Ursula had been drifting in and out of consciousness for days. She hadn't contacted Thomas at all.
Even if Hailey had called the emergency contact number, that couldn't possibly constitute harassment.
She pulled out her phone, her gaze turning cold. "Fine. If I really did harass him, I'll own it. But if I didn't, then either return this slap or we call the police."
Without waiting for their reaction, she turned the call log toward them.
The dense list of records showed clearly: Ursula's phone had only called him twice, three days ago, both during normal hours.
Thomas, on the other hand, had called her over a dozen times in recent days—sometimes even in the middle of the night.
Who was harassing whom was obvious at a glance.
"Even if I was wrong, I'm your mother! You wouldn't dare hit me, would you?" Odette hadn't expected that even now, Thomas had been secretly contacting this wretched girl behind their backs.
Ursula let out a cold laugh, her mocking gaze sweeping across all three faces. "I can't hit you, true. But that doesn't mean I can't hit them. Unless you'd prefer to involve the police?"
The sudden bride-swap had kept the Abbott family in the spotlight lately. Odette certainly didn't want this dragged to the precinct.
But Ursula's reaction caught her off guard.
Shouldn't she have swallowed her grievances quietly after clearing up the misunderstanding? Where did she get the nerve to cause such a scene?
Before, Ursula would have let it go for the sake of keeping the peace.
But now? Why should she keep enduring this?
"Not choosing? Then let's just call the police." Ursula dialed without hesitation. Before she could press the final digit, Teresa suddenly rushed forward in tears and grabbed her hand.
"Ursula, I know you're doing this because you're angry with me. If hitting me would make you feel better, then go ahead. Consider it my apology as your older sis—"
Slap!
A sharp crack cut off her speech. Ursula's hand had already swung.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Thomas reacted with fury, instinctively pulling Teresa into his arms. Pain flickered in his eyes.
"Ursula, she's your sister! She's ill! How can you be so vicious?!"
Teresa, still reeling from the sudden blow, clenched her teeth. This little wretch actually dared to hit her?
Hadn't she always been helpless against Teresa's schemes before?
Before Teresa could speak, Ursula's lips curved slightly. "So Mr. James cares this much? But I gave you a choice just now. You're the one who stood there and did nothing."
"Or is your concern for her... only this much?"
What Thomas noticed first was how she addressed him. His brow furrowed. "What did you just call me?"
Teresa stiffened in his arms. At a time like this, he was fixating on that?
And Ursula was right—Thomas's reflexes were usually quick. Why hadn't he blocked the slap for her?
"Thomas..." Tears spilled down Teresa's cheeks. The red welt on her face made her look utterly pitiful.
Thomas realized his misstep. Tightening his hold on her, he said, "Stop trying to drive a wedge between us. Apologize to your sister."
"Gladly—"
Ursula nodded, stepped forward, and slapped Thomas across the face.
"There. Enough?"
"You—! You little monster!" Odette watched both of them get hit and charged forward to discipline her.
Ursula sidestepped, her voice flat. "Thomas, this is what you two owed me. Now we're even."
She turned and walked toward Hailey.
Behind her, Odette shrieked that she'd gotten too bold, that she'd pay for this.
Ursula didn't look back.
Make her pay?
But she had nothing left to lose.
