Things were getting ugly faster than expected, even Tong Tong who had been feeling sleepy had woken up, silently listening.

"Young master, I will do it. I'm here, I will do it." Xinglan hurriedly said, rushing back to take the plate. But Anthony ignored her.

"Why? Do you feel too big to wash the plates? Are they above the high and mighty princess? I have not punished you for splashing hot soup on Tong Tong and scarring her face. I think it's time to give you some home training."

His cold voice filled with a hint of cruelty terrified her, and her eyes went wide with disbelief. Anthony grabbed her by the collar, lifting her to her feet as if she weighed nothing.

"Young master, why are you doing this?"

Anthony scoffed and moved his hand to her throat, slightly tightening it.

"What am I doing? Why? Do you feel afraid now? Why didn't you feel that same fear and remorse when you ruined Tong Tong's face with hot soup? All because of what? She was trying to get a spoiled useless young miss like you to eat. She should have just let you starve to death. Is she your slave? Even if she is, does that give you the right to treat her less than an animal? I used to think you were one of the good ones, I couldn't be more wrong. If you could treat your so-called friends like this, you're a damned beast hiding beneath an innocent, pretty face."

Miao Miao's face had turned red with grievance and fear; she lightly tugged on his hands.

"I didn't know she was…"

"You didn't know you scalded her face with boiling hot soup, or you simply don't care. You can't be bothered about their lives, comfort, and happiness, because you're a selfish, stupid, pretentious and arrogant spoiled princess. I didn't realize you were rude, heartless, and arrogant till tonight."

"Young master, please let her go. She's normally not like that. She's just in pain."

As if on cue, Miao Miao burst into tears, crying heavily. But not even her tears dripping steadily on his hand could make him let go.

"Oh? Is she in pain? And the rest of you are not? Was she the only one who lost a loved one? Didn't it happen to the both of you? Or don't you also have the right to grieve and throw tantrums? Her actions were understandable at first, but she crossed the line."

"Young master, it was a misunderstanding. Please let the young miss go." Tong Tong's weak voice came from the blanket.

"Misunderstanding? I don't think so."

Anthony met Miao Miao's gaze, his was full of raw anger, while hers were a jumbled mix of varying emotions. Pain, confusion, hurt, unacceptance and surprise. This was probably the first time anyone was talking down to her.

"Young master, I know we're leeching off you now. My dad is dead, the homestead is lost. You're the one protecting us, probably you will be the one providing for us till we find our feet. But humiliating me this way because I'm now your dependent, don't you think it's unfair? Did I treat you like this when you were my guest? Young master…" She whispered, her eyes shining with tears, her face pitiful and filled with grievance, as if she just suffered the greatest wrong.

Anthony scoffed, chuckled, then shook his head, unable to believe the scene playing out before him.

"Gaslighting? It never works on me. Playing the victim card to make me look like a bad person won't get you anywhere, Miao Miao. Did I ever complain? Weren't I the one that offered to take you along and run? If Meng Meng had not chosen to go home when we met her father's troops, heaven knows I would have taken her along too, and I would definitely do everything a big brother is supposed to do for his younger ones. When did I ever get angry? I have lots of money. If I finish what I have, I can get more. Will having three sisters to accompany me be a problem? The only issue here is your attitude. But rather than fix it, you're here passing the blame card. You do not even find it in you to apologize. Wow, you have indeed broadened my views on a different degree of entitlement and princess syndrome."

Tong Tong stood up and staggered, feeling light headed because of the drugs.

"Young master, please let Miao Miao go, it doesn't hurt." She whispered, her initially pink lips had turned pale and chapped from suffering caused by a mix of pain, stress, tension and emotional turmoil. She was lying again to keep the peace.

"Tong Tong, shut up. Otherwise, you will get it from me. Stay out of this, it's none of your concern." He snapped, not looking away from Miao Miao for even a millisecond.

Silence stretched between them, with only her intermittent sobs and steady tears dripping down.

"Do you know now what you did wrong?" Anthony asked in a soft voice, slightly releasing his hold on her throat.

She kept staring blankly at him, only crying like a kid whose candy was snatched by an evil elder and beaten on top of it all.

"I don't know why you're angry at me, do you hate me because…"

"You're beyond saving. Even now you refuse to admit your wrong. But you have to wake up princess, that attitude of yours will get you in big trouble. And I damn hell won't always be there to save your ass. Do I hate you? I don't hate you, hate is such a strong word. But you just made me remember what I detest about women, beneath the most beautiful smiles lies the darkest and the most selfish of hearts."

"Young master!" Both Xinglan and Tong Tong shouted, interrupting him. But he didn't seem to care.

"Since you don't know what you did wrong, let me enlighten you. Grieving for your loved ones is right, they have been a huge part of your life, and hold a sizable chunk of your heart. It's expected you love and miss your father, it's expected that you're in indescribable pain, sulking is fine too. But it has been going on for two fucking days. Crying is fine, screaming is fine. But why do other people have to suffer because you're in pain?"

"Miao Miao, didn't your friends experience the same thing? Everyone has a different way of facing their loss, perhaps yours is acting that way. But your friends who don't seem to be as privileged, knew to pull themselves together, and think about survival. They also try to take care of you, they love you, pamper you, dote on you, and try to ease your pain. And what do you do in return? You frustrate their efforts. Does it make you feel good about yourself? Does it make you feel better?"

Now, even the other two had gotten emotional. Xinglan looked up at the dark sky, widening her eyes to stop the tears from escaping, while Tong Tong bit her lips hard to stop them from quivering, all to no avail.

"Miao Miao, Everyone can't be a strong woman, after all background and life experiences differ. Fine, I accept. But what gave you the right to act that way to people that have shown you nothing but love? Nothing can justify treating another human that way. Now, do you understand why I'm angry?"

She nodded vigorously, crying hard and trying to wipe her face.

"I'm sorry young master, I shouldn't have let my grief hurt others. I shouldn't have hit you in anger."

Anthony rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Am I the problem here? Is it that you can't understand or you don't want to understand? Did I ever complain? Or is it that you don't regard Tong Tong as human, as your equal. So you think it's alright to hurt her. You have not said a word of apology to her despite all my advice to you."

At this point, Anthony was literally boiling. Memories of his wife began to form in his mind, overlapping with hers at intervals, driving him mad with anger and hate. His voice was rising steadily, till he was nearly shouting.

"She came to feed you, you slapped the soup away and poured scalding soup on her. You didn't even flinch or feel remorseful, shout in shock, and apologize. You just closed your eyes and went back to pouting after ruining another girl's face, as if it was perfectly normal. Are you that heartless? It makes me wonder how long you have been tormenting others in your little kingdom. You didn't feel sorry, didn't apologize or ask after her. Even till now you refuse to admit you're wrong."

"I…" She began to say, her eyes defiant.

Anthony's fingers tightened again around her neck, cutting off her speech.

"You won't apologize to her? Fine! I will give you hell."

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