Old Walsh looked apologetically at Deanna.
Deanna, hearing this, lowered her eyes and stared at Leticia.
Leticia met her gaze, her lips tightly pressed together, her swollen face showing a guarded expression.
It was clear that Leticia did not want to apologize.
Deanna noticed this but didn't care. She coldly said, "Old Walsh, don't force her. Luckily, I'm tough and nothing serious happened."
These words were full of sarcasm.
Old Walsh's old face nearly couldn't hold his composure, and he vented his anger on his son beside him.
"Look at the daughter you raised!"
As he spoke, he angrily struck Ernest with his cane.
Ernest grimaced in pain but didn't dare to dodge.
Mrs. Walsh watched, feeling both heartache for her husband and anger at her daughter's stubbornness at this moment.
She scolded Leticia, "How can you be so thoughtless? Dr. Deanna did nothing to provoke you, yet you did such a thing. It's our fault for spoiling you. If you don't apologize to Dr. Deanna, I'll send you far away and pretend I never had a daughter like you!"
"Your mother is right. If you don't admit your mistake, our family can't tolerate someone as ruthless as you. You dared to poison your grandfather and openly harm Dr. Deanna. I'm afraid one day, if your mother and I upset you, you'll kill us too!" Ernest added sternly.
Leticia instinctively shook her head. "No, I wouldn't do that."
Unfortunately, the rest of the Walsh family didn't believe her.
Ernest raised his voice, asking again, "I'll ask you one last time. Will you apologize?"
Seeing her father's resolute expression, Leticia knew he wasn't joking.
If she didn't apologize, they would really send her away and never care for her again.
Finally, under pressure, Leticia apologized.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice was small, almost inaudible unless one listened closely. Deanna was several steps away and couldn't hear it clearly.
Deanna said nothing in response.
Lance also remained silent.
However, Old Hughes looked at Old Walsh with a cold smile and said, "Old Walsh, do you think such an apology is sincere? And do you think just saying 'sorry' can make up for the harm done to our Anna?"
Old Walsh's face turned completely dark with anger and embarrassment. He felt more humiliated than ever before.
He glanced at Leticia with a harsh look and made a decision.
"Indeed, it's not sincere. But don't worry, I won't let Dr. Deanna suffer any loss."
He paused and then said to Leticia word by word, "Since you don't realize your mistake, from now on, you'll kneel in the ancestral hall until you understand your wrongdoing."
Leticia didn't expect her grandfather to punish her like this and widened her eyes in shock.
Just as she was about to say something, Old Walsh didn't give her a chance and warned Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, "And if I find out you secretly help her, you'll kneel in the ancestral hall too!"
Perhaps intimidated by Old Walsh's authority, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh said nothing.
Seeing this, Leticia became anxious.
"Grandfather, I know I was wrong. Please don't make me kneel in the ancestral hall alone."
She admitted her mistake with teary eyes.
But it was too late. Old Walsh didn't even look at her and waved for the bodyguards to take her away.
For a while, the corridor echoed with Leticia's pleas for mercy, but no one spoke up for her.
As Leticia was taken away, the room returned to silence.
Old Walsh looked at Deanna's pale face and kindly said, "Dr. Deanna, I'm sorry for the fright you experienced. Please rest well. I promise Leticia will never bother you again or appear before you."
Hearing this, Deanna didn't quite believe it.
She lightly pressed her lips together and calmly said, "Old Walsh, I hope you keep your word. I'm tired now."
The implication was clear.
Old Walsh understood and immediately left with Mr. and Mrs. Walsh and Hassan.
As the door closed, Old Hughes snorted and muttered, "At least that old man still has some conscience; otherwise, I'd cut ties with him."
Deanna heard this and thought of how Leticia had cried and apologized earlier but still didn't want to kneel in the ancestral hall. Her curiosity arose again.
"Old Hughes, is there something special about the Walsh family's ancestral hall? Why does Leticia seem so afraid of it?" she asked curiously.
Lance also looked over.
Old Hughes's expression turned a bit strange but he explained honestly, "It's a long story. I don't know what Old Walsh was thinking when he built it. The Walsh family's ancestral hall is very gloomy. It's meant for honoring ancestors' tablets and usually has no one guarding it. Even grown men feel eerie there. Leticia is just a girl; she can't handle it, especially after doing something wrong. She's even more scared."