The video left the onlookers utterly shocked. Keshawn watched intently as Janelle’s sweet voice echoed clearly from the screen, “Crush you, crush you, crush you, crush you!” She stomped with such force, pulverizing a perfectly good bracelet into fragments–it seemed she put all her might into it.

    The adults‘ eyes widened as their expressions shifted from amusement to mock pity when they nced at the Sanchez family.

    The kid, clueless, asked, “Mommy, why is thatdy breaking stuff?”

    Janelle, panicked and desperate, denied it all, “That’s not me in the video!”

    Laura blinked innocently, asking with pure curiosity, “How can it not be you? The voice is yours; the skirt is yours, even the face is yours. How can you say it’s not you?”

    Janelle, out of breath and eyes reddening, pushed Laura. “If I say I didn’t do it, then I didn’t do it!”

    Instantly, Xander stepped in and shoved her away to protect his sister. “You dare to get physical?” he said coldly.

    Caught off guard, Janelle stumbled and fell, tears streaming down her face in an instant. “Ah! You pushed me!!”

    Xander’s tone was icy, “You pushed my little sister; I was merely protecting her!”

    In the background, de’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She thought, ‘This is golden.

    Camden quickly snapped out of his shock, pointing usingly at Laura, “That video has to be faked! You’re trying to smear my daughter, aren’t you?!”

    Cassidy nodded furiously, the two of them looking like a pair of hopping mad clowns.

    Xander couldn’t care less, “Mr. Camden, she took my phone, we have the surveince footage to prove it. We can verify the timeline of the video, and besides, do you really think I would frame your family?”

    Camden sneered in disbelief, “And who are you supposed to be? Putting on airs in front of me? Some rich boy?”

    With a slight smile, unperturbed, Xander responded, “I am Xander, the eldest son of the Smith family. Heard of me?”

    Camden was thunderstruck. Xander? Antonio’s son? A surge of chaotic thoughts flooded his mind. He decided. to change the subject quickly, redirecting his aggression toward de and Laura. “How underhanded you two are, mother and daughter, to pull such a stunt. My daughter is just a 6–year–old child, she couldn’t possibly do something like this.”

    Cassidy chimed in, “Exactly! You’re just bullying us on purpose.” Then, turning with a solemn tone toward de, she said, “Tell me, what have I done to deserve this treatment? You can bully me all you like, but not my daughter; she’s just a child!”

    b12:46 /bFri, Sep 12 B

    de rolled her eyes dramatically, “Some kids are just kids, while others, well, aren’t.”

    Cassidy’s face turned white, “What are you saying?”

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    Laura pouted, a sigh escaping her lips, “Aunt, all the things you’ve done have been exposed. Why won’t you just admit it? Isn’t this lying, isn’t this morally corrupt?”

    The couple red at her, eyes as if they could devour her whole.

    Camden’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets with fury, “So that’s how it is, huh? Fine then, answer me this, how could you possibly know that my daughter would tamper with the gift if not for your own devious plot from the get–go, aiming to sling mud at my daughter.”

    Laura waved her index finger mockingly, putting on airs, “Nope, you got it wrong. I knew your daughter had sticky fingers–I predicted your prediction.” She was self–satisfied as she dered, “That’s how it always goes down in TV shows. The viin always sabotages the heroine’s things. I’ve watched loads of shows, you know. So, I guessed as much, and lo and behold, you fell right into the trap. You guys are such idiots!”

    Camden was taken aback, he inhaled sharply in shock and raised his hand to strike her, “You little brat! You—”

    But then, a dark figure swiftly grabbed his hand. Gasps of shock echoed all around. The hand blocking Camden’s was slender and white–knuckled from the fierce grip, veins bulging on the back from the strain.

    Camden froze for a split second, his eyes shing with a pair of turbulent, stormy gazes. “Mr. Smith?”

    Antonio looked down upon him from hismanding height, his ire breaking through his stern expression, his voice as chill as if it hade from the depths of hell-“Mr. Sanchez, it’s only been a few days and you’ve grown so bold. Daring toy a hand on my daughter.”

    Camden’s mouth dropped open. He retreated several steps back in shock as he yanked his hand away, utterly overwhelmed by the scene before him.

    Laura, too, stared wide–eyed. She thought, ‘The moment has arrived. This is the ssic hero who intervenes to save the female lead moment. Except this time, it’s my dad.’

    What came into view was her dad, Antonio, and her uncle, Dexter, both impably dressed in their tailored suits. It was Antonio and Dexter against the world, standing right at the center. Robert, Favian and Louis were posted on either side, their gaze sharp and menacing.

    All around, the scene erupted into cries of disbelief.

    “Oh my gosh, it’s Robert!”

    “Louis? I feel so honored to see him in person!”

    “Mr. Favian Yale, look at me! I need education!”

    “Wow! Antonio might be a dad to four kids, but he’s still so handsome.”

    “And Mr. Graham, ultimate eye candy! ‘Dashing‘ is redefined with him around!”

    b12:46 /bFri, Sep b12 /bBb… /b

    “How can such outstanding men gather here today? Is it all for this child?”

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    Camden, looking utterly flustered, tried to mollify them with a grin, “Mr. Smith, I didn’t know you were here. I was quite rude, but how can she be your daughter? Isn’t she Nancy’s girl? And your wife is Ms. Yale…”

    Antonio frowned and turned to Laura, who was sporting a pair of ck–rimmed sses, “What game are you ying now?”

    Laura blinked innocently, removed the sses, and grinned cheekily at Camden, “Oops, sorry uncle, I was just role–ying. I’m Laura! I’m Aunt Nancy’s little sister!”

    Camden was bbergasted.

    The crowd gasped in a mix of surprise and excitement.

    Screams exploded anew. “Laura?”

    “Ah! I can’t believe I’ve seen my little idol in person!”

    “She’s a hundred times cuter than on TV and her face is so tiny.”

    “I can’t believe my idol was right in front of me, and I didn’t recognize her. I’m such a failure.”

    “She is so cute!”

    “Laura, baby, look over here!”

    “Hold on, girls! Let’s calm down, OK? Let’s rewind to what just happened. If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t Laura being bullied just now?”

    “Right! Laura was being bullied! Are we just going to stand for that?”

    The angry crowd of girls formed a fierce circle around them, condemning loudly, “Hey! Mister, your daughter Janelle is only six, but Laura is just four. Besides, she has proof in her hands.”

    “That’s right! Laura is not the kind to lie–she’s amazing!”

    “We need an exnation from the Sanchez family.”

    Camden could hardly believe how quickly he had be the viin in everyone’s eyes. All he wanted was to trip up Nancy. He never intended to offend Laura.