Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

Chapter 525

Monique rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with a mix of defiance and pride. "Well, of course. My

grandpa always said, 'To run this place, you've gotta know it like the back of your hand, down to the last

mouse hole!'"

"That's a quote from your grandpa? Know every mouse hole and how to exploit it? You're impressing

me now," I said in a tone blending amusement and irritation so that Monique took it for a compliment

and let out a snort of laughter.

But as her laughter faded, she seemed to realize she might have let her guard down too much. She

straightened up, trying to regain her composure.

As the others shot her displeased glances, she added defensively, "Well, it's true. I know anything

about the Wood Manor you don't know."

Her words almost left me breathless with shock. Galen's words were like the gospel to her! But she

was certainly taking it to the extreme, wasn't she? The little girl was too sharp-tongued for her own

good.

I was trying to keep my temper in check. After all, Camilla was here, and I couldn't embarrass Monique

too much. Thus, I silently vowed to deal with the situation once Camilla had left.

It was clear to me that this was all Monique's doing.

As if reading my thoughts, Monique blurted out without considering the consequences, "Don't be mad,

Mom. It wasn't my idea. I was just joking around when I discovered a hole behind the Wood Manor

during my patrol of Oldtown Avenue. I thought, 'If one day we need to slip away unnoticed, we could

just squeeze through here and follow the bamboo-lined path right into the back study. That little trail is

so well-hidden, not even the security cameras can catch it.'"Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Her excitement was palpable. For a moment, I could see shades of the Dawson family in her. But this

girl was leagues ahead of the Dawsons in cunning, with her imagination unhinged by my father's

influence.

I wasn't sure whether to be proud or concerned. What a bittersweet feeling indeed!

"The day Hannah showed us the attic, I told them we'd call it our 'Hideaway Loft.' If we ever wanted to

disappear, no one would be able to find us!" She was unyielding in her determination and thought

herself quite clever.

My anger began to simmer. So, this was all her idea, her grand scheme. My daughter was too clever by

half!

No wonder she had asked earlier with too much curiosity, "If Fidelia had run off on her own? Why?"

She was inciting a rebellion against me!

And that explained why they hadn't eaten much for breakfast, but the whole plate of pastries had

vanished.

They were sneaky little thieves! This was a direct challenge to my authority. How could I let it pass?

There was a saying, "Teach your children in his presence."

It seemed I could no longer hold back.

"Monique, you're too smart for your own good! So why are you here now? Don't you think no one could

find you? But you've been caught out," I crashed her confidence.

Sure enough, she pouted and shot back, "It's all because Hannah played dirty!"

"Hannah, take her upstairs to the bathroom and let her reflect on her actions!" I commanded sharply.

Monique, still quite pleased with herself, started to protest as she heard my command. "Why? Why

should I be the one to reflect? I didn't run off!..."

"I'm not going to the bathroom! Why the bathroom?" Monique protested, standing her ground. "With all

this space, why pick the bathroom?" New chapter avаilable oո Drаmаnovels.com

I was serious, but she still dared to fight back and argued, "It was Fidelia who ran off, she should be

punished too! Otherwise, it's not fair!"