?<strong>Chapter 317:</strong>


    She had once hoped that, even if Baker didn’t care for her as his daughter, he might at least have a shred of moral integrity. But this? This was beyond disappointing.


    Sometimes, she wondered what Car had ever seen in Baker. Car was generous and far-sighted—a woman with grace and vision. By all logic, someone like her shouldn’t have ended up with a man like Baker: a selfish, unfaithful jerk.


    Belinda lingered on the balcony for a while, letting the cool night air soothe her, before retreating to her room. A hot shower did little to ease her frustration. Shey awake in bed until three in the morning. Thankfully, she had the day off today and could afford to sleep in.


    At the Williamson family estate, Macie burst into Minna’s room, her face pale and panicked.


    “Minna! Minna! We’re doomed!” she said in an anxious tone.


    Minna looked up, unimpressed by the dramatics. “Calm down. Take a breath and speak properly,” she said.


    But Macie ignored the advice, words spilling out in a frantic rush. “There’s no time for me to calm down! This morning, apany that has always worked with my family called my father—they’re cutting ties with us. My fatherter found out they’ve teamed up with the Thomas family instead!”


    After finally pausing to catch her breath, Macie added, her voice trembling, “It has to be the Thomas family getting back at me for Belinda! Minna, what are we going to do now?”


    Minna’s expression changed slightly when she heard that.


    “Are you sure about this?” she asked.


    “Of course, I’m sure!” Macie replied.


    She then paced the room anxiously.


    After a few seconds, as if struck by sudden inspiration, she turned to Minna. “Do you think there’s still time for me to apologize to Belinda? If I beg her for forgiveness now, will the Thomas family stop targeting my family?”


    Her words made Minna’s expression turn dark in an instant.


    At that moment, Minna struck the coffee table so hard that it rattled, fixing Macie with a piercing, ice-cold stare. “Have youpletely lost your senses? Do you honestly believe that apologizing to Belinda will make her show you any mercy? And how exactly do you n on exining yourself to her? Are you thinking of shifting all the me onto me, telling her that I forced you to do it?” Her tone brimmed with fury.


    Macie instinctively flinched, hurrying to respond, “No, no, no, I would never do that. I… I…”


    After a brief pause, she tried a different approach, saying, “I was only speaking without thinking just now. I promise I won’t go and apologize to her.”


    Minna’s expression softened slightly. She pressed her lips together and then used a softer voice to speak to Macie, trying to steady her nerves. “There’s a good chance that the matter doesn’t even involve the Thomas family, so try not to worry too much.”


    But Macie shook her head hard, her face drained of all color. “No! It has to be them! The Thomas family wouldn’t have targeted my family at such a crucial time if it weren’t for Belinda! I’ve heard things about Belinda before—rumors I dismissed as lies or overblown stories. Now, it seems they might actually be real!”


    “What sort of rumors?” Minna asked, her brows knitting together.


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