Chapter 571 Retribution

Chapter 571 Retribution

Lisa collapsed onto the cold floor, her fingers digging deep into the carpet's fibers. She knew the damage was done, and there was no turning back.

She looked at Ben, the last glimmer of hope in her eyes extinguished, leaving only a bone-deep despair. "Ben, if you had any ambition at all, would I have ended up like this? Everything that's happened to me is your fault! It's all your fault!"

Her last words were almost a scream, the injustice and resentment in her chest erupting like molten lava. Everyone around them was stunned, even little Tommy, who had been crying, stopped and clung timidly to Lisa's clothes.

Lisa's gaze swept over everyone present, her voice tinged with madness. "Do you think I wanted to do all this? Back in Sunrise City, so many young and talented men pursued me. I could have had a good life, but I chose to marry Ben. Why? Because I thought the Smith family's wealth could help my family climb the political ladder."

She pointed at Ben, her hand trembling. "But what happened? After we got married, I found out you were a nobody in the Smith family. You couldn't even speak up in meetings, had no real power, and had to kiss up to others just to be a lowly department manager! I told you to fight for more, and you said you were content. I told you to get closer to Edward, and you said you didn't want to play those games! You have no ambition, and you expect me to just watch others trample over us?"

Ben's face turned pale. He opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. He knew Lisa was right, but he was naturally indifferent and had never wanted to fight for power or harm Edward.

"Then I got pregnant with Tommy. I thought you'd pull yourself together for the sake of our child, but you stayed the same!" Lisa continued her tirade, tears streaming down her face. "I watched Edward, so young, take control of the entire Smith family, and I couldn't stand it! He's just an orphan, so why does he get Grandma's favor and the position of heir? Tommy is also a Smith, so why can't he have better?"

"So you poisoned Edward?" Monica, trembling with rage, pointed at Lisa. "Do you know that Edward was in a coma for three days and nights because of that poison? The doctors said he might never wake up! I stayed by his bedside, my hair turning white from worry! How could you be so heartless?"

"Heartless?" Lisa let out a bitter laugh, tears still falling. "If I weren't heartless, what would happen to Tommy? I thought Edward was lucky to survive, but then Nancy got pregnant. If I didn't do something, Tommy would have nothing!"

"What you did is unforgivable!" Ben finally couldn't hold back, shouting in anguish. "I've told you so many times, our life is already good enough. Stop chasing things that aren't ours! But you never listened. Do you know that by doing this, you not only hurt yourself but also Tommy?"

"Hurt Tommy? Everything I did was for Tommy!" Lisa clutched her son, sobbing uncontrollably. "Tommy, I'm sorry. I couldn't give you a good life..."

Monica couldn't listen anymore and slapped Lisa hard across the face. The sharp sound echoed in the living room.

Lisa's head snapped to the side, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She looked at Monica in disbelief, her eyes filled with fear.

"You wicked woman!" Monica's voice trembled with anger. "Hurting Edward wasn't enough for you? Now you want to harm Nancy and her unborn child? How can your heart be so black? Wendy, bring that cake over here and make her eat it! I want her to suffer twice as much as Edward did!"

"Yes, Mrs. Monica Smith." Wendy immediately brought in two bodyguards, one of them holding a durian layer cake that hadn't been tested yet. They approached Lisa, ready to force-feed her.

"No, I don't want it!" Lisa clung desperately to the floor.

"Grandma!" Ben suddenly dropped to his knees, his knees hitting the floor hard. He pleaded, "Please spare Lisa's life! No matter what she's done, she's still Tommy's mother. Tommy can't lose his mom."

Tommy, terrified by the scene, broke free from Lisa's arms and ran to Ben, crying, "Daddy, save Mommy! I want Mommy! Don't let them make her eat the cake! Mommy will die!"

Edward stood nearby, his voice cold and emotionless. "It's a slow-acting poison. It won't kill her immediately. You'll have enough time to say your goodbyes and cherish these last moments together."

Monica looked at Ben kneeling on the floor and the heart-wrenching cries of Tommy. A wave of sorrow washed over her. She had raised Ben after his parents passed away, and she had approved Lisa's marriage into the family. She never imagined she had let a wolf into their home, bringing such disaster to the Smith family.

She hesitated for a long moment, then finally closed her eyes and turned away, her voice weary. "Take her away."

Now was not the time for mercy. Lisa's heart was too dark. If they let her go this time, there was no guarantee she wouldn't harm the Smith family again in the future.

The bodyguards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Lisa's arms and dragging her out.

Lisa struggled desperately, her nails leaving bloody scratches on the bodyguards' arms. She screamed, "No! I don't want to eat it! Ben, save me! Please save me! Tommy, I'm sorry! I don't want to die!"

Her desperate cries echoed in the living room, but no one showed her any sympathy. The relatives present knew what she had done and felt she deserved her fate.

This also served as a warning to anyone secretly plotting against Edward. They had better behave, or they wouldn't know how they died.

After Lisa was dragged away, Ben, holding the sobbing Tommy, stumbled out of the living room. The once lively room fell silent, leaving only Monica's heavy sighs.

Nancy, seeing Monica's despondent expression, felt a pang of sympathy. She leaned down and whispered a few words to Juliana. The little girl blinked, nodded, and then skipped over to Monica, gently tugging at her clothes.

"Great-Grandma," Juliana's voice was soft and sweet, like the warmth of spring. "Don't be sad. Mommy has a baby in her tummy. Do you think it's a boy or a girl? I hope it's a girl so I can teach her to draw and braid her hair."