Chapter 21
But if Paisley was not with Nathan or the Jensen family, Cassidy had no idea who had taken Paisley. She hadn’t made enemies with anyone, and she couldn’t fathom who would have a reason to abduct Paisley. She turned to the bodyguard. “Paisley’s not here. Let’s go to the police station.”
“Yes, Ms. Saunders. The group of bodyguards escorted Cassidy to leave.
Samantha stared at Cassidy’s departing figure, seething with animosity. She resented Cassidy for showing up abruptly with a sizable entourage and sweeping through the Jensen residence. She couldn’t fathom how Cassidy, once meek and compliant, had transformed into this new persona.
Seeing the well–trained bodyguards following Cassidy’s lead, Samantha felt utterly embarrassed. She valued her image, yet now it lay shattered by Cassidy.
In a fit of rage, she muttered, “Absurd! Disappearing for five years without a valid reason and then suddenly parading back with an illegitimate daughter. Does she truly believe it’s something to boast about? Instead of reporting her disappearance, she gathers a mob and storms here. Luckily, there are no outsiders present. Otherwise, she would have brought disgrace upon the family.”
Illegitimate daughter? Cassidy abruptly halted, turned around with a cold face, and narrowed her eyes.
“Ms. Saunders?” The nearby bodyguards respectfully sought direction.
Cassidy raised her hand and turned back to Samantha. Standing five feet eight inches tall, she looked down at Samantha. “Who did you call an illegitimate child?”
Samantha bristled at Cassidy’s tone. “I’m talking about your daughter! Isn’t she illegitimate if she was born before you were
married?”
Slap!
Cassidy slapped her in the face without mercy.
Samantha staggered back, covering her face in shock. Even if Cassidy didn’t admit it, Samantha was still Cassidy’s biological mother. No daughter should ever raise a hand against her mother.
Kenny shielded Samantha and shouted at Cassidy, “You’ve lost it! How dare you?”
“You can insult me, but don’t you dare touch Paisley!” For ages, Cassidy had protected Paisley fiercely. No one could lay a hand on her daughter, whether it was Samantha, Kenny, or Lionel. Anyone attempting to tarnish Paisley’s name would face the same retaliation.
Unable to accept the situation, Samantha covered her face and burst into tears. “You ungrateful daughter! How dare you hit mel
Kenny rushed over, ready to confront Cassidy, “I’ve tolerated you, and now I’ve had enough! I have to teach you a lesson today!”
A bodyguard immediately protected Cassidy behind him. “Who dares to touch Ms. Saunders? We’ll smash this place into pieces!”
“Go for it!” Cassidy said coldly. The Cassidy of today was not the same as five years ago, and she wouldn’t allow them to have their way
Upon Cassidy’s command, the bodyguards behind her swiftly retreated into the house. The leader aggressively flipped the coffee table, shattering the tray into shards. The other bodyguards proceeded to wreck the room.
Lionel was furious. “You’re all crazy! Stop it! All of you!”
Clank!
An antique vase toppled to the floor. Lionel’s eyes widened in disbelief. It was a prized possession he had acquired for 65,000 dollars 15 years ago. He had always been fond of collecting precious famous paintings and antiques, and this vase was also one of his favorites. Seeing it being broken, he wanted to cry. “My vase… Stop! Are you all crazy? Stop it, or I’ll call the police!”
Cassidy stood in the crowd with a cold face, and three bodyguards protected her. Ignoring the cries of Kenny and Samantha,
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Clupter 21
she silently watched as the bodyguards wreaked havoc inside the house. She had endured this humiliation for five years. The Jensen family had mistreated her repeatedly, so why did she have to care about mercy!
“Stop!” Lionel screamed with all of his might. Seeing that the bodyguard was about to attack the oil painting hanging on the wall, he pushed Meredith away in a hurry and rushed over. He blocked the oil painting, saying “You can smash something else, but not this oil painting! Or else, we’ll have a serious problem!”
Cassidy looked at the painting and froze. It was “Marilyn’s Night, a masterpiece that set a new record for a young oil painting maestro at the auction last year.
The picture portrayed a Friyxian top musical actress in a red dress with blonde, curly hair, standing by Slumbrous River. She gazed out thoughtfully into the melancholic night, cigarette in hand. Crafted by the young maestro Jessica, the artwork caused a stir with the exquisite brushwork, realistic night scene, and vivid picture. Many had assumed it was computer–generated due to its striking realism.
Turns out Lionel had paid a hefty 3 million dollars to buy this painting‘ Cassidy’s eyes darkened as disbelief washed over her
“Ms. Saunders?” The bodyguards hesitated, unsure whether to destroy the painting due to its exorbitant value.
Cassidy remained silent, her gaze fixed on the painting with escalating disdain in her eyes.
Lionel pointed at Cassidy and said fiercely. “If you dare smash it, I will fight you to death!”
“Fight me to death? Sure,” Cassidy sneered. “You are not qualified to own this oil painting. After saying that, she raised her chin coldly and ordered, “Destroy it.”
“Yes!” The bodyguards proceeded undeterred by Lionel’s attempt to intervene. Anyway, Josiah and Cassidy would and dare to take responsibility.
Bang!
The bodyguard took off the oil painting and smashed it on the wall. The frame was instantly distorted and deformed.
Lionel was completely stunned. He didn’t expect that Cassidy would destroy the pricey masterpiece.
Meanwhile, Cassidy watched coldly as the shattered porcelain fragments on the ground cut the painting into snorted, then turned and walked out the door, her bodyguards following suit.
pieces. She
As the last of them departed, Lionel snapped out of his shock. Trembling, he knelt beside the ruined painting, his heart shattered by the loss. Silent anguish contorted his face, rendering him speechless at the sight of his most beloved artwork reduced to ruin.
