Chapter 17: Emotional Outbreak

Charlotte's POV:

Victoria and I were completely entangled in a physical fight, and the servants didn't dare approach us.

Until Richard hurriedly arrived and shouted sternly, "Separate them immediately!"

I pushed away the maid who was restraining me and lunged at Victoria again. She had clearly never experienced a fight before—her perfectly manicured nails frantically scratched at me while she screamed incessantly, all traces of her usual elegant demeanor completely gone.

Victoria's words about my parents echoed in my mind, fueling my anger and obliterating any trace of rationality.

Just then, Alexander and James rushed in simultaneously. When Alexander grabbed me, I had Victoria pinned to the floor. His strong arms encircled my waist and pulled me away. James quickly helped Victoria up, concern written across his face.

"Victoria, are you alright?" he asked nervously.

I could feel Alexander looking down at me, probably shocked to see me crying. I felt a tear drop from my eyelashes onto his hand, and his expression seemed to change.

Richard's face darkened. "Have you all gone mad?" he roared, striking the floor forcefully with his cane again.

Victoria's loyal maid immediately defended her: "Sir, it was the second young mistress who attacked first! We all saw it!"

I bit my lip and violently broke free from Alexander's embrace. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I glared at him. "Is this what you wanted to see?" I asked bitterly.

Turning to Richard, I couldn't bring myself to call him "Dad" as expected. "Richard, what happened to my parents today isn't over," I said, my voice trembling.

I spotted the gift boxes my parents had brought, now kicked over and deformed from Victoria's rage. Fighting back tears, I gathered them in my arms, their edges digging deep into my palms, and carried them upstairs to our bedroom.

I could hear Alexander following behind, but I didn't care.

Back in the room, I carefully cleaned each gift my parents had brought and placed them carefully next to my suitcase.

Alexander entered the room, his Adam's apple bobbing as he asked, "I was gone for just one day. What happened between you and Victoria?"

I completely ignored him and walked straight into the bathroom to wash my face with cold water. Through the door, I could sense him standing silently in our bedroom, seeming somewhat guilty despite not being involved.

I stayed in the bathroom for half an hour. Now alone, I finally allowed my tears to flow freely. When I eventually came out, my eyes were visibly swollen. Alexander had been waiting on the sofa.

I sat across from him, my face still damp. He studied my swollen eyes, then silently stood up and left the room. That part of me that had been expecting... something... deflated.

I needed to calm down before calling my parents. My voice still sounded nasal from crying, so I waited until I could speak normally before dialing. For privacy, I hid behind the curtains and called my father.

"Hi, Dad, I just got home and heard you and Mom came by today. Why did you leave so early? You didn't even wait for me to come back."

As he began to explain, I forced myself to laugh lightly: "No, I haven't been mistreated. You know my personality—I fight back against anyone who provokes me. I was bored at home these past few days, so I went out shopping. I didn't know you and Mom were coming to see me today. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Please don't worry about me, Mom and Dad. I'm doing very well here. I'll come see you in a few days."

Only after hanging up and coming out from behind the curtain did I realize Alexander had returned to the room. I was startled to see him sitting on the sofa.

"When did you come back?" I asked in surprise.

"Just now," he answered simply.

He looked somewhat different—less severe when he looked at my face. He stood up and approached me with his phone in hand.

"Look at this," he said, offering me his phone. "Things didn't happen exactly as Victoria described. Although she was disrespectful to your parents, she didn't insult them as you might think, nor did she force them to leave."

I didn't take the phone, instead glaring at him accusingly: "Are you defending her? Taking her side?"

"I have no reason to do that. From a relationship standpoint, you're my wife—if I'm going to protect anyone, it's you." He placed the phone in my palm. "But you should know the truth about what happened."

I put my own phone on the windowsill and reluctantly pressed play on his phone.

Although Victoria hadn't rudely thrown my parents out as she claimed, she had still been very impolite to them.

"She should apologize to my parents for her rudeness."

In the evening, Richard gathered us together, his stern gaze locked on me.

"Charlotte, apologize to Victoria immediately."

I crossed my arms, my attitude defiant. "Why should I apologize? She insulted me first."

For days, I had deliberately avoided conflict, restricting myself to our bedroom suite, feeling suffocated but determined to keep the peace. I hadn't left the mansion or initiated contact with anyone. But Victoria insulting my parents crossed a line I couldn't tolerate.

Richard glared at me, clearly irritated by my refusal to back down. "Look at what's happened since you arrived. This family has been in constant chaos. You need to control your temper, Charlotte. I've tolerated you long enough."

I let out a mocking laugh. "Tolerated? Thank you for your tolerance, but I don't need it."

"Charlotte! Do you even understand the concept of respect?!" Richard demanded, his knuckles turning white from gripping his fork.

"Respect is built on mutual respect," I replied calmly. "May I ask, has any of you shown me respect?"

"How have we not respected you?" Richard countered.

"In what way have you respected me?"

My question was met with silence. Not one member of the Kingsley family could provide an answer.

I continued, "When Victoria apologizes to my parents, that's when I'll apologize to her."

Victoria's head snapped up. "Don't even think about it. I won't apologize to them."

Everyone at the dinner table understood that Richard wanted to minimize the incident with my parents—everyone except me. But I stated my demand clearly once more: Victoria must apologize to my family!

Richard slammed the table hard, coughing with anger, and pointed at me, shouting, "Get out!"

I clenched my fists, ready to question him again, but Morris grabbed me and gave me a subtle look as he pulled me out of the dining room.

Outside, I could feel the tension inside had reached its peak. Through the doorway, I glimpsed Alexander sitting calmly, his fingers rhythmically tapping the table.

All eyes turned to him. James broke the silence. "Alexander, go check on Charlotte."

Alexander glanced at the dining room exit where I had just been escorted out, then turned his gaze back to the others at the table. A slight smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't answer James's request. "Insulting my wife is like slapping my face, Victoria, don't you agree?"

His piercing gaze was so intense that Victoria couldn't meet his eyes.

"You seemed very energetic when you were humiliating my wife just now. Why so quiet now?" Victoria finally looked up. "Alexander, she deserved it."