Chapter 99 Elysia cursed under her breath and bent down to pick up her phone. No sooner had she grabbed it than she felt a sudden yank on her hair. Someone had grabbed her hair and pulled hard, sending a sharp pain shooting through her scalp. “We haven’t even started on you yet, and you’re already swinging,” a woman sneered. “You’re asking for it, you wretch!” A gaggle of women surrounded her, hurling insults and readying their hands for a fight. Fuming, Elysia thought, if it weren’t for her desire to avoid trouble, she’d give each of them a dose of her own medicine. She stomped on the foot of the woman who had grabbed her hair, causing her to let go instantly and howl in pain. “Ouch, ouch, ouch… My foot, waaah…” She didn’t need needles to handle these women; they were no match for her. They say a lioness becomes fiercest when she’s a mother, and since having her children, Elysia was no longer the pushover she used to be. Moreover, living in the countryside for so many years, doing daily labor like collecting herbs and chopping firewood, had made her body strong. These pampered flowers, raised in a greenhouse, stood no chance against her. Despite their numbers, they couldn’t get the upper hand. Oriana frowned at the scene and fixed her gaze on Emmett. Striding over, she kicked Emmett to the ground. “Think you can compete with us for Quill’s toys? You’re asking for it!” Emmett burst into tears, “Mommy, mommy… waaaah…” Seeing Emmett in distress, Elysia flew into a rage, slapping and kicking the group of women until they were sprawled on the ground. She grabbed Oriana and delivered a few sharp slaps across her face., Pushing her away, she scooped up Emmett. “Don’t be scared, Emmett, Mommy’s here.” Emmett clung tightly to Elysia’s neck and cried, “Mommy, waaaah, mommy…” As Elysia comforted Emmett, the other women rushed to Oriana’s aid. you alright? Did “Oriana, are you get hurt? Did that fall hurt you?” Now that Oriana was dating Keaton, she was considered the most prestigious woman in their circle of friends. Everybody knew Keaton was a womanizer, changing girlfriends more often than his shirts, yet why were so many women eager to date him? And why did none of his ex–girlfriends ever come forward to badmouth him? Firstly, Keaton, though flirtatious, never played the field; he was devoted to one relationship at a time. Secondly, his ‘financial prowess‘ played a role; every woman who dated Keaton not only benefited materially but also saw her social status soar. Keaton was famously indulgent with his girlfriends, treating them like queens during their relationship. Even if Oriana and Keaton were to break up, with the reputation as Keaton’s ex, her social standing would rise several notches. And right now, she was still very much in a relationship with him. After today’s incident, a single pout from Oriana could land Elysia in jail for a decade, as far as Keaton was concerned. So, when they heard Oriana’s nephew had been bullied, they rushed to confront Elysia, eager to defend Oriana. In their minds, even if they publicly beat Elysia and her son to death, with Oriana’s influence, Keaton would ensure they walked away scot–free. Oriana, with a twisted ankle, sat on the ground clutching her face, glaring at Elysia with hatred. “You dare hit me?” Elysia held Emmett close, her face a mask of anger. “We’re all adults here. If you’ve got a problem, take it up with me. What kind of lowlife bullies a child? I thought you were just a typical mean girl, but you’re worse than that! You’re not even human, attacking a kid like that!”