Chapter 1040

Hearing this, Lizetta reached the absolute limit of her patience.

She raised her voice, cutting Conrad off sharply. "Learn what from her? Her pretentiousness? Her insatiable greed? Her two-faced nature, or her endless string of lies? I guess I really don't have those kinds of talents in this lifetime."

Andrea's eyes turned red, and she bit her trembling lip.

“Liz, you're far too prejudiced against me. I grew up with Mom and Dad. They know exactly what kind of person I am. How... how could I possibly be the awful person you're describing?"

Tears threatened to spill as she stood up, wiping her eyes in a display of ultimate, long-suffering grievance.

"Liz, I know you don't want to see me in this house. That's why you've been causing a scene the second you walked through the door. Dad canceled important meetings just to have dinner with you today. I'll go upstairs right now and disappear from your sight. Please, just sit down and have a nice meal with Dad. Don't fight with him anymore. I'm sorry..."

Choking on her sobs, Andrea covered her face, turned on her heel, and ran out of the dining room in a tearful stumble.

"Andrea!" Eartha called out, but Andrea didn't look back.

Eartha let out a heavy sigh, her expression a perfect portrait of helpless heartache, though she didn't add another word.

Seeing this, Conrad's heart ached even more for Andrea.

Especially when he remembered how bright and radiant she used to be. Seeing her forced to hide away and cry because of Lizetta's cruelty filled him with unbearable pity.

He glared at Lizetta, his eyes burning with disappointment and fury.

"Andrea did absolutely nothing wrong. Eartha and I already made her leave the Maddens and move in with the Porters. How can you be so narrow-minded that you still can't tolerate her presence?!"

Lizetta realized it was physically impossible to communicate with this man. Having lost the last shred of her patience, she simply laughed.

"If that's what you want to believe, then so be it."

She turned her cold gaze to Eartha "I didn't come here to eat anyway Since dinner is officially ruined Mrs. Madden, bring out my mother's belongings."

Eartha looked at her in exasperation. "Liz, look how upset you've made your father. If you really care about your mother's things you must be a filial child at heart. Hurry up and apologize to your father."

She was completely dodging the request, and Lizetta knew right then that Eartha

had never intended to hand the items over easily.

She smiled sarcastically. “You're not going to give them to me, are you?"

Hearing her repeatedly demand the belongings, Conrad exploded.

"I can see she doesn't have an ounce of respect for the dead! She only wants Elsa's things because of their monetary value. Do not give them to her! If you hand them over, shell probably turn around and sell them the moment she leaves!"

"Ha, haha."

Lizetta let out a chilling, empty laugh.

She took a step forward, leaning her hands heavily on the dining table as she stared Conrad down with predatory intensity.

"Who exactly is coveting my mother's things? Some people aren't just greedy for her possessions they're greedy for her entire life."

Conrad's chest heaved violently, as if she had driven a blade right into his deepest

nerve.

He bolted up from his chair, lunging across the table and swinging his hand at her in absolute fury.

"Shut up!"

Smack!

The forceful slap knocked Lizetta's face sharply to the side, and a dead silence instantly fell over the room.