Chapter 15 Turning the Smear Back on Them Chapter 15 Turning the Smear Back on Them Cancer meant death . +10 Free Coins Jade was superstitious enough to take that seriously - and there was no way she'd dare curse herself with such a vow . Realizing she couldn't win with Mandy head - on , Jade quickly switched tactics . Mandy , it's one thing to be disrespectful at home . But now , in front of Mr. Simon and Mr. Austin , you still won't restrain yourself ? Are you trying to cause a scene at the Yale estate ? " So what if she was ? " I came to cause a scene ? Then what are you doing here ? Why did you come to the Yale family today ? " They'd called her crazy . Slandered her . Eagerly rushed to the Yales to break off the engagement . If anything was disgraceful , it was that . Just as it looked like the situation might boil over , Yvonne - who'd stayed quiet till now - finally spoke . " Mom , Mandy isn't well . Don't argue with her ." With a single , airy sentence , Yvonne painted Mandy's defiance as the behavior of someone unstable . Jade followed her lead instantly . " Ah ... that's right . She's not in her right mind . Honestly , she's been driving me crazy too . I'm sorry to have made such a scene in front of Mr. Simon and Mr. Austin . This is all so embarrassing . " In just a few lines , they'd managed to steer the whole conversation against Mandy . Nothing hurt more than being rejected and slandered by your own parents . Even though Mandy's heart had long gone cold , it still ached .. She nodded and gave a cold smile . " Grant , I'm a little thirsty . Could I trouble you for a glass of water ? " Grant answered respectfully . " Of course , Ms. Mandy . My apologies for the oversight . " Soon , a servant brought her a cup of hot tea - just hot enough to sting Mandy picked it up , stood , and walked over to Yvonne . Yvonne grew nervous , swallowing hard . " Mandy , what are you doing ? " Mandy smiled coldly and tested the tea at her lips - yes , still hot . The next second , she flung it straight into Yvonne's face . " Ah ! " Yvonne shrieked in pain . Jade shoved Mandy aside and rushed to her daughter . " Yvonne ! Are you okay ? Did it burn you ? " John stood up , furious . " Mandy , what are you doing ?! What did Yvonne ever do to deserve this ? She's your sister ! " " It's one thing to cause trouble at home , but now you're making a scene in front of Mr. Simon and Mr. Austin . For heaven's sake ... " 1/3 P P. Chapter 15 Turning the Smear Back on Them His face was full of shame and regret . +10 Free Coins Yvonne's eyes brimmed with tears , her voice soft and weak as she sobbed , " Mom , Dad , I'm fine . Don't blame Mandy anymore . Please don't fight with her . I'll be okay , really ... " A well - rehearsed performance - everyone had their roles . Jade and John were in charge of painting her as crazy . Yvonne played the self - sacrificing sweetheart . What a picture - perfect family act . Well , since they all insisted she was insane - she'd show them crazy . " Grant , would you mind bringing me a few more cups of hot tea ? " Grant wasn't sure what to say . For a second , he actually wondered if Mandy really had lost it . But then he caught Mr. Austin's signal . At Austin's silent cue , Grant had the servants bring Mandy two more cups . Jade stared in disbelief . " Mandy , what do you think you're doing ? " You can't reason with snakes . The only way to shut them up is to strike back harder . Mandy's expression was cold . Her eyes were unfocused , void of emotion . " I'm a lunatic , remember ? What do you think I'm doing ? " The next second - she dumped a cup of tea straight onto Jade's face . John lunged forward , yelling , " Mandy , stop this madness- But before he could finish , a second cup landed squarely on him . The room fell silent . Mandy spoke coldly . " I'm just one person . I can't outtalk all of you ." " But don't think I'm easy to bully . Anyone who dumps filth on me - I'll throw it right back , just like this . " This was how you made an impression . If you didn't strike first and strike hard , people really thought you were a lamb to be led to slaughter . Jade burst into tears . " Simon , Mandy's insane ! This is what she does to her parents at home . She's completely unhinged ! " John added, " Simon , Mr. Austin , it's our fault for raising her so poorly . We're sorry you had to witness this ... " Yvonne sat with her head down , quietly sobbing without a word . Simon hadn't seen a girl like Mandy in years - so ruthless , so unflinchingly sharp . But his eyes weren't clouded by age . He saw the truth plainly : the Tates adored their adoptive daughter and treated their real one like garbage . She was just a girl - not even twenty . Of course she had emotions . Of course she lashed out . She'd been pushed too far . " You should go , " Simon said quietly . His words might've sounded like disappointment in Mandy . But really , with the Tate trio soaked and humiliated , they had no face left to stay , 2/3 P P · Chapter 15 Turning the Smear Back on Them John stood up stiffly . " We've made a spectacle of ourselves , Mr. Simon , Mr. Austin . Let's go ." They walked a few steps before realizing Mandy wasn't following . John snapped , " What are you standing there for ? Come on Just then , Austin spoke for the first time . " We're not done with our discussion . Let's continue . " What ... ? Mandy had just acted like a complete maniac - and he still wanted to talk business ? Did that mean Austin didn't believe she was insane? Mandy nodded . " Alright ." After all , she hadn't come here to fight with the Tates . She came to discuss the redevelopment of the old district . +10 Free Coins John panicked . Mr. Austin , Mandy isn't mentally well . Let me take her home before she causes any more trouble ." Jade jumped in , " Yes , yes , she must've forgotten to take her meds today . It's our fault - we didn't keep her locked up properly . I'm sorry she barged in and caused such a mess . " " Mandy , come home with us now ! " Yvonne added delicately , " Mandy , please come home with Mom and Dad . You don't even have a license . Driving is just too dangerous ... " They were still acting . As if no one could see through their lies . Those lines they were nauseating . Just as Mandy was about to rip into them , Austin spoke again . " It's fine . After we finish our talk , I'll have a driver take you home . " She had driven too fast earlier . It really wasn't safe . On that point... they weren't wrong . 3/3