Chapter 716

Chapter 716Slap! A resounding slap echoed around the room.
Clutching her face, Jacqueline was wholly stunned. “You dare hit me?”
The two children were also rather shocked at Natalie's action.
But in the next second, Sharon began clapping her hands in delight. “You were amazing, Mommy!”
Likewise, Connor felt that it was indeed a fitting punishment for Jacqueline. His mother's actions were
gratified. However, he was a tad worried for Natalie.
Ms. Graham is very important to Daddy, so he might be angry when he hears that she hit her.
“So what if I hit you? Am I supposed to compromise no matter what you do?” In a frigid voice devoid of
emotion, Natalie declared, “When you said that my children are bastards and a burden, you should
have anticipated such a consequence.”
“How dare you?” Jacqueline's face contorted into a mask of pure fury. Similarly, she raised her hand to
slap Natalie in return.
Seeing that, Natalie's eyes narrowed a fraction. Grabbing her hand, she again swung her hand at
Jacqueline, landing it on the other side of her face.
With that, Jacqueline was left with palm prints on both sides of her face.
At the impact, the woman collapsed onto the sofa, her head spinning and her cheeks burning.
How dare she? How dare Natalie Smith slap me?
A wave of enmity and wrath engulfed her, working her up into a lather that made her tremble all over.At that precise moment, a series of footsteps rang out, followed by a man's deep and aloof voice.
“What the hell is happening here?”
Jacqueline's eyes glinted, and she immediately scrambled up from the sofa. Dashing over to Shane,
she threw herself into his arms. “Shane, Ms. Smith hit me...” She sniffled piteously.
“Natalie hit you?” Shane frowned, clearly doubting the veracity of her words.
Sensing his doubt, Jacqueline lifted her head and pointed at her face. “Look, this is courtesy of Ms.
Smith. She slapped me twice! It hurts so badly, Shane..”
Th€ connection to th€ §ource of thïš dat@ r€§t$ in n0v3lebookAs she said that, she started sobbing again.
Glimpsing the palm prints on her face, Shane pursed his lips and looked at Natalie. “Give me a
reason.”
He understood her — she wasn't the kind of person who would hit someone without reason. Thus,
there had to be a reason for her actions.
Sweeping a frosty look over the complaining Jacqueline, Natalie opened her mouth to speak.
But before she could do so, Connor took Sharon's hand and chimed in, “Daddy, Mommy isn't at fault in
this matter. Ms. Graham provoked us first.” Pointing at Jacqueline, he proclaimed, “She said Sharon
and I are bastards and a burden, so Mommy slapped her. She only has herself to blame for being so
vile!”
What? Bastards? A burden?Shane's eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked down at Jacqueline. “Is that true? Did you really say
such things?”
“No, Shane! You know I'd never say such things. Connor is lying.” Jacqueline stared at the young boy
with a hurt expression.
“You're lying! Connor was merely telling the truth! You indeed said that earlier!” Sharon stood up and
yelled.
At that, Jacqueline's expression turned all the more aggrieved. “Is this how you educate your children,
Ms. Smith? Don't you even care that they're lying?”
“My children aren't lying. On the contrary, I think I educated them very well. I'm proud of them. It's you,
Ms. Graham, whom I think should be educated. You're a grown woman, yet not only did you insult my
children, but you're even lying without batting an eyelid,” Natalie retorted, gripping her children's hands.
After saying that, she turned to Shane again. “Shane, the children are speaking the truth. Ms. Graham
indeed said that they were bastards. Trust me.”
Shane lowered his eyes, his gaze so profound that one couldn't discern his thoughts.
Right then, Jacqueline tugged at his hand. “I really didn't do that, Shane. Besides, there must be a
reason if I were to do so. Why would I revile them for no reason? I don't have any grudges against
them.”
“Indeed, you don't have any grudges against them. However, you do have a grudge against me.
They're my children, so that's reason enough for you to target them as well, no?” Natalie riposted with abark of sardonic laughter.
Ever the victim, Jacqueline bit her lip in a pitiful manner. “Ms. Smith, don't you think you're going too far
to accuse me of that?”