Chapter 18: The Demonic Man

Felix Ford turned to look and saw a woman caked in heavy makeup. The mockery in her eyes made him clench his fists. He said indignantly, "Hey lady, did you forget to brush your teeth before you left the house? Your breath stinks!"

He then pinched his nose and pulled Amanda Vance back a few steps, pretending to whisper, though his voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly. "Mommy, let’s stand a little farther away from her. We don’t want her stench to get on us."

Amanda Vance let out a soft laugh, squeezed his hand, and looked up at the woman.

’Penny Palmer, Shirley Vance’s lackey. She’d been instrumental in spreading the rumors about me back in the day, making sure the entire school knew.’

Penny Palmer’s face contorted with anger at his words. She swept her eyes over Amanda Vance, taking in the long dress. Amanda was tall with a stunning figure, and the dress highlighted her perfect curves. The cool blue hue added a touch of frosty elegance, while the casual indifference in her eyes was utterly tantalizing.

Of course, that appeal was limited to men.

Even back in the day, no matter how bad her reputation got, the men at school would still sneak glances at her. They were just afraid of the gossip and, priding themselves on being too noble to get involved with a woman like her, never made a move.

When her later scandals came to light, the men were all the more relieved that they hadn’t gotten involved with her. And yet, at every class reunion, she was still the main topic of their conversations.

At this thought, Penny Palmer’s eyes burned with jealousy. She scrutinized the dress again but couldn’t recognize the designer. With that, her gaze turned disdainful once more.

’What’s the point of being pretty? She’s still just some poor trash who can’t afford designer clothes.’

She touched her freshly styled hair, lifted her chin, and gave an affected laugh in a pinched voice. Pretending to be casual, she flashed the large diamond ring on her hand as she covered her mouth to chuckle. "Amanda Vance, this must be your son, right? He’s so handsome. But where’s his father? Why isn’t he here with you?"

After she spoke, she acted as if she had just remembered something. She theatrically covered her mouth and tapped it lightly. "Oh, goodness, listen to me, just spouting nonsense. ’His father’? You probably don’t even know who the boy’s father is, do you?"

As she said this, she put on an expression of self-reproach, but she couldn’t hide the derision in her eyes.

Even Felix Ford could tell she was spouting bullshit.

He glanced at the notable alumni board next to the honor roll and sneered, "Who says I don’t have a dad? That man right there is my dad!"

Penny Palmer looked where he was pointing and burst out laughing. Her expression grew even more mocking. "Kiddo, it’s okay not to have a dad, but you can’t just go around claiming random people. Do you even know who that is? That’s President Ford of the Ford Group, the head of the Ford Family. He’s your dad? Hah! Keep dreaming."

Then, she looked at Amanda Vance. "Amanda, you should really hurry up and find a father for your son. Look how desperate he is. Such a cute boy, driven crazy from wanting a dad so badly. How pitiful."

She tutted with mock regret, her eyes filled with delight at their misfortune.

She clearly thought Felix Ford was just spouting nonsense.

Felix Ford was furious. "He is my dad!"

Penny Palmer remained unconvinced. She tapped her temple and said to Amanda Vance, "Aren’t you going to take him to get his head checked? He’s still little; you should have it looked at. Don’t give up, I’m sure it’s treatable."

Amanda Vance’s eyes narrowed. "Are you done?"

Penny Palmer stroked her new handbag. "I suppose so."

"Then it’s my turn." The words had barely left her lips when she suddenly strode forward and slapped Penny across the face. Her voice was laced with ice. "Your mouth is absolutely foul."

She gripped Penny’s chin. "If you don’t want this mouth of yours, I can sew it shut for you."

Penny Palmer stared at her in terror. She never would have thought Amanda would actually get physical. As Amanda stared intently at her mouth, Penny was suddenly convinced she would actually grab a needle and sew it shut.

She shuddered and shook her head vigorously.

Amanda Vance scoffed. "Spineless."

Penny Palmer touched her cheek. Even without a mirror, she could imagine the state it was in. She gritted her teeth and shot a furtive glare at Amanda Vance. ’This savage woman!’

"Mommy, she’s glaring at you." Felix Ford had seen it clearly and immediately tattled.

Amanda Vance’s gaze drifted over, scaring Penny into frantically shaking her head. "No, no, I didn’t."

