That morning, news about Bella's scandalous behavior dominated the internet. Her reputation was utterly ruined. Reporters still surrounded her hotel room.
Bella's parents were furious upon learning about it. They had never been so humiliated and wished they could disown Bella. But disowning her was not an option. They had no choice but to send someone to the hotel to fetch her.
At the same time, Deanna saw the news online. "How could she do such a thing?" Deanna murmured, finding it unbelievable. She knew Bella's feelings for Lance. Suddenly, she remembered something Lance had told her before-he would take care of Bella. Could this be Lance's way of handling it?
As Deanna pondered, Lance arrived at the apartment to take the kids to school. The children were still finishing their breakfast, so Lance waited on the sofa.
"Uncle, please wait for us; we'll finish soon," Chloe said while stuffing food into her mouth. Deanna quickly reminded her, "Eat slowly; there's enough time. Your uncle will wait."
"Got it," the children nodded and slowed down.
Deanna couldn't stop thinking about what had happened and walked over to Lance. She sat next to him on the sofa and asked, "Did you have anything to do with Bella's situation?"
She couldn't believe Bella would act so recklessly unless someone set her up.
"Yes," Lance admitted, his dark eyes cold. "She dared to harm you and our children. Ruining her reputation is lenient."
He then looked at Deanna and asked, "Do you think I was too harsh?"
"No," Deanna shook her head. She wasn't a saint; she couldn't pity someone who tried to harm her and her children. After all, those who are pitiful must have done something hateful.
Seeing that Deanna was sincere, Lance's lips curled into a smile. "I'm glad you don't mind. I'll deal with the Cody family thoroughly so they won't bother you again."
Deanna nodded but reminded him to be cautious since the Cody family was influential. "Be careful; they may do whatever it takes if they were driven into desperation."
"I know, I'll be careful," Lance replied happily.
Later, after the children finished breakfast, Lance took them to school. Deanna saw them off at the apartment door, creating a warm family scene.
In contrast, the atmosphere at the Cody family was terrible. Bella returned home looking exhausted and was immediately slapped by Jeffery in anger. "You disgraceful girl! You've ruined our family's reputation!" Jeffery shouted furiously, glaring at Bella with eyes full of rage.
Bella fell to the ground, her cheek visibly swelling. Kelly watched with a pained expression but said nothing in defense of her daughter; she also felt Bella had gone too far this time. Playing around was one thing, but making it public was another-who would marry her now?
Jeffery pointed at Bella on the floor and cursed angrily, "No wonder Lance didn't want you! He must have seen your promiscuity long ago! I should have strangled you at birth to save myself this disgrace!"
Bella snapped out of her daze upon hearing this and looked at her enraged father with intense hatred. "I didn't do it! Lance set me up! He had me captured and ruined my reputation! Dad, you have to avenge me!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.
Jeffery and Kelly were taken aback; they hadn't expected there to be more to the story. "Why would Lance set you up?" Jeffery demanded with a frown.
Bella confessed everything, "I saw Deanna getting close to Lance and had someone kidnap her to ruin her reputation so that Lance would lose interest in her. But that wretch got lucky and was saved by Lance at the last moment!" She paused before continuing bitterly, "I thought I had been careful, but Lance found out and retaliated!"
Jeffery and Kelly's faces darkened upon hearing this. Though their daughter was at fault, Deanna hadn't suffered any real harm while their daughter had been defiled and lost her reputation!