Chapter 58: Face-Slapping Erin Whittaker and Julian Fletcher at the Banquet

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Face-Slapping Erin Whittaker and Julian Fletcher at the Banquet

"So, President Fletcher, you’re that interested in me?" I asked with a sneer, turning to leave.

But Julian Fletcher suddenly grabbed my wrist, his gaze burning as he scrutinized me. "Why... do you look so much like her?"

He seemed to be talking to himself.

’I couldn’t have Julian Fletcher recognizing me. That would ruin all the fun.’

"What’s the meaning of this, President Fletcher? I’m Master Lancaster’s granddaughter-in-law. It’s hardly appropriate for you to be grabbing me like this, is it? An outsider might think you’ve taken a fancy to me." I deliberately raised my voice, giving Julian Fletcher the perfect opportunity to offend the Lancaster family.

Julian Fletcher frowned and released my wrist. "My apologies. I mistook you for someone else."

I sneered and walked away.

"You really do look a lot like Cecilia Caldwell." Erin Whittaker suddenly blocked my way at the stairwell.

I glanced to my left and right, then smiled. "Oh, really? Are you scared?"

"Silvia Lynch, a fake will always be a fake." She was threatening me.

"Then what are you so afraid of?" I shot back. "Or are you afraid the one Julian Fletcher loves isn’t you, but Cecilia Caldwell?"

The color drained from Erin Whittaker’s face, and she averted her gaze. "So what if he loves Cecilia Caldwell? She’s dead!"

"Erin Whittaker, aren’t you afraid of retribution?" I said in a low, heavy voice.

"Don’t think marrying some fool from the Lancaster family means you’ve made it big. The Lynn family is a nobody. The only reason that idiot agreed to marry you is because you look a little like Cecilia Caldwell." Erin Whittaker sneered, looking at me mockingly. "He’s not just an idiot, he’s a lunatic! A psycho! He’s a killer when he loses it. Let’s see what kind of good end you’ll come to by his side."

SLAP! I raised my hand and struck Erin Whittaker across the face. That was a slap she had owed me for a long time.

She clutched her face, seemingly stunned that I dared to hit her.

SLAP! I hit her again with a backhand. "And that one’s for being such a bitch."

The sound of the slaps was so loud that all eyes in the room turned to us.

I looked coldly at Erin Whittaker, then over at Julian Fletcher, who stood not far away with an equally dark expression.

Erin Whittaker was stunned for a long moment before turning to look at Julian Fletcher, clearly expecting him to back her up. She maintained her usual frail and delicate facade, choking out, "Julian... I don’t know how I offended Miss Lynch for her to resort to violence. I’m your date for the evening..."

’Erin Whittaker was trying to escalate the conflict.’

’The Lancaster family wasn’t about to let this slide just to save face for the Fletchers.’

The other guests were stunned as well. "Wow, the Lancaster’s new granddaughter-in-law is aggressive. Why would she just hit someone like that?"

"I heard Lynn Dynamics Group is about to go under. Isn’t that why she married into the Lancaster family, to produce an heir? How can she be so brazen?"

An oppressive aura emanated from Julian Fletcher. He walked over, glanced at Erin Whittaker’s face, and addressed Master Lancaster in a low voice. "Master Lancaster, is this how the Lancaster family treats its guests? Striking people at will? What kind of behavior is this?"

"What’s going on here?" Master Lancaster came over as well, his voice grave.

I copied Erin Whittaker’s innocent act, my eyes welling with tears as I choked out, "Grandpa, she was spreading rumors... saying Sebastian is a crazed, idiotic psychopath who kills people."

In front of so many guests, Master Lancaster’s expression instantly became impossibly dark.

"Grandpa, isn’t the Fletcher Family just slapping us in the face? This is blatant slander. Sebastian is a genius—a prodigy who got a full scholarship to Cygnus University in his teens! How could she say that? Unless... President Fletcher sees him that way, too?" I looked at Julian Fletcher, my face a mask of innocence.

’Escalate this any further, and it becomes a business war.’

