Chapter 817
Christina gritted her teeth, refusing to say a word. She hated the idea that anyone could think she was beneath Andrew. Deep down, there was a dark, bitter part of her that would never accept that he was doing better than her.
After all, admitting it would mean that leaving him had been a monumental mistake–one of the dumbest decisions she had ever made.
Christina was too proud to ever acknowledge that. Even if she said it out loud, she would never truly believe it in her heart.
Tiana scoffed. “Forget it. I only said all that because I found you incredibly irritating. But I’m actually here for Aspen.”
As she spoke, her icy gaze shifted to Aspen.
Aspen, already trembling, started shaking even harder. She stammered, “M–Mrs. Rhodes, what can I do for you?”
Tiana took two slow steps forward, her smile sharp and merciless. “I never expected the Stevens family to produce someone like you, nor did I think Zephyr would raise such a thieving daughter!”
Aspen swallowed her anger and tried to keep her composure. “Mrs. Rhodes, I have never wronged you. Don’t you think your words are a little too much?”
Tiana let out a cold laugh. “Too much? Aspen, are you really going to keep playing dumb? Are you seriously going to pretend you had nothing to do with the Rhodes Pharmaceutical’s stolen formula?”
Aspen had already expected this confrontation, but she was confident that Tiana had no proof. So, she gritted her teeth and stuck to denial. “Mrs. Rhodes, I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
Tiana’s expression turned even colder. “Of course. I knew you’d deny it. Jerry, hold her down.”
Aspen’s eyes widened in horror. Before she could react, Jerry had already grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back.
“Mrs. Rhodes! If you treat me like this, the Stevens family won’t just sit back and watch!” Aspen shouted, fear creeping into her voice.
Tiana scoffed. “The Stevens family? Even with Gordon backing you, I don’t give a damn. Besides, you clearly don’t understand why people call me the Iron Lady. It’s because when I handle things, I don’t show mercy.”
Tiana raised her hand and landed two crisp slaps across Aspen’s face.
Aspen had no strength to resist. All she could do was clench her jaw as blood filled her mouth.
Christina’s fury exploded. “Mrs. Rhodes! You’re just bullying the weak! Don’t you care about fairness?”
Tiana snapped, “Stay out of this, you little brat. You’re no better than her. Do you really think the Stevens Corporation’s pharmaceutical success had nothing to do with Aspen’s thieving ways? Let me tell you the truth—your company’s products are nothing more than knockoffs of Rhodes Pharmaceutical’s originals. To put it simply, you’re eating off my plate.”
Christina’s face turned red with shame as she stared at Aspen in shock. She had asked Aspen before where the formulas had come from.
Aspen had confidently claimed they came from the Stevens family’s main branch, but now it was clear she had lied, and those formulas had been stolen.
Tiana landed another two slaps.
“These are on your parents‘ behalf–I’m teaching you a lesson for being a disgraceful, shameless thief! And these are from Andrew! I heard that ever since you arrived in Jayrodale, you’ve been constantly trying to provoke him—yet every time, you end up humiliating yourself.”