Chapter 2724
“Regina, you must’ve misheard me; I was talking about something else with Madeline. There’s no lunatic here.”
Imogen turned her head, a forced smile playing on her lips as she dealt with Regina, while gesturing frantically for Madeline to make herself scarce.
But Madeline, eyeing Regina’s flustered demeanor, couldn’t pass up the chance to needle.
her.
“Look at you all wild-eyed, what did Mom say that was so wrong? It’s not enough you come home looking like a ragamuffin from playing reporter all day, but you have to bring. your woes to our doorstep too. Even if Mom were the wicked stepmother, she’s done. more than her duty by you! But instead of showing any gratitude, you just ramp it up. If I were you, I’d have packed my bags and left ages ago!”
“What? Gratitude? How exactly do you expect me to show that? For years, you and your mother have scared me half
death, isn’t that enough? This is my house. My family name is Tanner, and neither of you bear it, so quit bossing me around!”
Regina realized she had been too soft before, which only emboldened them to walk all over her, and now they had misplaced the family’s most treasured memories, her heart was bleeding.
“Let’s not get into everything else right now, Imogen. I’ll ask you one more time, where my painting? If you can’t find it, don’t blame me for getting upset.”
Imogen, arms crossed, was fuming. Was this the way Regina should talk to her? C her by her first name like she was nobody, as if Francis should hear how his precio daughter had no manners. It was like taking a step back in time!
“What’s the big deal about a stupid painting anyway? If it’s lost, it’s lost, it wasn’t wor much. What are you gonna do about it, huh?”
The maid nearby was beside herself with worry, afraid they might come to blows. With head of the household, Francis, not around, whom were these servants supposed to support?
“What am I gonna do?”
Regina echoed her words, and the next second her hand flew across Imogen’s cheek with a stinging slap.
“Where. Is. My. Painting? If you don’t tell me, I will keep this up until you do!”
Madeline let out a shrill scream and grabbed Regina’s hair. “You dare to hit my mom! I’ll show you!” Her hand was mid-swing when Regina caught it, and they were locked in a standoff.
The cook was stamping her foot in a panic. “Someone bring Mr. Tanner back home!”
“Oh Regina, don’t stoop to their level, and don’t hurt yourself!”
“Madeline, let go! If you injure Regina, Mr. Tanner will have your head when he returns.”
“Whose side are you on, you old bat? I won’t let go. She started it!”
Regina bit her lip in silence, determined. The moment she decided to fight back, she had thrown all caution to the wind, ready to unleash her fury.
She didn’t care that Madeline was still pulling her hair, with both hands, she swung hard, striking Madeline on the head.
“Ah-”
That forced Madeline to release Regina’s hair, and she stumbled, nearly falling over her mother.
“Regina, you conniving wretch! Just wait and see how I deal with you-”
Regina had let out all her pent-up rage and was now catching her breath, tears streaming down her face. The old servants who had watched her grow up were heartbroken, and they rallied in front of her protectively.
“Miss Madeline, you can’t treat Miss Regina like this.”
