Deep down, he instinctively wanted to shield Irene from any harm. Yet, recalling her words just before they entered the house, he took a step back and pulled out his phone.
A faint smile appeared on Irene's lips.
The entire room fell silent, every eye fixed on the vase hurtling toward her.
"Crash!"
Just as the vase was about to strike, Irene swiftly grabbed a throw pillow from the couch. In a single, fluid motion, she tossed it at the vase and simultaneously kicked the pillow forward.
Her actions unfolded in an instant.
Before anyone could respond, the vase was sent flying back toward Alice.
Alice's face drained of color immediately.
"Aah!" she shrieked, instinctively shielding her face.
Stumbling backward, she was unaware of the shelf directly behind her.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The shelf toppled over, and all its contents crashed to the floor, shattering loudly.
The sound of breaking glass echoed alongside Alice's panicked screams throughout the room.
Jack and Caroline were momentarily frozen, unable to react in time.
Disturbed by the chaos, they hurried toward Alice, shouting for the servants to assist.
The once peaceful living room had erupted into turmoil.
Irene remained composed, calmly taking her seat again and glancing at Andy, who looked equally stunned.
"Did you get all of that on camera?"
Andy blinked and quickly shook off his shock.
Without hiding his astonishment, he nodded and said, "Yes, I managed to record everything."
"Sir! Madam!" Viola rushed in hurriedly.
"The police have arrived."
Alice, injured by a glass bottle that had fallen from the shelf, was now crying from the pain.
Hearing the news, she quickly pushed aside her discomfort and grabbed Caroline's arm tightly.
"Mom."
Caroline's expression darkened.
She squeezed Alice's hand to comfort her.
Outside, two officers stood at the door, asking, "Who called the police?"
"I did." Andy stepped forward and put his phone away.
The policemen frowned as they surveyed the chaotic scene inside the living room.
"What happened here?"
Alice, clutching her wounded arm, pointed angrily at Irene.
"She's the one responsible!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Alice quickly accused her.
"That woman threw a vase at me intentionally. Look at my injuries! It's all because of her!"
Her hair was messy and she appeared disheveled, while Irene remained calm and unharmed.
At first glance, Alice appeared to be completely honest.
The officers made a snap judgment based on Irene's composed demeanor.
It felt as though they had already dismissed her perspective entirely.
Catching the subtle shift in their expressions, Andy tried to speak. "Officer—"
"Officer," Caroline cut him off quickly.
At that moment, she assumed the demeanor of a gracious, well-bred woman from a prominent family.
Approaching the police with a soft smile, she said calmly, "It's nothing serious. These girls were just playing around. Thank you for responding so quickly. I know it's a long way here. Let me offer something for your trouble. Please don't let this interfere with your busy schedule."
As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance toward Viola.
Understanding immediately, Viola pulled some cash from her coat pocket and extended it discreetly toward the officers.
The policemen exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting.
"We don't accept bribes," one of them said sternly. "Keep your money."
Viola froze, hand midair, visibly shaken by the rejection.
Caroline, still composed, gave an apologetic smile.
"Of course, I didn't mean to offend you. Thank you for coming. It's really just a minor disagreement among family. Not worth taking up official time."
"A minor disagreement between sisters?" one of the officers repeated, skeptical.
"No…" Alice started to speak, sensing that the officers were leaning in her favor and hoping to press her advantage.
But her mother shot her a warning look, calm yet firm. This wasn't the time to create a scene. Caroline knew exactly what Alice was thinking, but she couldn't allow her daughter to embarrass her in front of witnesses.
Keeping her pleasant expression intact, Caroline addressed the officers again. "Yes, just a bit of childish mischief."
The police clearly sensed that more was going on beneath the surface.
Still, Caroline was insistent, and technically, it seemed like a domestic matter.
They weren't eager to get involved in a family squabble.
Suddenly, Irene stood up and broke her silence, her voice calm but with a knowing smile. "Officers, may I ask you something?"
"Irene!" Jack's voice cut through the air, harsh and immediate. "Don't start!"
It was the first thing Jack had said since Irene arrived. And the only thing he had to offer was an attempt to silence her.
Irene turned to face him, her lips curling into a bitter smile.
She remembered the scene clearly: Alice hurling the vase at her, Jack hesitating to stop her, sitting still until the vase shattered, causing Alice to stumble into a shelf and bring down a dozen glass bottles.
Only then had Jack jumped up—to protect Alice.
While traveling here, Irene had sifted through her memories, trying to recall something warm or kind about her father. Just one moment where he stood up for her.
But nothing came to mind.
And now, his actions and words confirmed everything.
"Why so jumpy, Dad? I just want to ask them a few simple questions," she said coldly.
"You…"
The officers, growing more irritated, assumed Irene was stirring up trouble again.
One of them sighed. "What is it now?"
Irene met his gaze, a gentle, innocent smile on her lips.
Something about her composure and sincerity gave the officer pause. She didn't seem like someone capable of violence.
"Sir, can the legal owner of a house decide who is allowed to live there and who isn't?" she asked politely.
The question seemed oddly basic, but the officer replied, "Yes, of course."
"And if someone is living there without the owner's permission, isn't that trespassing? Shouldn't the owner contact the authorities in that case?"
"Obviously, yes," the officer replied, more irritated now. "Why are you asking these questions? You're wasting our time."
Irene snapped her fingers and offered another soft smile. "Thank you. That clarifies everything. In that case, would you please help me remove these people from my home? That would solve my issue."
The room went silent.
Everyone froze, stunned by her statement.
Caroline was the first to realize what Irene meant.
Her voice trembled slightly as she tried to recover. "Irene… What are you saying? I know you've never been fond of Alice and me, but this is extreme. If you have concerns or complaints, just say so. We can work something out. And as for today's misunderstanding, I'll have Alice apologize. Surely, there's no need to involve these officers further…"
She trailed off as Irene cut her short.
"Relax, Caroline. I haven't forgotten what Alice did, and we'll get to her. But one thing at a time," Irene said firmly.
Caroline's attempt to regain control had failed, and it clearly annoyed her.
Just then, Alice, who had been biting her tongue, lost control again.