Nicole's phone crashed to the ground. As Hallie pushed her, Nicole, standing on the steps, instinctively cradled her belly.

Nicole was surprised by her own protective reaction. It was as if her body had autonomously decided to safeguard the unborn child, even before she had fully resolved to do so. Could this protective impulse be maternal instinct in action?

Hallie, misinterpreting Nicole's protective stance as guilt, sneered even more vehemently, “Look at her, so obviously terrified and guilty! She claims innocence but just look at her deceitful face, clearly a temptress and nothing but trouble!"

The crowd's murmuring intensified with Hallie's provocations.

“Who would have imagined such a person among us!"

“She may look innocent and pretty, but beneath that facade, she's a destroyer of homes, seducing men and even targeting the husbands of other women's families!"

“Beauty is merely a mask. The prettier they are, the more deceitful. They exploit their looks to wreak havoc..."

The murmurs of agreement only fueled Hallie's tirade. She escalated her voice. “Exactly! Like mother, like daughter. Her mother must be just as disgraceful to have raised such a shameless daughter!"

Overcome with anger, Nicole couldn't restrain herself any longer and slapped Hallie sharply across the face.

The impact sent Hallie's head turning, her cheek quickly reddening and swelling.

"Mrs. Schultz, I've respected you as an elder, but your actions don't warrant any respect. I will not stand by while you slander my mother,"

Nicole declared, her voice quaking with anger.

Hallie, utterly humiliated before the onlookers and stung by the rebuke from Nicole, Lost all composure. “How dare you strike me!" she shrieked, her eyes alight with fury. “I'll kill you!"

In her rage, Hallie lunged at Nicole, who, in an attempt to dodge, moved too suddenly and nearly toppled backward.

Clutching her waist, Nicole struggled to regain her balance.

At that critical moment, Rhett appeared at her side, offering support.

“Are you alright, Miss Lawrence?" he inquired, concerned.

Rhett had planned a meeting with Nicole this morning to finalize some agreement details. Arriving on the scene, he was just in time to catch Nicole, preventing her from falling due to Hallie's aggressive approach.

Meanwhile, Hallie, consumed by her fury, was being held back by a man dressed in black. “Who do you think you are? Do you want to die?" she screamed, flailing against his grip.

"You have no idea who I am! I belong to the Schultz family! My cousin runs the Schultz Group. You'll all regret this when he hears about it. He'll have you thrown out of Ardlens!" Hallie continued her rant, breathless with fury.