Chapter 437

Beside him, Regina slowly rose. "Dorian is too emotional," she said to Caden, her voice calm and steady. "I hope you don't take his words to heart."

"I understand your position, Mr. Moss," she continued. "However, I would hate for something trivial to ruin our longstanding friendship."

In truth, friendship was secondary to Caden. His priority was avoiding another enemy within the Moss family. He was still young, his position not yet secure. Dorian's opposition would shatter his carefully built foundation.

"Let me see you out, Caden," Regina offered.

Caden wasn't ready to leave. "I'm taking the first flight tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I was hoping you could do me a small favor."

Regina's curiosity was piqued. "Is that so? What is it?"

"Can you teach me to make your best dish—zabaglione with strawberries?"

Pleasantly surprised, Regina asked, "Are you planning to make this for Alicia?"

Caden nodded readily.

Meanwhile, Yolanda felt a profound stab of pain. Breaking free from her father's grasp, she rushed forward. "How can you treat me like this, Caden?" she screamed. "I've liked you since childhood! I worked hard to keep up with you despite my poor health, but you won't even look at me! If you've never liked me, why give me hope? Why lead me on? What kind of spell did that bitch, Alicia, cast on you to turn you into such a cheap, pathetic loser?"

Caden, previously amiable, glowered. "What did you just call her?" he asked slowly, emphasizing each syllable.

Regina's chest tightened at the animosity. She quickly pulled her daughter back. "Watch your language, Yolanda."

But Yolanda shoved her away. "You're not fit to be my mother! You're weak, incompetent, and a hypocrite! You're not even worthy of my father's little finger!"

Regina felt a chill. Instinctively, she slapped Yolanda across the face. Yolanda, never having been struck before, froze in shock and silence.

"Not only am I an incompetent hypocrite," Regina said coldly, "but I also deliver quite a hard slap. Surprised?"

Yolanda, tearful, glared at her mother. Feeling sorry for her, Dorian rose to intervene. "She's just a child," he admonished his wife. "Why are you being so harsh?"

"Do you want me to beat you up as well?" Regina retorted sharply.

Surprisingly, Dorian backed down, unwilling to provoke her further. Regina had always been a gentle, supportive wife, but before marriage, she had been a capable woman in her own right. She had sacrificed her career to be a wife and mother. Dorian loved her deeply—worshipped her, in fact. He understood her reaction wasn't purely impulsive; Yolanda had been exceedingly disrespectful.