Kevin had been spoiled rotten by his parents since childhood. He was a good-for- nothing who only knew how to cause trouble.

It was only because Karina had married Noah that people showed him any deference, out of respect for the Thompson family.

Already heartbroken and angry about her brother's injuries, Karina's temper flared when she heard Noah's dismissive comment.

"Kevin was just having a bit of harmless fun! And for what? For some woman, Bennett broke two of my brother's ribs! He was in agony all night, and my parents were so worried they didn't sleep a wink."

"We're supposed to be family, yet Bennett was so ruthless. Does he even see me as part of this family at all?"

Karina grew more incensed with each word, her last sentence nearly a shout.

Their daughter, still eating, was so startled she nearly dropped her fork.

Noah's face hardened, but he restrained himself in front of his daughter. "Nicola, are you finished eating?"

"Yes," the little girl mumbled, nodding uncertainly.

"Alright, have the driver take you to school," Noah said, signaling for the driver to come and lead the child away.

Once their daughter was gone, Noah's expression darkened. He looked at Karina with a mixture of disdain and ridicule.

"Who does your brother think he is, trying to claim kinship with the heir of the Thompson family? Karina, has being Mrs. Thompson for so long made you forget your place?"

Being berated so harshly by her husband, Karina's face flushed a deep red.

"Noah, how could you say that without even knowing the whole story..."

"I know what Bennett is like. And you know exactly what kind of degenerate your brother is, don't you? If Bennett laid a hand on him, it's because he deserved it."

“But..... aren't we family?" Karina tried to argue, but her voice trailed off, likely because she knew she had no ground to stand on.

Noah let out a cold laugh. "Bennett is showing you courtesy. Don't flatter yourself."

He finished the last of his soup, wiped his lips with a napkin, and stood up.

A maid immediately handed him his briefcase.

Noah took it, ready to head to the office.

As he walked past Karina on his way to the door, he paused for a moment.

Seeing the dark circles under her eyes and the bloodshot veins from her sleepless night at the hospital Noah signed his tone softening. get some rest. I'll talk to Bennett and make sure he doesn't give your brother any more trouble."

“Okay,” Karina nodded stiffly.

Though she appeared to concede, a knot of resentment remained in her heart.

It was Bennett who had hurt her brother, breaking his ribs. Yet the Thompsons weren't even going to apologize, Instead, they acted as dropping the matter was some great mercy.

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Maybe her parents were right. She had married up, and to outsiders, her life

seemed glamorous. But to the Thompsons, she was nothing.

"Ma'am, the master asked me to save some breakfast for you. Would you like to eat while it's hot before you rest?" a maid asked, approaching Karina as she stood, frozen in place.

"I'm not hungry. Get rid of it," Karina snapped, her face grim, before storming upstairs.