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 le 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.""

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!..."

"Now! Immediately!" I didn't wait for her to finish her complaints and gave Hannah another order, "She can come out when she's thought things through."

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

"So you can't play any of your tricks. If you need to go, everything's right there for you. When you figure out your misdoings, you can come out. And if you make another fuss, don't blame me!"

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!"

That was the last straw for me. I slammed my hand on the table. "She will be, but you covered up for her and it was your idea. There is no room for negotiation! Do you understand the seriousness? The police have been alerted. This is not a game! If I let you get away with this, you'll be above the law! Your lies and tricks definitely have no way of fooling your mother! Go and reflect on yourself! Now!"