跳过内容
Novel Catalog
Chapter 43
Mandy froze at Richard’s words, her mind scrambling to deny what had just been said, but she knew—there was no point in trying to hide the truth anymore. John’s gaze turned colder, sharper, and though his expression remained composed, there was a flicker of disdain in his eyes that made Mandy’s stomach churn.
“Is that so?” John repeated, his voice smooth and dangerous, a tone that made even the most seasoned of businessmen take a step back.
Mandy tried to compose herself, but the weight of his gaze felt like a suffocating presence. She instinctively wrapped her arms tighter around herself, the jacket Dandy had thrown over her shoulders feeling flimsy compared to the weight of John’s scrutiny.
“It… It was an accident!” Mandy stammered, her voice cracking with the slightest hint of panic. “The waiter tripped. It’s not like I—”
“An accident, huh?” John cut her off, his tone icy as he took a step closer, still standing tall, towering over her. “I don’t think it was an accident when you’re the one who created the situation. It’s hard to believe that a grown woman, especially one with your history, would be so careless.”
The words were a calculated blow, sharp enough to leave a mark, but John’s calm delivery made them all the more lethal. He didn’t shout, didn’t raise his voice. He simply let the weight of his words settle in the air around them.
Mandy’s face drained of color as the realization hit her—she wasn’t going to get away with this. The others in the banquet hall were watching, their whispers rising like an uncomfortable hum in the background, adding to the pressure of the moment. No one was buying her innocent act anymore.
“I didn’t—” Mandy started, but John raised a hand, cutting her off effortlessly.
“I think you’ve said enough,” he said coolly, turning his attention briefly to Dandy and Allie, who were standing at a distance, watching the drama unfold. “Your daughter should learn that actions have consequences, no matter how hard she tries to hide behind her wealth and status.”
Dandy’s jaw tightened at the implication, but he couldn’t bring himself to argue. There was no denying that Mandy had brought this upon herself. The entire room could feel the shift in power, and it was undeniable.
“Go home, Mandy,” Dandy said in a low voice, his words tinged with frustration and a hint of embarrassment. “You’re making a scene.”
Mandy’s eyes widened in disbelief. She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, John’s gaze locked onto hers, and there was a dangerous finality to his expression. “You don’t want to make this any worse than it already is, Mandy. Go.”
The room seemed to hold its breath as Mandy stood there, seething with humiliation. But when she saw John’s expression—the quiet authority he carried, the unspoken power he wielded with ease—she knew she had lost. There was no argument left, no way to salvage her dignity.
With a flick of her wrist, she stormed out, her face red with fury and frustration, but there was nothing she could do to salvage her reputation now.
As she left, John’s attention shifted back to Richard, who was standing by his side, looking innocent as ever, but with a small, victorious grin on his face.
“You did well,” John said, his voice warm, though there was still a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Richard beamed up at his father. “I didn’t like how she was being mean to Mommy. She made me so mad! I just wanted to tell her that she shouldn’t treat people like that!”
Cordy couldn’t help but chuckle, a soft sound of approval escaping her lips. “You’re a smart kid, Richard. I’m proud of you.”
As John draped his jacket over Cordy’s shoulders, the weight of the evening’s events seemed to settle. The tension, the humiliation—everything that had been building up in the banquet hall was slowly unraveling.
For Cordy, it felt like a quiet victory. She had handled herself with grace in the face of Mandy’s antics, and now, with John and Richard at her side, the night’s chaos had come full circle. She wasn’t the one who had been humiliated. It was Mandy—and everyone knew it.
As the evening drew on, the whispers of the scandal would no doubt continue, but Cordy wasn’t bothered by that. Let them gossip. Let them talk. She had a far more important focus now—her family, and the quiet moments of peace that came with being with those who truly mattered.
John’s voice, rich with affection, broke through her thoughts. “You alright?”
Cordy glanced up at him, finding warmth in his eyes. “Yeah. I’m just glad that’s over.”
John smiled softly, a genuine smile that made her heart flutter just a little. “It’s over for now. But don’t worry, I’ll always have your back.”
And just like that, Cordy felt the last of the tension drain away. It wasn’t just about tonight or the banquet—it was about something deeper. Something unspoken, but felt between them. And she had the distinct feeling that, no matter what came next, she was no longer alone in the fight.