"Miss Poppy, please!" A maid cried, breathless as she hurried after her. "Mr. Rowland said he doesn't want to be disturbed!"
But Poppy didn't care. She threw the doors open to her father's private study and stormed in.
"Father!" She shouted.
Rowland looked up slowly from behind his grand mahogany desk. He didn't look surprised. He didn't even flinch. Calmly, he placed his pen down, then glanced at the trembling maid. "Leave us."
The maid bowed quickly and hurried out, shutting the doors behind her.
"How dare you?" Poppy yelled angrily. "You bought my apartment building and threw out all my things like thrash?! You had no right!"
Rowland leaned back in his chair and smiled softly. "You gave me no choice, child," he said calmly. "You've been acting like a fool and running from your responsibilities. I simply cleaned up the mess."
"That apartment was the only thing I had left!" she shouted. "The only thing that was mine!"
"Watch your tone, Poppy!"
Stunned, Poppy turned to see Dale standing close to her Father's desk with a frown. Lauren sat on the couch beside him, frowning as well. She had been so angry that she didn't notice them.
"You don't speak to Father like that," Dale snapped. "For once, stop embarrassing yourself!"
Poppy's fists curled into a ball, feeling her blood boil from the mere sight of Dale. "Why are you here?" She counted her words, but even a fool could feel the anger in them. "And who gave you the right to speak in my family's business?"
Dale jaw clenched, but before he could retort, Lauren cut in.
"He has every right to be here," she sneered. "He's married to Layla now. That makes him a part of the family whether you like it or not. And since you have no manners like a useless child, Dale also have the right to reprimand you."
Dale's frown melted into a smug. "Thank you, Mother. You know, it's difficult to process why she's screaming at Father, and playing the victim when everything that is happening right now is her fault."
He took a step toward Poppy. "Father is a very civilized man. He doesn't take unnecessary actions if the situation doesn't call for it. You disrespected him in front of everyone, that is unforgivable! If you want your property back, all you have to do is obey. You should be grateful I pleaded with him to go easy on you after convincing him that you will come back to your senses."
"And it's crazy how Father has to do something like this to make you concede," he continued. "When I'm doing you a favor by willingly taking you in as my second wife. Honestly, who else can endure someone as pathetic as you?"
Both Lauren and Rowland smiled faintly at Poppy's furious face, but then—
SLAP!
Dale's head snapped to the side as red handprints appeared on his cheek. While Lauren's mouth opened wide with shock, Rowland fell speechless.
"After everything you did to me, don't you dare act like you're doing me a favor, you disgusting scumbag!"
Since he was still in shock, it took a minute before his brain registered what just happened. Poppy slapped him? His hands flexed by his sides.
"Poppy!" Rowland slammed his hand on his desk as he shot to his feet. "How dare your lay your filthy hand on Dale?!"
Poppy didn't flinch, instead she sighed softly at the momentary relief that came from hitting him. "You're addressing the wrong person, Father. The filth is standing right in front of you and you can't even see him!"
"You...!" Rowland pointed an angry finger at her, dumbfounded by her new attitude.
Dale's fingers trembled at his sides from holding back.
"Shut up, Poppy!" Lauren spat, standing up. "What is wrong with you?! You storm into your Father's study like a wild animal and you're causing chaos like a mad person! What is this? Are you trying to rebel against your Father?!"
When Poppy said nothing, she scoffed angrily. "No wonder Layla was chosen over you. She has always been the better version of you."
Surprisingly, that didn't get to Poppy anymore unlike the past. "And yet she settled for Dale."
Dale eyes widened slightly. Poppy had always worshipped him in the past. How could she change so much in a day?
"I'm not surprised at the way the both of you are supporting two cheating disgusting thrashes mindlessly anymore," she continued. "After all, you did the same thing to mother with your secretary."
Both Rowland and Lauren's face paled instantly.
"Anyway, I'm going to plead with you to stay away from my personal matters, Father. That's if you don't want me to rebel against you," she added with a serious tone.
Without waiting for anyone to speak, Poppy opened the door to leave, but she froze when she saw Layla standing beside it with her ears pressed to it. Her eyes widened in shock the moment she locked eyes with Poppy.
Poppy frowned.
Layla quickly straightened and tossed her hair back as Poppy closed the door behind her. Clearing her throat softly, "You have a lot of nerves speaking to Father—" she started.
But Poppy simply walked past her like she didn't exist. That riled Layla up.
"Hey!" She screamed after her. "I'm talking to you!"
Poppy didn't stop. She kept walking until she was out of the building.
...
It was already evening when Poppy's car pulled up in front of Chloe's apartment.
She didn't move at first. She just sat there, staring blankly at the window as the day replayed in her mind. She'd experienced bad days, but this wasn't a mere one. She felt like her world had shattered in one day. Again.
She let out a deep breath as she finally opened the door and slowly stepped out. She was about to knock on the door when it flew open and Chloe stepped out.
"Poppy!" Chloe called out worriedly.
Poppy didn't say a word. One look at Chloe's face and the dam broke lose. She collapsed into her arms, and her body trembled as the tears she'd been holding back all day fell freely.
Chloe held her without hesitation. She didn't speak, knowing she didn't need to. She just understood what her friend needed.
A moment barely passed before a voice called out from behind her.
"Miss Poppy Sinclair?"
Poppy's tears were still pouring, but she slowly pulled away from Chloe with confusion as she stared at the woman who stood at her doorway, with a huge man in a black suit behind her.
"Who...?"
The elegant woman smiled softly. "I am Florence Langford."
Chloe immediately leaned into Poppy's ears. "That's Alaric Langford's mother."