Chapter 47 Call the Police

Valerie felt a sharp sting on her left cheek and instinctively turned her head. The bills that had been thrown at her slid down her body and scattered on the floor.

When she looked up again, she met Laura's mocking eyes. Laura tilted her chin up slightly, looking down at Valerie with a sneer. "Is this enough?" She asked, picking up another thick stack of bills and lightly tapping Valerie's arm with them. "If it's not, I have more!"

Valerie glanced at the pile of money at her feet, a sarcastic smile tugging at her lips. She crouched down and began picking up the scattered bills without a word.

Laura's sharp, cutting voice continued to ring out. "Ms. Brown, you really are willing to throw away your dignity for a bit of money." Valerie ignored her, her knuckles tightening around the bills until they gradually turned pale from the pressure.

She exhaled softly, looking at Laura's arrogant, overbearing demeanor. Valerie's hands itched with the urge to retaliate, the voice in her head screaming for her to fight back. Just as she was about to take advantage of Laura's distraction and strike back, a loud, angry voice suddenly rang out from behind her. "Who do you think you are, mistreating someone like this?"

Valerie's head snapped up to see Raina storming over, her face full of fury. Raina shoved Laura aside forcefully, then grabbed the bills from Valerie's hands and threw them back in Laura's face.

Raina's voice was stern and cold as she spoke. "We don't need this! Young lady, there are so many better things to learn, and you choose to throw money to insult others? I can't imagine how you were raised! Do you want to cause trouble for yourself every time you step out?" Her powerful voice echoed through the reception area, drawing the attention of everyone around.

Valerie's mouth hung open as she stared at Raina, who was now standing protectively beside her, her anger evident.

Valerie realized that Raina must have thought she was being mistreated and was too scared to speak up. She instinctively stood up, wanting to stop her.

But Raina patted Valerie's hand, soothing her softly. "Don't be afraid." She pulled Valerie behind her and glared fiercely at Laura. "Now, apologize to Valerie!"

"Apologize?" Laura laughed as if she'd heard the most ridiculous thing ever. When she realized Raina was serious, she nearly lost it. "You old hag, why should I apologize? Valerie is just a..."

Before she could finish, a sharp slap echoed through the room, cutting off Laura's words. Her pretty face twisted with rage as she lunged at Raina.

Valerie quickly stepped in to shield Raina. The scene descended into chaos, with shouting and commotion filling the air. Onlookers, sensing trouble, hurriedly called the police.

At the police station.

The officer looked at the group in front of him, exhausted. "What happened?"

"They hit me first!" Laura shouted, clutching her face and pointing at Valerie and the others, looking utterly wronged. The bright red handprint on her cheek was glaringly obvious.

Valerie frowned, seeing the officer's gaze linger on Laura's face. She worried that the officer might side with Laura and tried to speak up, but her hand was pulled back forcefully.

Raina pulled her behind her again, standing protectively like a guardian. Valerie's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Raina, who was defending her. She hadn't felt this kind of protection in a long time, if ever. She lowered her head silently, making Raina even more determined to protect her.

Raina clutched her chest, sighing. "Sir, it was just an accident."

"Accident?" Laura angrily grabbed Raina's sleeve, forcing her to look at her. "You're lying through your teeth!"

Raina didn't even glance at her, instead addressing the officer with a weak voice. "I have heart disease and high blood pressure. She threw money at my granddaughter-in-law's face, and in my agitation, my hand accidentally hit her."

"That's a lie!" Laura shouted, unable to contain her anger.

Raina seized the moment, her face contorting in pain as she clutched her chest, looking like she was having a heart attack. She groaned and slowly crouched down.

The sudden change caught everyone off guard. The officer on duty quickly approached Raina to check on her. Raina kept clutching her chest, shaking her head, unable to speak. Her pained expression scared everyone, including Laura, who stepped back, stammering, "I... I didn't do anything..."

Seeing that Raina wasn't faking it, Valerie's heart leapt into her throat. She quickly supported Raina, anxiously calling out, "Grandma!"

But Raina couldn't respond, only able to groan in pain.

At that moment, Howard appeared at the door. Valerie immediately shouted, "Take Grandma to the hospital!"

Howard glanced at Joseph, who understood immediately. He picked Raina up and rushed out of the police station. Valerie wanted to follow to check on Raina but remembered she couldn't leave. She stopped, looking worriedly at Howard.

Howard gave her a reassuring smile and said softly, "You go ahead. I'll handle things here."

Valerie hesitated but, seeing Howard wheeling himself towards the officer, she couldn't help but worry about Raina and decided to leave.

Laura, seeing them leave so easily, slammed her hand on the table and shouted at the officer, "Why are you letting them go? I'm the victim here, can't you see?"

The officer sighed and pushed some papers towards Laura. It was a settlement agreement, already signed by her father.

"How is this possible?" Laura stared at the agreement in disbelief, her face full of shock and anger.