Gerard, fixing his cold gaze on Laura, listened as she added, “He needs to learn a lesson."

At Gerard's signal, the guard escorted the man away.

Meanwhile, Jerrold gripped Lilah's hand tightly, his young face filled with anger. He silently wished he were older, so he could protect his mother himself.

Following the unsettling incident at the club, Gerard decided it was time to leave. Laura and Marlene were the last to exit the establishment.

In the car, Laura received a text from the club manager, clearly worried. "Miss Rhodes, what's going to happen now? Will Mr. Harris do something against me?"

The club was the manager's livelihood.

Laura reassured him, "Don't worry. Gerard and I have been regulars since we were kids. He values friendships and probably just wants to teach you a lesson. He won't ruin you."

The manager sighed in relief.

Word about the incident at the club quickly spread through Eleywood, especially among the elite. The club's clientele, predominantly affluent, were outraged to hear about the harassment in the haunted house.

Rich young women expressed their anger, and their male counterparts stopped visiting the club out of respect. Soon, anyone seen at the club faced social reprimand.

The club's business suffered dramatically over the next few days. The worried manager reached out to Laura again, regret written all over his face.

Laura hadn't anticipated Gerard taking such decisive action. She wondered if he did it to protect Lilah, even though Lilah hadn't been harmed that day.

Meanwhile, Lilah was back at her office, diving into her work. The holiday had left her with a pile of tasks, but she managed them efficiently during a meeting, earning admiration from her employees.

They sensed that Lilah would lead the Phillips Group to new heights.

As Lilah exited her office for business, Laura, in a white dress and looking visibly upset, stopped her at the entrance.

"What's the matter?" Lilah asked.

Laura's fragile appearance, accentuated by her makeup, was designed to evoke sympathy.

They stood there, quickly drawing the attention of passers-by.

Laura, biting her lip, spoke softly. “Lilah, I know what happened last time was unfair to you. Since then, nobody's been to the club.

The manager is facing huge losses. If this continues, he might have to shut down his business. It's his life's work. Isn't this enough?"

"You should be speaking to Gerard, not me," Lilah responded.

"But he acted because of you. I'm upset about what happened to you too, but you're okay, and that man was punished. The club manager is innocent..." Laura's voice took on a pleading tone. "Please, Lilah, can you intervene? Do you want to see him and his family suffer?"

Glancing at her watch, Lilah replied tersely, “I don't have time for this. Talk to Gerard."

As Lilah attempted to leave, Laura grasped her hand, her eyes brimming with tears. “Please, Lilah, I'm begging you. What do you want to make this right? I can't stand to see the club we used to frequent close. We have so many memories there. Can't you do something to stop this?"