chapter1161

"I can't take it in here anymore!" The words barely left Rosie's mouth before Benjamin just about lost it. His face twisted, his hands trembled. This girl... She hadn't learned a thing. She'd messed up so bad and dragged everyone down with her. Now she wanted him to take the blame? Did she think he had no pride left at all? If he, the Chief of Protocol, landed in jail, everything would be finished.

"You... You're unbelievable! Your mother and I spoiled you too much, and look where it's gotten us. You made a huge mistake. Now sit in here and think about what you've done." His voice shook with anger as he turned away, grabbing Mandy's arm and leading her out, ignoring Rosie's frantic cries.

For once, Mandy didn't look back. Rosie had truly let her down. Everything Rosie did was for herself. She never cared about what her parents might lose.

Behind them, Rosie's voice grew shrill. "Mom, don't leave! You love me most! Mom, please... Can't you help me? Dad doesn't care about me at all! Don't go! Don't leave me here, please!"

Outside the police station, Mandy lifted her head, staring up at the sky. She wondered if she'd been wrong all along. What had all those years of spoiling Rosie really gotten her?

She thought of Lydia. Mandy hated her right now, but there was no denying it Lydia was the same age as Rosie, yet so much more mature, so much more impressive.

Just when one crisis seemed to end,

another began. Mandy and Benjamin dragged themselves back to their

1.n

house, too tired to speak. They et

hadn't even sat down when investigation team showed their door. The officials told, Benjamin that, because of public outrage, he'd been suspended and would be investigated.

Benjamin nearly passed out on the spot. What had he done to deserve this? To be dragged down by his own daughter? He'd been thinking about leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs anyway, but not like this. Not suspended and humiliated. Now, it felt like he'd lost everything.

Mandy sat in the empty living room, feeling smaller than ever. Benjamin's last words before being taken away echoed in her mind. Go find Mabel. Ask her to help me.

Mabel was Benjamin's own sister.

But neither Benjamin nor Mandy had ever treated her kindly. After Benjamin's parents died, they'd relied on the Hydes family and acted like the Robinsons didn't matter. Sometimes, they'd even show up just to throw their weight around to remind everyone who was on top.

But times had changed. William had just been promoted to Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the Capital, his influence was huge. He was Benjamin's boss now. If William stepped in and spoke up for Benjamin, maybe things could still turn around. Maybe Benjamin could keep his job.

Today felt like the darkest day of Mandy's life. Her daughter was locked up. Her husband was taken away. All she could do was run around begging for help, no matter how humiliating it was. If she had to grovel, she'd do it. If playing the victim worked, so be it.

It was almost as if the Robinson

family had seen this coming. Mandy

went to Mabel's villa with gifts, but

the butler told her Mabel wasn't

home Mandy tried calling, but Mabel didn't answer. Out of options, Mandy swallowed her pride and went straight to the Robinson

family's old house. She even sent

Mabel a voice message. "Mabel, I'm here at the Robinson house waiting for you. If still won't come, I'll just have to beg Mr. and Mrs.

you

Robinson. Benjamin is your brother. After everything that's happened,

you can't just stand by and do

nothing."