Chapter 6 Who Allowed You to Treat Her Like This?

The lab erupted in cheers again.

"Let me treat everyone to this meal," Henry said with a smile. "Whether for the institute or for my own selfish reasons, I welcome you back."

These words carried deeper meaning, and Arthur's expression darkened even more.

This celebration dinner was booked at the most luxurious hotel in Regal City.

Arthur brought Sloane to the hotel entrance.

Beatrice's sudden transformation, plus having Henry by her side, made Arthur and Sloane feel an unprecedented sense of crisis.

Although Beatrice didn't say it, Arthur roughly understood that she used to be an important figure at the institute, but after marrying him, she chose to return to family life.

All these years, she had never mentioned it.

Sloane was smart enough to guess something too, and asked Arthur, "Dad, will Mom still come home to cook for us?"

Although she was happy that Beatrice had become so capable, she hoped more that Beatrice would go back to how she used to be.

One dazzling person—Jennifer—was enough.

With Sloane's question, Arthur suddenly understood where that uneasy feeling in his heart came from, even though he didn't care about Beatrice.

Over the years, Beatrice had taken such good care of him and Sloane.

Although what Beatrice did could be done by any housekeeper, none could match her thoughtfulness.

He and Sloane had long grown accustomed to her meticulous care.

Besides, she was still Mrs. Capulet. Being so close to another man would embarrass the Capulet Family.

Jennifer had followed them over. Seeing Arthur and Sloane troubled by Beatrice's situation, she felt like a wife betrayed by both husband and daughter, filled with indescribable grievance and anger.

Before, Arthur and Sloane only revolved around her.

Beatrice was just their wife and mother in name only. She had never seen them take Beatrice seriously.

Now it seemed she had underestimated Beatrice's tactics.

Noticing her expression, Arthur explained, "Jennifer, Sloane and I are just..."

"I understand. She's still Mrs. Capulet after all. The Capulet Family's reputation matters."

Jennifer's understanding made Arthur and Sloane feel even more guilty toward her.

"Jennifer, don't be upset. You're always my favorite."

"I'm not upset, I just feel bad for Sloane. The way your mother treats you and your dad is just too much!"

Arthur was about to enter the hotel to find someone when Beatrice walked out.

"If you're here looking for me, let's talk out here."

She didn't want to bring family drama in front of her colleagues.

Arthur said nothing.

He and Beatrice had been married for years and even had a child, but they were no different from strangers to each other.

Before, it was always Beatrice who initiated conversations. If he was interested, he'd respond; if not, he'd simply ignore her.

Either way, no matter how cold he acted, she'd come around again next time.

Now that he had to speak first, he didn't know what to say.

Arthur glanced at Sloane.

No matter how heartless Beatrice was, Sloane was still her biological daughter.

Sloane immediately understood, stepped forward, and hugged Beatrice affectionately.

"Mom, I miss you. Don't you want me anymore?"

Beatrice stiffened slightly, being hugged by Sloane for the first time on her own initiative.

Feeling the small, soft body in her arms, she couldn't help but cherish it.

But remembering what Arthur and Sloane had just said to Jennifer, Beatrice sighed. "I miss you too, but I have very important things to do. I can't keep you company anymore."

Sloane's eyes reddened with anger, and she pushed Beatrice away.

She had already set aside her beloved Jennifer for Beatrice's sake. What more did Beatrice want!

Jennifer stepped forward and hugged Sloane. After comforting her, she couldn't help but accuse Beatrice, "Beatrice, don't go too far. Even if you don't love Sloane, she's still your biological daughter."

Beatrice laughed bitterly.

Sloane was her biological child—she would give everything for her.

Facing Jennifer's manipulation, Beatrice shot back, "As long as you stop seeing Arthur and Sloane from now on, I'll go back. How about that? Miss Rivera, you care so much about Arthur and Sloane, you wouldn't mind doing this, right?"

Jennifer's face paled slightly, her body swaying, looking helpless like a trampled little white flower.

Arthur's face darkened as he pulled Jennifer's unsteady body into his arms.

"Beatrice, don't push it!"

"You're the ones pushing it! When you called me back, you said I was Mrs. Capulet, but now you're holding another woman right in front of me. In your eyes, am I a wife and mother, or just a free housekeeper?"

For the first time in years of marriage, Beatrice voiced her dissatisfaction.

Arthur and Sloane found her inexplicable and didn't want to deal with her.

Jennifer broke free from Arthur's embrace, her voice suddenly rising, "So what, you think I'm having an affair with Arthur?"

Beatrice said nothing, her expression calm.

Jennifer laughed angrily. "I'm not interested in being someone's mistress. If I really wanted to take him, I would have married Arthur long ago."

"So now that I'm leaving, it's your perfect chance to take my place."

Beatrice felt puzzled. Arthur should have already seen the divorce agreement she drafted.

Before, Arthur couldn't wait to divorce her and marry Jennifer. Dragging it out until now wasn't his style.

Beatrice was about to ask when they could finalize the divorce when Sloane suddenly pushed her.

"Don't bully Jennifer! Jennifer is so good—why won't you let me and Dad like her?"

Although she liked Beatrice too, if she had to choose one, she still preferred Jennifer.

Watching Sloane defend her, Jennifer, who had been quite upset by Beatrice, sneered coldly.

She wasn't a mistress—she didn't need to "take anyone's place." Arthur and Sloane belonged to her all along.

But when she looked at Sloane again, her eyes no longer held their usual warmth.

She used to genuinely care for Sloane, even generous enough not to mind that she was Beatrice's daughter.

But now it seemed Sloane still had feelings for Beatrice.

Jennifer felt a chill in her heart.

Looking at Sloane standing between her and Beatrice, Jennifer had a sudden thought and secretly pushed Sloane.

Sloane lost her balance and fell down the steps, immediately bleeding from her head.

"Sloane!"

Beatrice gasped and rushed forward to pick up Sloane and check on her, but Arthur got there first.

"Sloane, are you okay?"

Jennifer also hurried forward to examine her. Seeing that Sloane was badly hurt, she said with reddened eyes, "Beatrice, even if you're angry that Sloane defended me, you shouldn't push her down the steps. She's so young!"

Actually, Beatrice hadn't seen how Sloane fell—she thought Sloane had lost her balance on her own.

Being falsely accused by Jennifer like this, she had a pretty good guess and looked at Jennifer with increasingly cold eyes.

"Jennifer, was it you?"

She had thought that even if Jennifer didn't like her, at least she genuinely cared for Sloane.

But she actually dared to hurt Sloane!

Jennifer felt a bit scared under Beatrice's gaze but pressed on, "Don't make things up. Sloane, tell us—who pushed you?"

Sloane was in terrible pain. Hearing Jennifer's question, she stopped crying and tried hard to think.

Just now, she had been focused on defending Jennifer and only felt someone push her, but didn't see who.

Jennifer was so good to her—she couldn't possibly do this. It must have been Beatrice.

At this thought, Sloane suddenly cried out.

"Mom doesn't want me anymore—she actually pushed me!"

Arthur had trusted Jennifer more to begin with. Hearing this, he was furious. He walked up to Beatrice with a dark expression and raised his hand high.

"You heartless woman! You could even hurt Sloane. Who gave you permission to treat my daughter like this!"

Before the slap could land, another hand caught it mid-air.

Henry stopped Arthur and pulled Beatrice behind him protectively with his other hand, looking at him coldly.

"And who gave you permission to treat her like this?"