She persisted, "You brought in some help? Don't assume you can intimidate me just because there are many of you. Let me make it clear. I can offer only one hundred thousand dollars, not a penny more. What's the issue with shoving her? She's just an ill-mannered child with no parental guidance. She won't keel over from being pushed a couple of times."

Peter, in his agitation, moved forward with the intention to confront the woman.

His wife, however, intervened, preventing him from losing his temper.

Exasperated, Peter exclaimed, "Why should I act as a gentleman at a time like this?"

But to everyone's surprise, it was Peter's wife who stepped forward and delivered a resounding slap across the shrew's face.

Her action carried a considerable amount of force.

It left the woman's face stinging with radiating redness where her palm landed and the rest pale.

In response, the woman began to loudly protest, "She slapped me! She slapped me! Is this reasonable?"

Mark spoke in a stern, low voice, "What's wrong with giving you a slap?"

He advanced toward her.

The shrew instinctively took a step back until her plump frame was pressed against the wall. She tried to feign courage as she stared at Mark and said, "You think you can resort to violence just because you're wealthy? Did I say something wrong? After all, she's just a bastard."

Mark continued his approach, taking measured steps toward the woman.

She swallowed nervously, and even her husband didn't dare to intervene.

Mark's voice lowered further as he declared, “Let me make it abundantly clear whether she is a ‘bastard' or not. Her father was a brilliant student at the University of Oxford, a prodigious young talent who met a tragic end while working in the space industry. He gave his life to his country. Laura, as his daughter, deserves care and respect, not derogatory labels."

Mark's voice trembled with emotion.

Then, he swiftly raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap to the woman.

He seldom resorted to violence, but that moment had crossed the line.

Cathy had given birth to Laura secretly, and she had planned Paul's downfall.

However, Laura remained entirely innocent in the web of deceit.

Laura was merely eight years old, but already displaying remarkable talents, much like her father.