Chapter 260 My Strike Needs No Cause

Chapter 260 My Strike Needs No Cause

Before Robert could react, Evelyn had already taken two quick steps forward. When she saw clearly who was sitting on the sofa, a genuine smile finally appeared on her face.

"Why didn't you tell me you were being discharged? I could have picked you up."

"Someone brought me back."

Alice looked up at the two stunned people. "Long time no see. Looks like you two aren't exactly thrilled about my return."

Stella immediately lowered her head, deliberately putting on a fragile and pitiful look. "Alice, you're back?"

Robert glared at her fiercely, assuming the posture of the head of the household.

"Since you're back, just rest up and don't go stirring up trouble with people you shouldn't mess with. Otherwise, you won't be so lucky next time—you might die out there and nobody would even know!"

Alice crooked her finger at Stella. "Come here."

Stella bit her lip, refusing to go over. She knew perfectly well that nothing good would come from getting closer.

Alice let out a cold laugh, her voice detached and emotionless. "Don't understand? Stella, you come here, or should I come to you?"

Robert gave her a look. "What are you afraid of? This is the Hall mansion. What can she possibly do to you? I'd like to see what she's planning."

Stella put on an obedient act and slowly shuffled over. Standing in front of Alice with her head down, she called out softly, "Alice."

Without saying a word, Alice raised her hand and slapped her across the face.

Stella's lower back hit the edge of the table, pain clearly flashing across her face.

She covered half her face, deliberately putting on a wounded expression. "Alice, why did you hit me?"

"Do I need a reason to hit you? Stella, this is just the beginning. You and your birth mother—I'm not letting either of you off the hook. If you're scared, you can leave right now."

The fact that Alice was still standing here alive meant that in her mind, they were the ones who would pay the price next.

She had never been soft-hearted. On the contrary, she remembered every hurt.

Stella's face went pale as she hurried to defend herself, deliberately putting anger in her eyes. "Alice, what do you mean? I only recently found out my birth mother was still alive. What makes you think I worked with her to hurt you?"

Alice pointed at her face, her smile bright and sharp.

"I never said you teamed up with her to hurt me. Looks like you just admitted it yourself. Stella, this slap is just the beginning. I'll make sure you pay the real price later."

"How dare you!" Only now did Robert truly register Alice's behavior, scolding her on the spot.

"You just got back and you're already causing this much trouble! Don't think I won't have someone throw you out right now!"

Worry showed in Evelyn's eyes. She was about to speak when the butler pulled her aside.

The butler leaned close to her ear and lowered his voice. "Don't worry, ma'am. Ms. Baker knows what she's doing."

Evelyn smiled bitterly to herself. Right—she was the only one in this family living like a doll left in a corner.

Her own daughter was so much stronger than her.

Though Alice was sitting, her presence clearly overwhelmed his.

"Throw me out? Have you forgotten that I'm the heir of the Hall family? You're old now. I'm afraid your words don't carry as much weight as they used to."

"You..." Robert was shaking with rage. He never expected this daughter would dare talk back to him like this.

"Me what?"

Alice's leg hadn't fully recovered, but that didn't stop her from making every word crystal clear.

"Someone! Are you all deaf? Throw her out!"

Alice just sat there, watching it all like a show.

Only then did Robert realize that these servants seemed to be completely ignoring his orders—not one of them reacted.

They all kept their heads down, as if deliberately ignoring his voice.

Robert was nearly driven mad. He strode up to them and grabbed one at random.

"Who hired you? Didn't you hear me tell you to do something?"

Before the servant could speak, Gabriel, who had been standing to the side, spoke up first.

"Sir, I'm the one who hired them."

"You?" Robert narrowed his eyes, sizing him up. "Are you trying to pack your things and leave? Look at the kind of people you've hired! Fire them all immediately."

Gabriel just smiled and didn't answer.

His attitude made Robert explode completely. Now everyone was daring to talk back—were they really planning to turn this house upside down?

Evelyn was also surprised and confused.

She knew this butler was Alice's person, but she didn't expect him to so directly refuse to follow orders.

Stella also sensed something was wrong. She covered her face and retreated to Robert's side, carefully observing everything around her.

Robert slammed his palm on the table. "Fine! So you're all planning to completely rebel, is that it?"

Alice had seen enough of this scene and couldn't help laughing.

"Why so angry? They can't turn things upside down, because I'm here. What are you all standing around for? Help Mr. Hall sit down. Looking up at him is making my neck hurt."

With just one light comment from Alice, these people immediately started following her orders.

Two tall servants made a gesture of invitation. "Sir, please sit."

By now, what could Robert still not understand? This house had become Alice's territory.

His eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he looked at these unfamiliar faces. For the first time, he felt genuine fear of this daughter in his heart.

She had been at home all along—when exactly had she replaced everyone around him?

Under the pressure of those two people, Robert eventually sat down on the sofa.

Alice nodded with satisfaction. "That's more like it. Now can we talk properly? Mr. Hall, let's settle some accounts. While I was away, you took back the company... but the recent financial reports look pretty ugly. Nearly twenty million dollars in losses. Shouldn't you be responsible for that money?"

Before Robert could speak, Alice raised her hand in a dismissive gesture. "Let's put that aside for now. There's another matter—we'll settle both together. I heard you wanted to poach people from my research institute?"

Robert's face turned dark as coal, completely drained of color. He stared at Alice with disgust, wishing he could tear her apart right now.

"Yeah, so what? It was mine in the first place. I'm just taking back my own damn stuff."

Robert clenched his jaw, his eyes full of malice. If he had known it would come to this, he should have completely dealt with Alice the first time she came back.

Instead of keeping that bit of so-called family affection and sending her off to marry Brandon. Now she had learned to fight back.

Alice didn't know about these thoughts of his, and even if she did, she wouldn't care. She spread her hands.

"Twenty million dollars in losses plus twenty million in emotional damages. If you don't pay up, don't expect to walk out of here today."