This was the first time Mary had seen North''s face after his injury. She''d seen him once before, in front of the police station, but his face had been bandaged. Now, she saw clearly. The scar on his cheek was long, with significant keloid formation ugly, raised red flesh. For someone in North''s line of work, in entertainment, this was devastating. The injury looked deep; it wouldn''t be easy to repair.


    The office was silent. North looked dejected. He pulled out a velvet box, opened it on the desk. Mary saw a set of pink diamond jewelry: ne, bracelet, ring.


    North''s voice was hoarse. “I know you gave the diamond ring I gave you to Alice as an apology. So I bought you a new set aspensation."


    Mary nced at the jewelry, finding it ridiculous. She said coldly, "I don''t need these things.”


    "Mary, Fourth Brother knows he was harsh on you then. But I was tricked by Alice. If I''d known the truth earlier, I wouldn''t have done that."


    Mary remembered her tragic past life. Honestly, she didn''t believe him.


    North watched Mary''s


    Mary''s expression, his heart sinking. Just as Big Brother said.


    Mary sat in her chair.“Are you finished? Take the jewelry back. I have things to do." Her expression was cold, unmoved.


    North couldn''t help but say, “Mary, you see how my face is now. Even if you drop the charges, my career is ruined. Do you really have the heart to let me go to jail?"


    "If you''re going to say that, then Alice should be the one going to jail. She''s the one who did it isn''t she?" North fell silent."She deleted the video, and I can''t find any proof that she instigated it."


    “Then you should be going after Alice, not me.”


    Mary''s gaze was sarcastic."Are you thinking that because my face is ruined, I should just drop the charges, and take all the me?"


    "That''s not what I meant."


    "I must have misunderstood you. Okay, you can go."


    Mary didn''t give him a chance to speak. She was busy.


    North couldn''t believe it. He stepped forward. “Mary, I''m your brother! I''m the biggest victim here!"


    If he''d done it, he''d admit it.


    North was still unconvinced. "But I was tricked by Alice! Mary, why can''t you understand?"


    Understand him?


    Mary''s tone wasced with sarcasm. “So what? You think you can beat up Alice, make her kneel and apologize, and I''ll just forgive you both?"


    “That''s not what I meant, but Alice is the real culprit! You should be pursuing her!”


    North felt innocent.


    Maryughed outright. Then you should have Alice atone for you, just like Sixth Brother took Chapter 245


    the me for Alice."


    North''s face darkened. Alice was protected by Big Brother; there was no way she''d go to jail for him. He looked at Mary''s back, disappointed. Mary, no wonder Big Brother said you''ve be cold and heartless. I''ve finally seen the real you.” He couldn''t believe Mary wouldn''t show any sympathy, even after seeing his ruined face.


    "Mary, even if you suffered some grievances in the past, we''re still family. I don''t understand why you have to make it this way?"


    "You''re reacting this way because you can''t take advantage of me anymore. Since you say we''re family, then you should all face the consequences."


    Mary wouldn''t be manipted by their words anymore.


    She left the office, pushing aside the bodyguards who tried to stop her. She was surprisingly strong now. She''d learned one thing: kindness towards the Windham family was self-cruelty. North stood alone in the office, furious. He kicked the table. “Mary, you forced me! Don''t me me for not leaving you a way out!" Outside, in the hall, Mary was practicing with her team, oblivious to North''s departure. After training, she received a message from Kai: [I''m at the school gate. Come out when you''re. done.]


    Mary suddenly felt nervous. She grabbed her bag and went to the school gate, seeing Kai''s car parked on the side of the road. She nervously smoothed her hair before approaching the car.


    "Here."


    Kai handed her a bouquet of flowers, surprising her. She epted them. Thank you Why so surprised?"


    Mary looked at the flowers."It feels surreal. You don''t seem like the type to send flowers."


    “Anyone can send flowers, unless they''re pretending not to know how.


    Kai drove, asking, “Did North''s fans cause you trouble?"


    “Yeah, they tried to guilt–trip me, using every trick in the book. But I won''t give in.”


    At least not yet. If North couldn''t get to Alice this time, she might have to go back to the Windham family, to expose the white lotus''s true face, piece by piece.


    Mary said, "They im to be family, bound by blood. I really want to see if this family will sacrifice for each other, or if they''ll turn on each other the moment interests sh.”


    Kai, seeing Mary wasn''t affected, felt slightly relieved.


    Mary suddenly said, "By the way, Kai Mo is trending, did. you know?"


    Kai paused."Really?"


    "Yeah, he seems to be rifying that his brother''s engagement to the Garcia family''s heiress is a rumor, and that his brother already has someone he likes."


    Kai''s throat tightened. "What do think?"


    you


    "It''s hard to say. Kai Mo rified, but the main parties should be the ones doing it. But who knows what''s going on in those wealthy families? Maybe there''s a temporary conflict between the Kai and Mo families; maybe they''ll announce itter.”


    "Impossible."


    Kai denied it immediately.


    Mary turned to him. "You''re so sure? You sound like you''re the heir to the Kai family.” Kai looked at the car in front, his words catching in his throat. “Mary, actually.....”


    Suddenly, a car cut them off. Kai mmed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision.


    Mary was startled. She rolled down the window and yelled, "Can you even drive? Did you buy your license?" Seeing her spirited reaction, Kai couldn''t speak.


    He drove to a more open area. Mary saw several helicopters on awn. Kai stopped the car and looked at her."Let''s go."


    "Where are we going? By helicopter?"


    Mary turned to him. "Did Yates Zi Henrye up with this idea?"


    Kai''s expression became unnatural.“You guessed right.”


    She knew it. Why would he arrange this?


    As they approached the helicopter, Mary asked, “Are these helicopters rented or owned?*


    "Owned."


    Kai often used helicopters to save time due to his busy schedule.


    Mary nodded; probably bought by Yates Zi Henry and borrowed. She didn''t press further.


    But as Mary boarded the helicopter, a woman''s anxious voice called out, "Kai, it''s me.....”


    Kai turned to see Shi Yi approaching. His face instantly changed.