chapter2179

A moment earlier, Miranda might have resisted. Yet when even her father-in-law demanded contrition, pride bowed beneath sheer necessity.

She inhaled, spine stiff. "Nathaniel, I'm sorry. This mess is all my fault. I was just furious when I saw that assistant bully my child. I wasn't targeting Cecilia personally."

With practiced ease, she tried to rinse her hands of blame, painting herself the aggrieved mother.

Nathaniel folded his arms, unmoved. "After all this trouble, you think one simple apology wipes the slate?"

The day had cost him hours of work, gallons of patience, and an already thin trust.

Miranda had assumed a simple cease-fire would leave everyone smiling. She had not expected Nathaniel's refusal to lower his sword.

Now she felt the sting of consequences-a stone she herself had hurled, swinging back to break her own ankle.

"Then what do you want?" she shot back, more wounded than penitent. "My son was mistreated, and yet, I've apologized. Isn't that enough? Why must you push me to my limit?"

Nathaniel's gaze sliced through her theatrics. "Our villa's security cameras tell a different story, though. Felix was the one who bullied and struck the other children. Charlotte merely intervened, but you framed her. Spare us the self-pity."

Cornered by undeniable footage, Miranda's retorts withered, leaving only a frustrated glare.

Discontent pooled in her eyes, heavy and dark as storm clouds that refused to break.

Robert stepped forward, smiling with forced warmth. "Nathaniel, a mother's worry can cloud judgment. Let's each give a little, call it a misunderstanding, and move past this, yes?"

"That's right. Let's not drag it," Adrian chimed in hastily.

Clearly, neither man wished to stand on the wrong side of Nathaniel's temper.

Nathaniel continued to stare at Miranda. "I want you to write an apology letter and a letter of guarantee."

"What?" Miranda's voice cracked. Disbelief flooded her features as though the hallway lights had suddenly gone blindingly white.

Nathaniel's voice slipped between the quiet hum of the interrogation room, his thin lips parting with deliberate calm. "Do you not want to? Then perhaps you'd prefer a chat with my attorney."

Miranda swallowed the last of her pride and gave a stiff nod.

"Fine. I'll write it."

Until that moment, she had lived nearly her whole life without ever drafting any sort of formal pledge, let alone a humiliating letter of guarantee.

"What exactly am I supposed to write in the letter of guarantee?" she muttered, fingertips already trembling at the thought of ink on paper.

Nathaniel did not so much as blink. "Write that you framed someone today, and promise on record that it will never happen again."

The request, spoken in that

measured baritone, hurt far worse than any slap could have. He was stripping her in public view, layer after layer, until only Shame

remained

Miranda's spine locked rigid. "All right... I'll write it," she said, each syllable forced through clenched teeth.

Just you wait, Nathaniel... One day, I'll return every ounce of this humiliation— with interest.

Only after her reluctant agreement did Albert finally lead Felix back into the room, the boy blinking beneath harsh ceiling lights.

With a genial, almost playful smile, Zachary crouched so their eyes met. "Remember this Felix Never lie When you lie you get needles lots of them."

Felix's shoulders curled inward. "I-I understand, Mr. Zachary. I won't do it again— ever."

Only then did Zachary straighten and let the matter drop. Inside, however, a sigh pressed against his ribs.

He's a decent child, yet his own mother has spoiled him and led him astray. What a pity.

Miranda shot Zachary a daggered glare before shepherding her shaken son toward the exit.

Once Adrian's family had disappeared down the corridor, Nathaniel and Ernest prepared to leave as well.

Zachary covered a yawn with the back of his hand. "Nathaniel, it's already so late. Are you guys still going home at this hour?"

Nathaniel adjusted his cuff links with practiced ease. "Precisely because it's late, I have to," he answered, voice low but final.

If I don't head back soon, Cecilia will start to worry.

Zachary clicked his tongue. "Married men sure are different, huh?"

As he spoke, his gaze slid toward Ernest, curiosity dancing behind the lazy grin.

"It's been a while, Mr. Ernest."

Ernest offered a polite incline of his head. "Indeed."

Zachary's grin widened. "By the way, my wife-Vivian-just gave birth to a big, healthy baby boy."

The pride in his eyes glittered brighter than polished silver; there was no hiding it, even if he tried.

A faint ripple crossed Ernest's calm features gone almost before it formed leaving him once,

the

picture of composed neutel

"Congratulations," he said, each syllable smooth as glass. "Thank you," Zachary replied, grin stretching ear to ear.