shook her head and sighed. “You fool, that night you spent with her… If she goes to the cops and accuses you of rape, what will you do then?”
Tuff let out a bitter laugh. “So, she’s using this to manipulate you?”
“What else do you expect?” Maggie rolled her eyes. “I’ve been keeping my head down and cleaning up your mess, all for you.”
“Then why did you collude with her in the first place?” Tuff shot back.
Maggie couldn’t say a word–she just turned away, guilty as hell.
“Mom, let me say it again—nothing ever happened between me and her. If she wants to go to the police, let her. I couldn’t care less.”
Maggie frowned in disbelief. “Really? Nothing happened between you two?”
“That’s right.”
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“Then what about those bruises on her, and the fact that she’s pregnant? The day after you two supposedly had that incident, she went to the hospital to get checked for injuries!” Maggie pressed, her voice rising.
“Whatever game she’s playing, it’s none of my business,” Tuff shot back, sounding completely unconcerned.
“Tuff…” Maggie tried to say something, but he cut her off, not giving her a chance.
“Mom, if you ever embarrass Kayla in front of people again, I’ll pack my bags and move back to Norava. Don’t test me,” Tuff warned, his tone icy and unyielding.
He threw down those harsh words and stormed out, leaving Maggie standing there in shock.
Maggie just stood there, his words echoing in her mind, completely stunned.
If Tuff really hadn’t done anything with Joyce, then she’d been totally duped.
The realization hit her hard–she felt so disgusted, it was like she’d just swallowed something foul.
She quickly called the hospital. “Find a way to collect a fetal DNA sample during Joyce’s next prenatal check–up–I need a paternity test…”
‘Joyce, you’d better not be playing me for a fool, Maggie thought grimly.
*****
Joyce’s fuss was like a gust of wind–once it passed, it was gone.
Meanwhile, in Lunova, Kayla had picked up a new nickname: “Princess of Kingsley.” Even Daniel caught wind of it.
At the dinner, Daniel couldn’t help teasing Tuff. “So, how’s the Princess of Kingsley doing?”
“Of course she’s great,” Tuff replied.
“And how’s you doing?” Daniel shot him a wicked grin.
Kayla isn’t some fragile, sentimental type–she was a leading lady who had emerged victorious from a battlefield of strife.
Drama like throwing tantrums or threatening divorce was not her style. She’d aim for something far grander.
Tuff was speechless. “Daniel, can’t you just wish me well for once?”
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“Joyce’s drama is all over Lunova. No way you’re still doing fine after that,” Daniel laughed.
“Did you tell Landon?” Tuff asked, his voice trembling.
Daniel snorted. “Seriously? Is that all the guts you’ve got?”
“If you were in my shoes, you’d be scared too!” Tuff shot back, rolling his eyes.
Daniel actually paused and gave it some real thought before saying, “Yeah, I’d be scared too.”
Tuff was furious and downed a glass of wine in one gulp.
“By the way, what’s really going on between you and Joyce?” Daniel asked.
“She’s been raising hell, and honestly, I should’ve taught her a real lesson. But… I owe her brother my life,” Tuff said, downing another drink, the bitterness in his heart as strong as the taste in his mouth.
“You mean Dominick?” Daniel exclaimed in shock.
Dominick was his age, and they’d been classmates all the way from elementary to high school.
He grew up to be the kind of guy girls called a real prince charming–tall, handsome, and always the center of attention.
Compared to Dominick’s flawless good looks, Joyce was downright ugly, as if her genes had mutated.
But then, one day, Dominick just disappeared without a trace.
The Lambert family kept totally quiet about it–no funeral, nothing. Daniel always thought Dominick had just headed overseas to chase his dreams.
It turned out Dominick was dead all along.
“He… he shielded me from a knife and died right in front of me…” Tuff buried his face in his
hands.
The Lambert and Prescott families had been family friends for generations, and Dominick was Tuff’s childhood friend.
Dominick had a bright future ahead of him.
If the person seeking revenge that night hadn’t tracked him to the night market… if he had been just a little quicker… but none of that matters now.
Dominick was already dead.
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He had no idea what was going on, but still threw himself in front of the blade for his best friend.
“Tuff…” Daniel was completely floored.
In Daniel’s memory, Dominick was just a good–looking guy–timid and so weak.
He had never thought Dominick would be the one to take a knife for Tuff.
“After that happened, I swore I’d look after the Lambert family for him. My mom even made Joyce her goddaughter. We’ve always watched out for them in business, and kept close in daily life…” Tuff said slowly, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his glass.
Good thing the glass was tough, or he would’ve crushed it.
“You really had no clue what Joyce was after, did you?” Daniel asked.
“Yeah,” Tuff replied.
“Then you can’t blame yourself,” Daniel said, patting Tuff on the shoulder. “Honestly, Joyce’s nothing like Dominick. She’s got zero backbone–just desperate and shameless. If Dominick were still around, he’d be embarrassed to have her as his sister.”
“Really? Would he?” Tuff asked, his voice thick with bitterness.
“If my sister ever acted like that, I’d have to set her straight myself!” Daniel said. “Honestly, Mais used to be pretty wild–she’d always fight for my attention with Amy, and I had to put her in her place more than once.”
Tuff was at a loss for words. ‘Do siblings really compete for family love?‘
“I remember Dominick’s dad was never much of a businessman. The Lambert family was barely hanging on for years–if it weren’t for your family, they would’ve gone under long ago. Tuff, you’ve already done more than enough,” Daniel said.
“No matter what I do, it’ll never make up for Dominick’s life…” Tuff muttered, the guilt weighing heavy in his chest.
“You owe Dominick, but you don’t owe Joyce anything,” Daniel clapped Tuff hard on the shoulder.
Tuff straightened up. “Is that so?”
“Come on, Dominick was a great guy. You think he gave his life so you’d let Joyce walk all over you?” Daniel said.
“Of course not! Dominick was pure–hearted and always did the right thing…” Tuff replied, his
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“Exactly,” Daniel said, raising his glass with a grin. “Dominick gave his life to save you, not so you’d let his sister walk all over you.”
Tuff clinked his glass against Daniel’s, finally seeing things clearly–a sense of relief washing over him.
He convinced Dominick would never want that.
Joyce’s wickedness didn’t deserve to eclipse Dominick’s kindness.
“Daniel, thanks for setting me straight,” Tuff said, downing three shots in a row to show his
respect.
Daniel winked mysteriously. “Don’t thank me–thank your Princess of Kingsley”
“Hmm?”
Tuff suddenly sensed something and whipped around.
Not far off, Kayla was standing there–serene and graceful as ever.
When she saw him turn, she locked her phone screen and walked toward him.
AD
