"I have worked for Madam for decades. I recognize only her and no one else. I will never take orders from anyone but her."

As Dotty spoke, she yanked Maeve down the stairs as if lifting a chick by the scruff of its neck, shoved her in front of Jess and Clarisse, and shouted sharply, "Didn't you hear Madam calling you? Hurry up and kneel to Miss Clarisse and apologize!"

Clarisse lifted her chin, stuck out her dirty shoe, and planted her hands on her hips as she glared at Maeve.

"Not only do you have to kneel and apologize—you have to kneel down and lick my shoes clean! My mom said raising you is like raising a puppy. Puppies lick their owner's shoes. That's only natural!"

Before my eyes, my daughter—who had always been proud and obsessed with cleanliness—actually bent her knees and assumed the posture of kneeling down to lick the shoe.

"Maeve, don't!" I grabbed her at once and pressed my hands firmly on her shoulders. "Don't be afraid. Mommy is here. You're Mommy's precious girl. Don't believe them. You're not a bastard."

"B-but…" Maeve shook her head in fear, and tears finally fell. "But the teacher said I'm an illegitimate child. Clarisse and Dotty said I'm an illegitimate child too… Daddy doesn't love me anymore…"

I wiped the tears from her face and looked up at Jess, murderous fury burning in my eyes.

"Jess, you've destroyed my daughter. I will never let you off."

Jess didn't care in the slightest. Instead, she laughed.

"Let me off? You should think about how you're going to save yourself first. Today is Clarisse's birthday party. You came here to make trouble and even tried to hit me and Clarisse. If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know your place!"

She shot a look at the bodyguards by the door.

"Seize them! Make the mother and daughter kneel and apologize to Clarisse. If they don't apologize, don't let them leave!"

The two bodyguards rushed forward to restrain me.

Maeve clung tightly to me in terror and cried out, "Mommy, just kneel down. I don't want you to get beaten. I'm an illegitimate child. I'll apologize to Clarisse…"

"Don't say that!" I cut her off, heart aching with fury. "Maeve, you've done nothing wrong. They're the ones who are wrong! Why should we apologize?"

But Maeve only cried harder, her whole body trembling.

Seeing her in this state felt like countless needles stabbing into my heart.

This was all forced on her by Jess and Clarisse! They hadn't just abused my daughter—they had shattered her spirit!

"I'll count to three. If you still don't kneel, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Jess crossed her arms, her voice icy.

"One!"

"Two!"

I held Maeve tightly. "I won't kneel! Even if I die, I will not let my daughter suffer this humiliation!"

"Three!"

Jess shouted at the bodyguards, "Hit them! Beat them until they kneel!"

Clarisse seized the moment and rushed over, reaching out to grab Maeve's hair.

"You illegitimate child—get out of my family!"

"Don't touch her!" I roared and shoved Clarisse away with one hand.

She fell to the ground and burst into loud sobs.

Seeing this, Jess screamed and lunged at me.

"How dare you push Clarisse! I'll kill you!"

She raised her hand to slap my face. I turned aside, grabbed her wrist, and flung it hard to the side.

Jess lost her balance and crashed into the cake table nearby. Cream and cake crumbs splattered all over her.

"Mommy!" Clarisse ran crying into Jess's arms. "She bullied us! Call Daddy! Hurry and call Daddy!"

At that moment, the villa doors were pushed open, and a figure stormed in, seething with rage.

"Who dares cause trouble at my daughter's birthday party?!"

Jess looked as if she had seen a savior and immediately rushed toward him, crying.

"Aaron! You're finally back! This bitch hit us! Save us!"

Clarisse cried out as well, "Daddy! This bad woman bullied Mommy and me! Punish her and that illegitimate child!"

Under everyone's gaze, Aaron slowly turned his head, and his eyes locked onto me.