Felix Ford gave her a disdainful look, made a "Pfft!" sound in her direction, and put his hands on his hips. In his high-pitched, childish voice, he said, "You don’t even have the guts to admit what you did. Spineless."

Penny Palmer was incensed by his scolding and wished she could grab the boy and give him a good beating, but she didn’t dare.

’They’d better hope they don’t fall into my hands,’ she thought, ’or I’ll make them pay.’

She was seething with resentment when a playfully wicked voice drifted over. "Well, well, what have we here?"

Penny Palmer looked over and was greeted by the sight of an androgynous face, so exquisitely handsome it seemed unreal. A flash of delighted surprise crossed her eyes. "Mr. Grant!"

’Mr. Grant is the youngest master of the Grant Family, and the most doted upon. He’s eccentric and parties the hardest, but he also loves to right a perceived wrong. Amanda Vance is so dead this time, and so is her little bastard.’

Laughing to herself, she dropped the hand from her face, deliberately revealing her red, swollen cheek for him to see. In a cloyingly sweet voice, she said, "Mr. Grant, do you remember me? My fiancé is Bob Rhodes. I had the honor of meeting you once."

"Oh, Bob Rhodes," Hayden Grant said, his eyes darkening slightly as he drew out the name. Penny Palmer’s face lit up, and she looked at him expectantly. Then, his tone shifted abruptly. "Never heard of him."

Her face stiffened, and she gave an awkward laugh. "A busy man like you meets so many people. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t remember."

Hayden Grant said nothing. He glanced at Amanda Vance, then his gaze landed back on Penny’s face. "So, what happened here?"

’Finally, he asked.’

Penny Palmer pouted and said pitifully, "It was Amanda Vance. I just wanted to say hi to an old classmate, but I don’t know how I provoked her. She just... hit me."

Amanda Vance watched her twist the truth right to her face but said nothing.

"Is that so?" Hayden Grant reached out a hand. "Here, let me see. Tsk, look at that. It’s already red."

Hearing this, Penny Palmer’s heart leaped with joy. She said in an affectedly sweet voice, "It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt."

"How could it not hurt? Look how swollen it is."

As he spoke, his hand slowly moved closer, his eyes filled with obvious sympathy. Penny Palmer was overjoyed. Just as she was about to speak, a sharp pain erupted on her face, and she stumbled backward, falling to the ground. She looked up at him in utter disbelief.

Hayden Grant shook his hand and hissed, "Ouch, that actually hurt."

He turned to Amanda Vance, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. "Megan, leave this sort of thing to me next time. It must have hurt your hand. Here, let me see it."

With that, he reached for her hand.

Amanda Vance gracefully sidestepped his grasp and shot him a look. "Behave."

"Tsk." Hayden Grant reluctantly pulled back his hand. He clutched his chest, his eyes full of the mournful resentment of a jilted lover. "We haven’t seen each other in so long, Megan. How can you still be so cruel?"

’There he goes again.’

Amanda Vance ignored him and walked straight over to Penny Palmer. "Apologize," she said coldly.

Penny Palmer still hadn’t processed what was going on when she saw Hayden Grant’s gaze land on her. The ice in his eyes made her shiver, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

’How could I have forgotten? Hayden Grant is a true madman—capricious and utterly unpredictable. If he gets you in his sights, you’ll be living a life worse than death.’

With no time to wonder how Amanda Vance had managed to get on his good side, she began to apologize profusely. "I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! It was my fault! I’m begging you, please let me go! I’ll never do it again!"

Uninterested in her pathetic display, Amanda Vance waved her away dismissively.

Penny Palmer glanced at Hayden Grant. Seeing no objection from him, she scrambled away, stumbling as she fled. At the doorway, she looked back and saw Hayden Grant and Amanda Vance talking with an air of intimacy.

She gritted her teeth. ’Why her?! On what grounds does Amanda Vance get to cozy up to Mr. Grant!’

’Is it just because she has a pretty face? What else does she have besides her looks?’

Seething with indignation, she saw Hayden Grant look her way and quickly turned and fled.

Hayden Grant retracted his gaze, then hooked a finger under Felix Ford’s chin. In a coaxing voice, he said, "Jean, call me ’Daddy’."