Chapter 411

“I can’t finish it,” she said. Her heart raced with panic, and she looked utterly helpless. If he expected her to finish everything on the table, she’d definitely burst.

“So, what exactly was the issue you and Stefi were discussing?” Lorenzo asked.

‘Is there no escaping this topic today? Dear heavens, let me go a little crazy. If this keeps up, I’m really going to lose it,’ Ella shouted in her heart.

Lorenzo’s gaze was too intense, and Ella didn’t know how to respond. Though normally talkative, she simply shut her mouth and pretended to be deaf.

Lorenzo watched as she lowered her head again. The usual coldness in his eyes revealed a hint of amusement. He chuckled, “Go ahead and eat.”

Ella was on the verge of tears. “I really can’t finish it.”

Lorenzo looked at her calmly. “Then how about you just stay hungry?”

Ella thought, ‘Is this guy out of his mind? Can’t anyone do something about him? He either wants to stuff me to death or starve me—how crazy.’

Meanwhile, in Long Harbor, Catlin returned to the Hart residence with a swollen face. Amber was about to take some medicine upstairs to Tyler. No doctor was willing to make house calls anymore, so she’d somehow managed to find a traditional healer to get some medicine.

Catlin was already irritated with Amber for emptying Tyler’s bank account. Seeing that bowl of murky stuff in Amber’s hands made her anger boil over. “What’s that? Who’s it for?”

She never trusted this kind of medicine. Even with no access to medical services, she had insisted that Olivia and Tyler shouldn’t take it. Plus, she couldn’t stand Amber, so when Amber brought this drug to Tyler, she was even more displeased.

Amber wasn’t in a good mood either, firing back, “What’s your problem? Trying to take the medicine too? Sorry, it’s not for your adopted daughter.”

It was obvious to Amber now. Catlin only cared about her adopted daughter and didn’t pay attention to her own son or daughter. A mother like that was truly rare.

Catlin felt her blood pressure rise even more. “Are you really going to give that herbal concoction to Tyler?”

“What else would I do?” Amber snapped.

“What if it causes issues? Can you take responsibility for that?” Catlin challenged.

“What are you talking about?” Amber scoffed. She couldn’t believe that, at a time like this, Catlin was still going on about responsibility.

She laughed out of anger. “Come on, one’s nearly dead, and another’s about to be crippled. It’s a dire situation, and you’re talking responsibility with me?”

Catlin’s breath caught. Not wanting to hear any more of Amber’s nonsense, she scoffed, “Don’t give my son anything that looks this… unappetizing.”

Amber was furious. ‘Damn! I never thought I’d disrespect an elder in my life, but with Catlin, I just couldn’t hold back.’

She tried and tried to contain herself, but it boiled over. Through gritted teeth, she said, "Shut up."

Amber sneered, “Me shut up? Do I need to remind you of how this family fell apart because you were too focused on your stepdaughter?”

“Your son, encouraged by you, went to the Shallow Way Area looking for trouble and was nearly killed by Stephanie’s people?”

Catlin’s face went pale.

Sensing what Catlin was thinking, Amber pressed on. “Don’t go blaming Stephanie. Olivia tried to kill her. Stephanie fought back, and that’s why the Hart family is barely hanging on. Your son almost got himself killed because of you.”

“This is just absurd. The person who almost killed your daughter is treated like a treasure, yet you blame your daughter for tearing the family apart?”

Catlin was too shocked to say anything.

Amber continued, “If you think my medicine is going to cause Tyler problems, why don’t you find something that won’t?”

“You’ve caused so much trouble that no hospital will admit him, and no doctor dares to come. If you’re so capable, why don’t you use those skills to find a medicine that works?”

Catlin’s fury made her chest heave as she glared at Amber.

Amber smirked. “You’re only tough with me?”

Catlin fell silent, struggling to hold her ground.

“Hey, what’s up with your face! Did you get hurt at Shallow Bay Area too? Why’d you go there? Was it because of Olivia or the benefits you thought you’d get from Stephanie?” Amber pressed.

“Shut up!” Catlin yelled, her anger reaching a boiling point.

Amber grinned. “You’ve started eyeing the benefits behind Stephanie too, haven’t you? It’s a pity you lost such a big opportunity.”

Catlin’s face switched between pale and flushed with anger.

Not wanting to engage further, Amber took the medicine and went upstairs.

“This family is cursed, truly cursed,” Catlin fumed, pacing back and forth. “What the hell. Stephanie has always been quite a talker, but who knew Amber would be even sharper.”