Hannah was thoroughly scared by Lambert, quickly admitting she was wrong and running out of the hospital room with several reporters she had brought with her. They quickly disappeared without a trace.
"Mr. Wenshte, thank you for your trust. Mia and I are innocent," Daniel said, still thinking Lambert genuinely cared for Mia, expressing his gratitude.
Lambert snorted and looked at Mia. "You really are a stubborn person. Go home."
His tone was cold, and his words were dismissive, clearly showing he didn't see Mia as a person.
"Mr. Wenshte." Daniel stopped him, explaining, "Mia and I are just friends. Please don't misunderstand."
"Mia, do I need to ask you again?" Lambert ignored Daniel, slightly tilting his head, casting a quick glance at her.
Ethan moved aside, and Mia, trembling, placed her hands on the wheelchair, slowly pushing it out.
As night fell and the lights of the city began to shine, the Garcia Family villa was filled with laughter.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the heavy iron gate was pushed open.
Ethan pushed Lambert into the doorway, followed by two men dragging a bruised and battered man who collapsed to the ground.
"It's her. She ordered me to go to the hospital and take pictures of Mrs. Wenshte's scandal," the man said, pointing at Hannah, speaking with absolute certainty.
Lambert casually played with his phone, his long fingers lighting up the screen, and the recording began. It was a conversation between Hannah and the man.
Then, Lambert waved his hand, throwing a stack of photos onto the table. Hannah's face was clearly visible in the photos.
With both the witness and evidence in front of them, Hannah still refused to admit it, arguing, "I didn't do any of these things. Anyone can fake evidence. These don't prove anything."
Mia's stepmother, Julie, turned pale.
Mia's father, William, sat on the couch, glaring at the photos.
"Hannah, if you continue denying everything, we'll have to call the police," Ethan said coldly, questioning, "What harm did our lady do to you, that you've repeatedly tried to make trouble for her?"
William, confused and totally taken by Julie's charm, always thought they were good people.
"Julie, explain yourself." In front of Lambert, William naturally sided with Mia.
"It's all Hannah's fault. I'll teach her a lesson," Julie said, but only in words.
"Mr. Wenshte, we're all family now. This issue getting bigger would harm both you and the Wenshte Family. It's true that Mia did something inappropriate, but if word gets out, it will damage your reputation. Please, show some mercy and don't hold this against Hannah," Julie quickly hid the photos, making sure they didn't leak.
"The Garcia Family is not worthy of being compared to the Wenshte Family," Lambert said coldly, and the temperature in the large living room dropped sharply.
"Of course not, but…"
"Exchange for 5% of the shares in the QIY Group, or I fear I might be too harsh." Lambert spoke, his words threatening as if he held their lives in his hands.
William only held 15% of the QIY shares, which he got when he married.
William gasped, his face showing clear reluctance.
Lambert waved his long arm, tossing the prepared share transfer document in front of them.
"You're taking advantage of the situation," Hannah said angrily, gritting her teeth.
They hadn't even gotten Mia's shares yet, and now they were about to lose a third of William's. She couldn't swallow this.
"Sign it." Lambert looked at William, his voice as cold as ice.
William shuddered, wanting to argue but too afraid to offend Lambert. He could only accept the pen handed to him by Ethan, doing so with little backbone.
"Mr. Wenshte, we should talk this over. After all, Mia is your wife. Most of QIY's assets are in her hands. What's hers is yours, right? Why fight over the small shares her father holds?" Julie made a last attempt to resist, not wanting to see the shares taken away.
"Think of it as a gift for your grandson," Lambert said, his tone commanding and frightening.
William gritted his teeth, signed the document, and reluctantly gave away the 5%. He planned to get more from Mia later—he couldn't let this go.
After the papers were signed, Ethan took the contract and turned, pushing Lambert away.
The reporter who had betrayed them was left behind at the Garcia Family house, while the two men who had escorted the reporter took control of Hannah and were ready to drag her away.
"Lambert, we've given you the shares, why can't you let me go? I know I was wrong, I won't trouble Mia again, please, just let me go one last time," Hannah cried out loudly.
"Mr. Wenshte, Hannah knows her mistake. Considering she's been an orphan since childhood, can you please show some mercy? I'll teach her properly, just don't take her away in front of Mia," Julie said, standing protectively in front of Hannah, deeply worried.
"Take her away," Lambert ordered, ignoring them.
His subordinates dared not hesitate, pushing Julie aside and dragging Hannah out.
Hannah's cries for mercy almost broke Julie's heart.
After Lambert left, Julie grew uneasy, urging William, "You should call Mia and have her protect Hannah. After all, Hannah is just a child."
William remained unmoved. Julie continued, "They're making a big deal out of nothing. They'll try everything to take those shares from you. If that happens, we'll end up out on the streets."
"Enough. I'm so frustrated right now. If it weren't for your Hannah provoking Mia, I wouldn't have lost the shares!" William snapped, breaking the pen in his hand and throwing it to the floor in anger as he went upstairs.
He called Mia immediately, starting with accusations, "You've left home, become independent, and now you don't even recognize your own father? If you want the shares, you should get them yourself. Why send Lambert to do it? Now that the shares are with him, do you really think they'll return to the Garcia Family? Do you think just because you're pregnant with Lambert's child, you'll get to be the future mistress of the Wenshte Family?"
"I'll tell you this: he took 5% of the shares. You need to return 10%, or I'll consider you no longer my daughter." That was William's true intent.
He knew Mia was soft and took advantage of her.
The sound of the call ending was harsh as Mia put the phone down.
At that moment, a noise came from downstairs.
"Mia, come down." Lambert's voice called from the living room.
Mia wrapped herself in a blanket and hurried downstairs, finding Hannah on the floor, her hair disheveled and a mess.
"What happened?" Mia forgot to bring her phone and had to ask Lambert using lip-reading.
"Apologize." Lambert pulled Mia into his arms, making her sit on his lap.
Her heart raced, and her face turned red. He had never been this close or affectionate with her before.
"Don't provoke me," he said impatiently. When he didn't hear Hannah's response after just a few seconds, he grabbed her hair roughly.