Chapter 816: Nicole, Like a Puppet!

Yura forced out a smile that looked worse than crying.

“Mr. Hart, I had my reasons for the listening device. I’ll go upstairs to check on Nicole’s injury first. I’ll come back down and explain.”

With that, she went upstairs without looking back, her departure carrying a faint air of retreat.

Hart stared at Yura’s false composure, his eyes seeming ready to spit fire.

The thought of what this vicious woman had done to his daughter made him want to rush up and snap her neck.

Feeling the devouring gaze behind her, Yura did not dare turn her head as she walked toward the stairs.

Wang Yun, however, looked at her somewhat flustered back and said calmly, “Good morning, Dr. Yura. You look very beautiful today.”

At his words, Yura stumbled, nearly falling flat on her face.

But she neither turned around nor responded. Her thoughts were in complete chaos, her mind spiraling out of control.

Was there something implied in his words?

How could he know she had deliberately chosen this outfit today?

Did they already know about the listening device she planted?

And if she had not been mistaken, was that killing intent in Hart’s eyes when he first looked at her?

Mr. Hart would not go that far. Even if he knew about the bug, he would not want her life. Then something else must have happened—something she did not know about.

Suppressing her unease, Yura quickened her steps toward Nicole’s room on the second floor. She deliberately placed her handbag on the low cabinet beside the stairs, taking only her medical kit upstairs.

She believed her casual little gesture had gone unnoticed.

What she did not realize was that once everyone knew her intentions, every small movement of hers seemed exposed under bright daylight.

Nothing escaped their notice.

Even Big Mouth, who was usually carefree, sensed that something was off with Yura. He had just come out of the kitchen when he ran into her. He rolled his eyes at the sight of the vicious woman.

Yura was so flustered now that she could not even maintain the elegance she had always taken pride in.

Only after she disappeared from view did Hart withdraw his hate-filled gaze.

The woman he had once believed to be dignified and graceful turned out to be venomous at heart, her mind filled with schemes and calculations.

He began to suspect there had been something wrong with his own eyes all along, for failing to see Yura’s true nature.

Big Mouth walked over and was just about to say something when Wang Yun cut him off.

Wang Yun pointed to the low cabinet by the steps. Resting on it was an exquisite ladies’ handbag—the very one Yura had just set down so casually.

Big Mouth immediately understood Wang Yun’s intention. He walked over at once, picked up the handbag carefully, and looked at Wang Yun with a questioning expression.

As if asking–What should we do with this bag?

Hart stared at the handbag as though he were looking at Yura’s nauseating face. He let out a low growl.

“Throw it out!”

At that moment, he did not want to see Yura, or anything related to her, even for a second.

Wang Yun thought it over and felt that would be inappropriate.

After all, Yura was still Nicole’s attending physician. If they threw her belongings out directly and she retaliated against Nicole, the consequences would be serious.

After a brief consideration, Wang Yun instructed Big Mouth to place Yura’s handbag in the storage cabinet by the entrance. This way, they would not have to worry about any electronic devices inside, nor would they have difficulty explaining if Yura asked about it.

Big Mouth nodded, took the handbag, and walked toward the door.

***

Meanwhile, Wang Yun and Hart had already put on their headsets and fixed their eyes on the computer screen.

Yura pushed open Nicole’s door. The tension on her face vanished instantly.

Seeing Nicole sitting quietly at the desk, her face filled with disgust.

She glared at Nicole and asked in a probing tone, “Did you say something to your father?”

Nicole did not lift her head. She continued reading the book in her hands and gave no reply.

Yura had been on edge outside, and now that she had finally entered Nicole’s room, this little girl dared to ignore her.

Fury surged through her as she strode over to Nicole.

She reached out and snatched the book away.

Holding the book in one hand, she lifted Nicole’s chin with the other, forcing her to look up.

“I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me?”

A malicious smile curved across her face.

“Disobedient children have to be punished.”

Nicole remained silent. She even closed her eyes.

Seeing Nicole refuse to look at her, Yura grew even more enraged. She swung the book and slapped it across Nicole’s face.

At that moment, she no longer cared about leaving visible marks. She only wanted to vent the resentment in her heart.

Nicole’s reaction had completely provoked her.

She cast aside all restraint, determined to teach the poor girl a harsh lesson.

Downstairs, Hart watched the computer screen and saw the woman actually strike his daughter.

Nicole’s silent endurance pierced his heart as a father.

He shot to his feet, enraged. His face twisted with fury as he strode toward the stairs to confront her.