Chapter 38

Chapter 38:

After Selma spoke, Robert and Michelle had to step in to soothe her.

But Selma wasn’t finished. She dropped onto Crowell’s hospital bed, holding onto him tightly as her loud, heartbroken sobs echoed through the room.

Crowell’s frustration boiled over. He couldn’t wrap his head around how Fernanda could be so cruel. First, she assaulted him, and now she was going after his grandmother.

“This is too much!” Crowell yelled in frustration. “Aunt Michelle, Uncle Robert, you can’t just let Fernanda get away with this. If this keeps up, she’s going to destroy everything before we know it p>

Selma didn’t waste a second before jumping in. “She’s only been back for a few days, and she’s already making my grandchildren miserable. Are you really going to sit back and do nothing, Robert? Sure, she’s your daughter, but what about Erika? And what about Crowell and Amber? Aren’t they family too p>

Robert clenched his jaw tightly, unable to believe how rude Fernanda had been this time.

“Selma, calm down. I’ll take care of it as soon as I get home,” Robert assured her. “The thing is, Fernanda’s in the middle of an important exam right now, and I don’t want to disrupt her focus. But don’t worry—once it’s over, I’ll bring her here to apologize in person p>

Robert tried to sound calm, but his labored breathing gave him away. Erika could tell he was boiling with rage, though he was clearly trying to hold it together.

Picking up on his mood, Erika added fuel to the fire with a mocking sneer. “An important exam, huh? You mean the entrance test for Esaham University? She didn’t even bother showing up p>

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Robert’s eyes widened, his voice sharp. “What nonsense are you talking about p>

Erika gave an innocent shrug. “I’m not making this up. I saw the news—they said Fernanda skipped the exam and didn’t even step foot on Esaham University’s campus today p>

To make her point, she quickly pulled out her phone and opened a news article. “Here, Dad, read it yourself if you don’t believe me p>

Robert snatched the phone, and as he read, fury surged through him, leaving him almost breathless.

The screen displayed reports from journalists confirming that Fernanda, the eldest daughter of the Morgan family, hadn’t been at Esaham University that day.

As he continued reading, he stumbled across online chatter claiming Fernanda had chickened out at the last minute. Some had even unearthed details about her past, alleging she had dropped out of school early, had minimal education, and possibly couldn’t even read or write—insinuating it was absurd for her to attempt the Esaham University exam.

Other users questioned how Fernanda had even qualified for the exam, throwing around accusations and theories that were too vile for him to stomach.

Robert’s hands started shaking uncontrollably, his grip on the phone faltering as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him.

Michelle noticed his distress and quickly steadied his arm. In a soft, comforting voice, she said, “Honey, don’t let this upset you so much. There must be some mistake. Fernanda wouldn’t skip the exam—she’s been working so hard for it, hasn’t she p>

“It was all an act! I’ve been saying this from the start—she’s just been faking it!” Erika scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You all fell for her lies. I tried to warn you, but no one listened to me p>

The realization that Fernanda hadn’t even shown up for the exam, combined with Selma’s earlier tirades, sent Robert over the edge. His knees nearly buckled, and he stumbled backward, barely keeping his balance.

“Useless brat!” Robert roared, his anger spilling over. In a blind rage, he hurled Erika’s phone to the floor, where it shattered with a sharp, jarring crack.

Erika parted her lips to say something but, faced with Robert’s fury, found herself at a loss for words and stayed quiet.

With an angry huff, Robert stormed out of the room, his every step making it obvious he was heading straight to confront Fernanda.

As he reached the doorway, he collided with Ector, who had just arrived. The look of rage on Robert’s face caught Ector completely off guard.

“Dad, what’s going on?” Ector asked, his voice laced with urgency.

Robert was too furious to answer and brushed past Ector without a word.

Ector quickly put two and two together—Selma must’ve stirred things up, and it had to involve Fernanda. He hurried to block Robert’s path, asking, “Are you heading back to talk to Fernanda, Dad p>

At the mention of Fernanda, Robert’s fury intensified, and his voice turned sharp. “Did you know she didn’t sit for the exam? You were the one who dropped her off at school, weren’t you? How could this happen p>

Robert started to rant under his breath. “I didn’t even think she’d pass, but not showing up at all? Do you have any idea how bad the online gossip is? If the Harper family hears about this, what will they say? She’s nearly twenty—how can she still be so clueless p>

“Dad, calm down. Fernanda definitely went to the exam,” Ector insisted. “We got stuck in traffic, but she told me she made it to the venue in time p>

Robert’s eyes went wide in shock. “Wait, what? Are you saying you didn’t drop her off at the school p>

Ector gave a firm shake of his head.

Erika’s accusations echoed relentlessly in Robert’s mind.

“She didn’t go. She’s lying right to your face,” Robert snapped. “How could she feed us all these lies? That’s it. I’m going back to deal with this now p>

With a rough shove to Ector’s shoulder, Robert stormed past him and marched away.

Fernanda was engrossed in managing her stock portfolio when the door flew open with a loud bang, and Robert barged in, his fury practically radiating off him.

Calmly, she shut her laptop and met Robert’s fiery gaze with a blank, unreadable expression.

As he drew closer, his eyes landed on the books scattered across Fernanda’s desk. His irritation flared even more. She hadn’t gone to the exam, yet here she was reading. Without thinking twice, he grabbed the books and hurled them to the floor with force.

“You skipped the exam, and now you’re putting on this act with these books?” Robert shouted, his voice trembling with anger. “Explain yourself! Why didn’t you show up for the exam p>

Fernanda had assumed he was there to confront her about Selma’s distress, but it turned out to be about the exam instead.

Clearly, he had come across those online articles and the vile comments directed at her.

“And who told you I didn’t take the exam?” Fernanda replied, her tone calm and composed.

“Do I need someone to tell me? It’s plastered all over the internet!” Robert shot back, slamming his fist on the table. “I wasn’t expecting you to pass, but to not even show up? Don’t you care about what people are saying about you? If the Harper family hears about this, do you think they’ll still accept you? And what will this do to our family’s reputation? Do you have no shame at all p>

His tirade left him breathless, his head swimming and his limbs trembling from the intensity of his anger.

Compared to Robert’s outburst, Fernanda remained calm and unruffled. “What they’re saying is just hearsay. It doesn’t prove I wasn’t there. I’m the one who sat for the exam, not them,” she said, her tone measured and cool. “Take a deep breath. Once the results are out, the truth will be clear p>

“Don’t embarrass yourself further. When the results are out and show your low grades, you will become a subject of ridicule p>

Fernanda’s patience was wearing thin, but she refused to let herself get worked up arguing with Robert, as it would only exhaust her and take a toll on her peace of mind.

Without sparing Robert another glance, she turned away, her voice cold and firm. “Let me be clear—I not only took the exam, but I’m confident I’ll pass. Now leave. Don’t disrupt my reading or spoil my mood. I have no interest in seeing you at the moment p>