Meanwhile, Calin was in an exceptionally good mood that morning. Seeing countless netizens seemingly embark on a witch hunt against Yeri filled her with satisfaction.
So what if Yeri was younger and known as the school's beloved sweetheart?
So what if she was Shin's fiancée?
So what if she was a programming prodigy?
In this era of social media, despite her damaged reputation, a few carefully chosen words from Calin were still enough to push Yeri toward social ruin.
As she leisurely swam laps in the pool, enjoying the situation, a sudden commotion erupted near the entrance. Moments later, Madam Ricci hurried over and called out to her.
"Calin, come out quickly! There are police officers outside."
Calin ignored her at first and slowly climbed out of the pool, casually drying herself.
"If this is about Bryce, I've already given my initial statement. I remember they said they'd contact me first if they needed to question me again."
Madam Ricci looked increasingly anxious. "Just hurry and get changed. They said it has nothing to do with Bryce."
Calin's expression darkened. She slammed her glass of juice onto the table, shattering it instantly. Throwing on a robe, she strode toward the living room.
Two police officers were seated inside, while another stood by the door.
A surge of irritation rushed through her. Since they weren't part of the elite circle, she couldn't even be bothered to pretend to be polite.
"What the fuck do you want?" she snapped. "I already told you I know nothing about Bryce's business. Go talk to my brother. He's the company's CEO!"
One of the officers frowned but maintained a professional tone.
"Miss Ricci, we're here because several individuals have officially filed legal complaints against you."
"Several individuals?" Calin sneered as she snatched the document from his hand.
However, her expression changed the moment she saw the contents.
Bullying, defamation, harassment, and more.
The very people who had once been too terrified to stand against her had now stepped forward one after another.
Calin gritted her teeth in fury, but her lawyer had already warned her this might happen.
"Then you can speak to my lawyer," she said coldly.
Beside her, Madam Ricci suddenly sniffled and spoke in an aggrieved tone.
"How can everyone be so cruel? I know my daughter may have gone a little too far, but my husband is already in a coma, and my son is in poor health and was only recently discharged from the hospital. Now they're retaliating against us at our lowest moment."
The officers paused briefly but continued nonetheless.
"Miss Ricci, apart from the complaints and other cases filed against you, we've also received a report alleging that you committed a far more serious crime: the murder of one of your servants and her daughter."
At those words, Calin's hands began to tremble. "W... what did you just say?"
"Murder?!" Madam Ricci shrieked. "How dare you accuse my daughter of such nonsense! Do you really think we're so easy to bully now? My daughter would never do such a thing!"
"Then could you tell us the whereabouts of the mother and daughter? Their family filed a missing persons report several weeks ago."
He glanced down at the records before continuing.
"We would like you to accompany us to the police station to provide a statement."
"No way!" Madam Ricci immediately stepped in front of Calin. "For what? Our household is under the Mafia Association. You people have no business being here in the first place!"
"That may be the case," the officer replied sternly, "but the two missing individuals are ordinary citizens. Their case falls under police jurisdiction."
Madam Ricci continued arguing heatedly, completely unaware of how pale Calin had become.
Just as Calin thought things couldn't get any worse, one of the officers added, "There's also the recent accident involving Marianne Vega- "
"What lies are you trying to spread this time?" Madam Ricci interrupted furiously. "My daughter is the victim in this matter. Don't you dare try to pin that accident on her."
The officer ignored Madam Ricci entirely and fixed his gaze on Calin.
"Miss Vega has already regained consciousness. However, she does not recognize the suspect, Venice Zhi, as the person who pushed her."
Calin "...."
"Although she appeared somewhat confused, she was adamant that only the two of you were talking at the time."
The officer continued speaking, but she could barely hear him anymore. Her mind wasn't occupied with Marianne's case, it was the murder investigation.
Clearly, one of those lowly servants who had worked for the family had let something slip and reported it.
Who could it be?
In the end, despite Madam Ricci's dramatic tantrums and relentless objections, Calin was still taken to the police station for questioning.
While her lawyer argued back and forth with the officers, Calin repeatedly tried calling Hadi, intending to have him handle the situation surrounding Marianne's case.
However, every call was met with the same response, the number was unreachable.
Because on the other side, Hadi was in no better situation himself.
