In the spacious living room, Jeffery and his wife sat across from Logan and Samantha on the sofa. The atmosphere was tense, lacking the usual warmth.
After the servant served tea and left, an eerie silence filled the room.
Kelly glanced at her husband, knowing he was too proud to speak first. She decided to break the silence herself.
"Samantha, I heard you recently traveled abroad and just returned yesterday. Do you know what happened in Cloudmere during your absence?" she asked tentatively.
Samantha looked at her coldly. "We know everything we need to know. So just tell us why you're here."
Kelly's expression froze, feeling a surge of shame and anger. She took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking again.
"Since you know what happened, I won't repeat it. Your son Lance ruined our Bella for a private doctor, damaging the relationship between our families. Isn't that going too far?" she said, looking directly at Samantha and Logan.
Samantha and Logan frowned immediately. Logan even let out a sarcastic laugh.
"An eye for an eye is not excessive," he said coldly. "Bella targeted Dr. Deanna and even tried to harm two children. Didn't she know Deanna is Lance's beloved?"
"But Bella did those things because of Lance," Kelly retorted indignantly.
Samantha interrupted her sharply. "Don't push the blame onto Lance. He made it clear to Bella long ago, but she refused to accept it."
Kelly was left speechless because it was true.
Jeffery sat beside her, his face dark with anger. He clenched his fists to control his rage, remembering their purpose for coming today.
"Enough!" Jeffery suddenly shouted. He looked at Samantha and Logan with bloodshot eyes. "Bella made a mistake and has paid for it. We can't afford to be at odds with your family any longer. We're here today to ask you to spare the Cody family for old times' sake."
As he spoke, Jeffery's once-straight back seemed to bend under the weight of his words.
But Samantha and Logan felt no sympathy. To them, Bella's downfall was a result of her own actions-a deserved consequence.
Samantha especially felt relieved that she had once considered Bella a good daughter-in-law candidate. Bella's scheming and ruthless behavior had proven otherwise.
Logan finally spoke up, albeit reluctantly. "I'll try to talk to Lance, but I can't promise anything."
Jeffery felt a glimmer of hope despite his sinking heart.
Meanwhile, Xavier was reporting to Lance about the situation.
"Mr. Mercer, half an hour ago, Jeffery and his wife visited your parents. They hope your parents will persuade you to stop pressuring Cody Group."
"He knows who to turn to," Lance scoffed.
Xavier asked cautiously, "Should we halt our actions?"
"Why would we stop? Did I say I'd spare the Cody family?" Lance replied coldly.
He paused before adding with a sneer, "Do you think my parents will agree to be their mediators?"
Xavier frowned, thinking there might be a chance given the long-standing relationship between the families.