NovelGoldChapter 198 Under the pressure from the demanding hostess, two wealthy women reluctantly hoisted the barely conscious Claire, dragging her towards the banquet hall. Her legs, devoid of strength, left trails of blood on the polished floor. The remnants of her gown slipped further with every tug, leaving her nearly exposed.
Brian stood frozen, watching the scene unfold with a storm of emotions churning within him. He wanted to intervene, to stop the indignity, but as he took a step forward, Vanessa caught his arm firmly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Brian, you can't afford to offend the Foster family," Vanessa cautioned, her voice low but insistent. "You're here tonight to make connections with them, aren't you?" Brian's eyes reflected his inner turmoil as he watched Claire being dragged away, his heart heavy with guilt and pain. Yet Vanessa's words kept him rooted in place, trapped between his desire to help and the fear of jeopardizing his future ties with the powerful family. He could only watch as Claire was led toward an uncertain humiliation.
Claire, it's not that I don't want to help you. You brought this upon yourself. Why did you have to be so stubborn, to provoke Mrs. Foster, to refuse to beg for mercy? The humiliation you're facing now is because of your own character. He repeated these excuses to himself, convincing himself that Claire deserved what was happening, as if she had truly done something as scandalous as seducing another woman's husband.
Andie watched helplessly as the battered, nearly unclothed Claire was dragged away, fear enveloping him. He knew all too well the lengths Sean could go to. The thought of what Sean might do if he saw Claire in such a state sent a shiver down his spine. Sean's ruthlessness was infamous in the city.
Years ago, when Yvonne Smith-now Mrs. Foster-had confronted Sean's mother while heavily pregnant, the confrontation had led to tragic consequences. A then five-year-old Sean had pushed Yvonne down the stairs, causing her to lose the baby. He had even arranged for her to be unable to conceive again. Though he later seemed to mellow, appearing more composed, Andie understood it was merely a façade.
Now, with Sean finally finding a woman he cared for, only for her to be tormented by Yvonne, Andie couldn't imagine the reaction. Nor could he bear the thought of becoming a target himself. Fueled by desperation, Andie struggled against his captors, ignoring the fresh scratches and bruises inflicted in the process.
"If you don't want to get hurt, let her go!" he shouted, charging toward Claire. But before he could reach her, Vanessa slyly extended her leg. Unable to avoid it, Andie fell heavily to the ground. His chin hit the hard floor, splitting his lip and sending a gush of blood from his mouth. Pain enveloped him, rendering him momentarily senseless.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmClaire was callously tossed onto the banquet hall floor, landing with a dull thud. The guests, previously immersed in lively conversation, fell silent, their attention drawn to the unexpected disturbance. Lucas Foster frowned, turning to Yvonne Smith. "Yvonne, what on earth are you doing?" he asked, his voice tinged with disapproval at the spectacle.
Yvonne, unfazed, laughed loudly. "What am I doing? I'm catching a cheater!" she declared, pointing at Claire with a face full of smugness and madness. "Look, everyone! This hussy tried to seduce my husband!"
Lucas's expression darkened as he quickly covered her mouthwhispering urgently, "Today is my mother's eightieth birthday. Stop this nonsense!"
Yvonne wrenched free from his grasp, raising her voice for all to hear, "This shameless woman used despicable tricks to seduce my husband and destroy my family!"
Her accusations echoed through the hall, drawing curious glances from the guests. But before they could fully prodess her words, a chilling voice cut through the tension. "And when did Ms. Smith becthe star of the show?" Yvonne's body stiffened, and she turned slowly to find Sean standing ominously behind her.
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