Chapter 8 Grandma, Let Me Slap Her for You

• "Ivy, what are you talking about? If we could help, we definitely would, but we're stuck in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing we can do."
• Callie spoke as if she was filled with regret, but her eyes sparkled with malice.
• Lucian Heyward from the second branch sighed and shook his head. "Ivy, we're not doctors."
• Lucian had always had a soft spot for Ivy. Years ago, both he and his older brother had been interested in her, but Ivy hadn't chosen him.
• That rejection still stung, which was part of why Callie constantly targeted Ivy.
• Ivy quickly pleaded, "I know, but could you lend me some money?"
• Nervously clutching her sleeves, this was the first time she had begged for anything since her husband disappeared.
• But instead of sympathy, her request gave them the chance to mock her.
• "Ivy, so now you're the one begging, huh? Too bad. Even if you beg, I don't have any money!"
• Callie felt vindicated. Ivy had always had her husband or sons to protect her, but now she was brought low, and Callie was loving every moment of it.
• Lucian felt sorry for Ivy, but he was living off the support of his wife's family, and he couldn't help her. He shook his head and apologized.
• "I'm sorry, Ivy."
• "You know, with how badly Remus was beaten, it might be better for him to die quickly rather than suffer," chimed in Mark Heyward, Remus' uncle from the third branch.
• He was laid-back and rarely concerned about anything, but his words sent a chill through Ivy.
• She widened her eyes in disbelief and stared at Mark. "What are you saying, Mark?"
• "My husband meant what you heard," Emily Grant, Mark's wife, snapped.
• "If it wasn't for your son's greed, we wouldn't have lost everything and been exiled. This is karma, and he deserves it! Nothing you do will help!"
• "Shut up!"
• Ivy slapped Emily across the face, her anger boiling over for the first time. Emily, caught off guard, took the hit directly.
• Stunned, Emily raised her hand to slap Ivy back, but Tammy quickly pulled Ivy aside.
• Emily missed and fell flat on the ground, landing in the dirt in a humiliating position.
• "You wretch ... "
• Emily struggled to her feet, lunging at Ivy again.
• Smack!
• Tammy grabbed Emily and slapped her hard, leaving her face swollen. By the time the third branch family reacted, Daniel and Lara had stepped in to hold them back.
• Although they didn't like Tammy, they weren't going to let anyone insult their mother. After all, the third branch had crossed the line.
• "Tammy, you cursed witch! Let me go!" Emily's face was swollen and bruised, and Tammy pushed her to the ground again.
• Whether intentional or not, Emily landed on a small rock, knocking out a few teeth. Blood dripped from her lips as she screamed like a madwoman.
• "You wretch! Tammy, you vile wretch!"
• "Let's not forget, it was my husband's hard work that gave you the luxury you enjoyed. And Ivy is my mother-in-law! You better show some respect when you speak!"
• Ever since Tammy had ended up in this world, she'd been holding back her anger. Now, having finally beaten Emily, she felt some of the frustration lift.
• "Mom!"
• Emily's son, Eddie Heyward, only seven years old and spoiled rotten, saw his mother being beaten and charged at Tammy like a firecracker.
• But before he could get far, Tammy grabbed him by his collar and lifted him off the ground.
• "I'll kill you! How dare you hit my mom? I'll beat you up!"
• Eddie shouted, swinging his fists in the air, but his attacks were clumsy, making him look ridiculous.
• "Enough!"
• Melissa had been silent until now, observing the unfolding drama. Worry for her young grandson finally prompted her to speak.
• "Tammy, put Eddie down."
• "Grandma, if I let him go, he's going to try to hit me," Tammy replied, her expression serious.
• When their family had been mistreated earlier, Melissa had turned a blind eye. Her favoritism was obvious.
• "Grandma, she hit my mom!"
• Eddie whined, his bottom lip trembling. He knew how to tug at his grandmother's heart, and sure enough, Melissa glared at Tammy with anger.
• "Tammy, you've disrespected your elders and bullied a child. You deserve to be slapped!"
• "Grandma, let me slap her for you!"
• Hearing that, Gloria perked up, her exhaustion disappearing as she eagerly stepped forward, ready to slap Tammy.
• Tammy's cold gaze fixed on the old woman as she addressed Ivy. "Mom, do you see how she truly feels? She only considers the second and third families as her own. We're nothing to her. When Remus was working himself to exhaustion for this family, she never once suggested splitting up. But now, when he's sick and close to death, instead of offering help, they're practically telling him to die! Let me be clear—slapping her was the least I could have done. I have nothing left to lose. Push me any further, and we'll all go down together."
• Tammy's fierce words left everyone stunned. Melissa stood frozen, her face flushed with anger, like she'd been hit where it hurt the most.
• "Grandma, Tammy's gone too far! Let me teach her a lesson!"
• Gloria, not wanting to miss the chance to hit Tammy, rushed toward her. But just as she raised her hand, Tammy caught it mid-air.
• "Do you really think you can hit me?"
• Tammy sneered and slapped Gloria across the face, not holding back.
• Meanwhile, she tossed Eddie back to Melissa's feet.
• "Ivy!"
• Ryan from the second branch stormed over, but Daniel stepped in front of him. "Let the women handle this."
• Though Daniel didn't care much for Tammy, he could see that she was standing up for his brother now. He knew right from wrong.
• "Tammy's right," Ivy said sadly, her voice sorrowful. "We're not blood relatives, so I understand why Mom treats us differently. I get it.
• But after all the years Remus has spent supporting this family, can't you show him a little gratitude?"
• "Don't be ridiculous!"
• Melissa's eyes darted nervously. "Even if we wanted to help, there's nothing we can do. Whether Remus survives or not is up to his fate."
• "Hmph."
• Ivy's heart turned cold, and she revealed a secret she had kept hidden for years.
• "You don't deserve to be my child's grandmother. You were nothing but a mistress. If it weren't for Father's favoritism, you wouldn't even be here.
• "My son is the true heir of this family. Yours? They're nothing more than illegitimate offspring. If Father hadn't spoiled you, what right would you have to enjoy the honor my son earned for this family?"
• "Shut your mouth!"
• Melissa was livid, her face contorted with rage as she stamped her foot. This was the secret she had struggled for years to keep hidden.
• She had once been a lowly servant, rising to her current position through sheer luck and circumstance, even driving the family's true lady to her death. She had assumed that anyone who knew the truth was long gone, but to her utter shock, her son had revealed everything to his wife.