The Keir elders had acted quickly. All assets tied to the family had been frozen. His connections, privileges, and legal access under the Keir name had been severed. He couldn't even use the identification card that bore the Keir surname.
"Serenity, you... you bitch! Don't go too far!" Hadi shouted, pointing at her with trembling fingers as he stared at the check lying on the table. "Are you trying to kill me?"
Serenity casually leaned back in her chair and glanced at the wall clock in the study. "I have a skincare appointment soon. Stop barking and get to the point."
Hadi glared at her viciously before throwing the check back onto the table.
Serenity merely raised an eyebrow.
"Is a monthly allowance of five thousand not enough?" she asked leisurely. "Think about it. You still have a roof over your head and food on the table. You're not a student, and you don't even have a job. If you ask me, five thousand is more than generous."
The veins on Hadi's forehead bulged as his expression twisted with rage.
Five thousand?
That wasn't even enough to cover a single evening of his usual lifestyle.
A glass of premium wine at an upscale club could easily cost that much.
Was she out of her mind?
"Do you think I'm a dog that only needs a house and regular meals?" he roared. "I'm telling you to reactivate my cards immediately. Otherwise, I won't be coming back to this house from now on!"
Serenity stared at him, momentarily stunned.
However, Hadi interpreted her silence as fear of him abandoning her.
A smug smile spread across his face as he raised his chin arrogantly.
"Also, retract everything you said to the elders," he demanded. "Tell them you were simply misled by that bastard Shin. Tell them all the evidence presented was fake and edited, and that I was framed."
Looking at his condescending, ugly face, Serenity simply couldn't hold it in anymore.
She doubled over laughing.
Did he just threaten not to come home? There was actually such a wonderful thing?
Hadi's expression darkened.
"What are you laughing at?" he snarled. "Enough with all these pretenses. I know exactly what you're trying to do. You're doing all this just to get my attention. Deliberately angering me, approaching my girlfriends behind my back, inciting them to fight amongst themselves, and now you've even gone as far as having me temporarily disowned by the clan. Don't you just want to prove that without money, you're the only woman willing to stay by my side? You want me to realize that all those other women only approached me because I'm a Keir."
He pointed at her triumphantly.
"I'm telling you, Serenity, your schemes won't work on me. I can see right through you. I've told you countless times already. I don't like obsessive women."
At that point, Serenity laughed even harder.
Sure enough, when a person became exasperated, laughter was often the only response left.
She had always known Hadi was narcissistic, selfish, and completely self-serving.
But to think he genuinely believed she had him disowned because she wanted to reform him? To make him abandon all his other women and devote himself entirely to her?
The sheer confidence behind such a ridiculous conclusion was almost admirable.
With that mindset, he would surely go very far in life. Even depression would probably be too intimidated to approach him.
After laughing to her heart's content, Serenity finally calmed down.
Meanwhile, Hadi still wore that smug expression, as if he had completely figured her out.
Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with a tissue, she smiled.
"Well, you can think whatever you want. But it's rather embarrassing that you compared yourself to a dog. After all, pet owners these days don't just register their dogs under the family surname. They also buy insurance for them."
Hadi's face instantly turned green.
Just as he opened his mouth to curse again, Serenity raised a hand to stop him.
"As for this check, that's my mistake." She opened a desk drawer and took out a card. "I forgot you can't use your ID anymore, and all your accounts have been frozen. Going to the bank would probably be inconvenient."
She tossed the card toward him.
"Use this from now on. I'll have the butler deposit your monthly allowance into it. The PIN should still be the default four zeros."
Hadi looked down at the card. For a moment, he was stunned. Then his face twisted with fury.
"Are you testing my patience? Isn't this the same card newly hired servants use when they first start working here?"
Serenity merely shrugged.
Glancing at the clock once more, she decided it was time to leave.
However, just as she reached the door, Hadi suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her arm.
The look in his eyes made it clear he wanted to hit her.
Unfortunately for him, Serenity moved faster.
Without even turning around fully, she drove her six-inch heel straight into his stomach.
"Ughhh!"
Hadi folded like a shrimp and rolled across the floor, clutching his stomach while screaming in agony.
"Bitch! What the hell did you kick me with?!"
Serenity glanced down at her newly purchased heels.
A trace of pity flashed across her face. What a waste to use such an expensive pair on a scumbag.
With that thought, she walked out of the study without a second glance, leaving Hadi writhing on the floor behind her.