Chapter 12 How To Be A Decent Person

• Shandie urged the driver to go faster at the thought of that.
• The first thing she did upon arriving home was run straight toward Henrick. She was running so fast that even Cindy couldn't stop her.
• “Dad! There's something I need to tell you!” she shouted while staring gleefully at Arielle.
• Noticing the look in her eyes, Arielle glanced back at her with a subtle hint of amusement.
• “What is it?” Henrick asked with an icy-cold expression.
• He was considering forgiving Shandie if she took the initiative to apologize, but that didn't happen.
• “Remember that venomous snake that bit me? Arielle was the one who put it in my room! She actually tried to kill me just because she doesn't like me! You can't keep such this vile woman around, Dad!” Shandie exclaimed, much to Henrick's dismay.
• Not only has she not repented after doing something so horrible, but she's even trying to frame Arielle for it. My goodness... How the heck did I end up raising such a stupid and evil daughter?
• Mistaking his silence for reluctance to get rid of Arielle, Shandie continued, “You mustn't be so soft-hearted, Dad! She failed to kill me this time, so she's bound to try again some other day! If she's capable of doing this to me, I can't imagine what she might do to you too!”
• Unable to hold his anger in any longer, Henrick slapped Shandie hard across the face.
• Smack!
• The sound of the slap echoed throughout the entire living room.
• Shandie stared at Henrick in confusion and disbelief as she rubbed her cheek which had swollen up.
• What's going on here? Shouldn't Dad be slapping Arielle instead? Why would he hit me instead?
• She was about to ask Henrick why he hit her when Cindy came running over and said, “Keep quiet and go to your room upstairs, Shandie!”
• Unable to contain her anger any longer, Shandie protested, “No! Why should I go to my room? Arielle is the one at fault here! Why are you all taking her side? I'm the victim here! Why would you slap me, Dad?”
• Henrick was so mad that he started panting heavily as he said, “You still think you're the victim?”
• “Am I not? I got hospitalized because of her! Had I been sent to the hospital a few minutes later, I could've died!” Shandie still felt a little scared when she said that.
• The faint smile on Arielle's lips disappeared as she stepped forward and asked, “Shandie, why are you still trying to tell lies? Do you want dad to die from anger?”
• Shandie frowned at her in disgust. “Since when did you have a right to speak in this household?”
• Arielle arched an eyebrow at her in response. “Shandie, do you not realize that everyone already knows what you did?”
• Feeling a little guilty, Shandie clenched her fists as she stammered, “W-what are you talking about?”
• “Janet has told us everything. You had her buy a venomous snake because you wanted me dead, but it ended up slithering into your room through the balcony instead. Karma sure is a b*tch, huh?” Arielle replied with a faint smile.
• Shandie's eyes went wide with shock the moment she heard that.
• Janet betrayed me? So, everyone here already knows the truth? I see... That explains the provocative look in Arielle's eyes! Now I see why Dad slapped me earlier!
• “Mom...” Shandie tugged on Cindy's sleeve in her state of panic.
• As Cindy loved her daughter deeply, she pulled her into her arms and whispered, “Shh... Don't say anything further, okay? Just come upstairs with me right now.”
• Having realized the situation she was in, Shandie kept quiet and followed behind Cindy as they made their way up the stairs.
• “Hold it right there! Starting today, you are to stay in your room for a month! I will have someone teach you how to be a decent person!” Henrick shouted coldly.
• Shandie's face turned pale instantly after hearing that.
• Dad is the one who makes all the decisions in this household. There's a high chance of me getting kicked out if I lose his love and trust! I really regret not listening to Mom, but it's too late for regrets now...
• Arielle had a cold glint in her eyes as she watched Cindy lead Shandie upstairs.
• Letting Cindy slap me turned out to be worth it, after all. However, this will be the last time Cindy gets to lay a finger on me!
• Henrick waited until the two had disappeared from sight before walking up to Arielle. “I'm sorry, Sannie. Shandie was capable of doing such a horrible thing because I spoiled her too much, so I am partly responsible for this as well. I was going to file a police report at first, but... Well, this is your sister we're talking about. Since you turned out to be all right, how about we just pretend this never happened? I'll be sure to punish her properly and make it up to you, okay?” he said with a conflicted expression.
• Arielle clenched her fists inside her sleeves when she heard that.
• What does he mean by me turning out to be all right? Shandie must have made arrangements so that no one would be alarmed if the snake bit me! My body would probably have been as cold as ice by sunrise! I can't believe Henrick is just going to ground Shandie for a month as punishment and sweep everything under the rug! Heh... I see him for who he really is now... He's not going to give up on Shandie unless keeping her around will bring him losses. After all, having an additional daughter means having an extra option to expand his network. Honestly, I don't understand what my mother saw in a guy like him at all!
• With those thoughts in mind, whatever remaining love Arielle had for Henrick was gone.
• She then flashed him a sweet smile and replied with a nod, “I can't make such decisions, so I'll just go with whatever you say, Dad. Shandie is still young and immature, so I won't hold it against her. I'll pretend this never happened and continue being a good sister to her. I'm not sure if she can do the same, though.”
• Henrick felt glad to see how obedient Arielle was.
• Not only is she pretty, but she's also forgiving and obedient. That's great. Girls like her are the easiest to control!
• “It's getting late, and you must be exhausted after experiencing such a traumatic incident. Go get some rest, and just let me know if you need anything. I'll try to grant your requests to the best of my abilities.” Henrick was usually a very stingy person, but Arielle's obedience put him in such a great mood that he felt somewhat generous.
• He then handed her a card as he continued, “This card has a million in it. Combine this with the one million I gave you before, and you have two million that you can spend however you like. Feel free to come to me if you run out of money, okay? Now that you're the daughter of the Southall family, you need to look the part as well. You can't be living poorly like you used to back in the countryside. I'll have the housekeeper take you shopping for clothes tomorrow.”
• “Thanks, Dad! You're the best!”
• Henrick was so happy that whatever negative emotions he had earlier were completely gone, and he even hummed a song as he made his way up the stairs.
• The sweet smile on Arielle's face vanished the moment she entered her room.