Julian Fletcher frowned, the air around him heavy. His expression was unreadable.

He just stared at me, his gaze never leaving me, as if trying to see right through me.

"Perhaps you’d care to offer me an explanation, President Fletcher!" Master Lancaster demanded, his voice thick with fury.

Erin Whittaker was clearly terrified. She looked at me in shock, obviously frightened of causing trouble for Julian Fletcher. "Silvia... Mr. Lancaster, that’s not what I meant..."

"Grandpa, Peach heard her," I said, looking at the maid standing nearby.

The maid nodded. "Yes, I heard it."

Erin Whittaker nervously clung to Julian Fletcher’s arm. "Julian... I..."

"President Fletcher, you ought to be more discerning when choosing a secretary. You should prioritize competence, not someone who serves you with their looks," Master Lancaster said gravely. "I’ve long heard that the relationship between you and your secretary is... complicated. You’d best discipline her when you get back. Don’t let this ruin the partnership between our two families!"

Julian Fletcher had no choice but to smooth things over. "Understood."

Erin Whittaker looked utterly aggrieved, on the verge of tears.

She shot me a hateful look before turning back to Julian Fletcher. "Julian..."

But all Julian Fletcher said, his voice low and deep, was, "Go home for now."

Biting her lip in frustration, Erin Whittaker turned and ran off.

I sneered as I watched Erin Whittaker go. ’Master Lancaster has been holding in a lot of anger lately,’ I thought, ’and some idiot just had to come along and provoke him.’

As I watched Erin Whittaker leave in disgrace, my feelings were complicated.

’How ridiculous...’

’As expected, they’re all just bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong.’

’Back then, it was because I was an orphan with no parents, living under someone else’s roof. They knew that bullying me wouldn’t matter, that it wouldn’t cause any real trouble.’

’I just had to endure their humiliation, their bullying, their abuse.’

’And Julian Fletcher... he never once thought of defending me.’

’He cared about his reputation; he always weighed the pros and cons. And I... I was insignificant.’

’He hated how I clung to him, hated our unbreakable marriage contract.’

’Didn’t he once swear he’d do anything for Erin Whittaker? So why today, just to protect his partnership with the Lancaster family, would he let her be humiliated?’

’That’s Julian Fletcher for you. His love is worthless.’

’Cheap and fickle.’

"Grandpa, I’m not feeling well. I’m going to go up," I said. As I started up the stairs, I glanced back at Julian Fletcher.

He was still watching me, his gaze deep and complex.

...

Claiming I was unwell and sleepy, I went to my room alone and dismissed the maid. I peeked out the second-story window, and when the coast was clear, I changed my clothes and climbed down.

"Madeline, it’s me." Once I was clear of the Lancaster estate, I called Madeline Quinn.

There was a long pause on the other end before Madeline Quinn finally spoke. "We’re not that close. You can just call me Madeline Quinn."

I said, "Oh." ’A bit prickly, isn’t she?’ "Miss Madeline Quinn, have you found out where Jake Abbott is?"

I narrowed my eyes. ’Humiliating Erin Whittaker at the banquet today was just the beginning,’ I thought. ’I’m going to slowly, bit by bit, peel back her mask.’

’And of course, I had to start with Jake Abbott.’

"He’s at a bar. Where else would that kind of scumbag be? Just drinking his life away day after day, not even worried he’ll drink himself to death," Madeline Quinn snorted. "I’m watching him now. Are you coming over?"

"Of course I’m coming. Tonight... I’m going to scare the hell out of him," I said through gritted teeth, hailing a taxi after sneaking out.

’Time to start with Jake Abbott, then take them all down, one by one!’

"Quick with the costume change, Miss Lynch." A voice suddenly stopped me from behind.

I frowned and turned to face Julian Fletcher. "Not busy networking, President Fletcher? Are you leaving?"

"Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride," Julian Fletcher said casually.

"No, thanks." I got into the taxi.

He leaned against the car door, looking at me. "Silvia Lynch, you’re becoming more and more interesting to me."