Suddenly, a figure appeared before us, swift as lightning. Before we could understand what was going on, a crisp sound resounded in our ears.The next moment, I saw Lauren holding her face. She shouted angrily, "What are you doing?"I quickly grasped the situation and stepped forward, challenging the woman. "Who do you think you are? How dare you hit someone like this? Are you out of your mind?"I glanced at Lauren's face, which was already swollen.Lauren pushed me aside and stepped forward, glaring at the woman who stood with hands on her hips."What are you doing? How dare you slap me?" Lauren questioned angrily.“What’s wrong with you?" The woman retorted arrogantly.She appeared to be around forty, and she had a plump figure. The once stylish dress now looked like a lifebuoy on her, and despite her carefully done makeup, she couldn’t hide the flaws on her face. She was clearly a troublemaker.I looked at the woman. My patience was wearing thin. "Why are you causing a scene
The crowd gasped. Even Lauren closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable. A dark figure suddenly appeared, blocking her from harm's way and embracing her tightly.A glass of wine splashed on that figure, staining the floor red.Everyone looked at the man holding Lauren. Surprisingly, it was Oliver. The murmurs among the townsfolk had been widespread, stating that Oliver had refused to marry Lauren.I silently sighed with relief. Harmony, who had undergone extensive cosmetic procedures and had been trailing behind Oliver, stood frozen. Her eyes were fixed on the unfolding drama.She could dream on if she thought she could flirt with Oliver!Lauren opened her eyes, and was surprised to find herself in Oliver's embrace. She hesitated for a moment before pushing him away.Oliver immediately held her waist and gently cradled her face. His eyes were filled with concern. "Lauren, are you hurt?"The onlookers were dumbfounded, struggling to comprehend the situation. Some were alrea
Evelyn shot me a glance, still glaring at me angrily. "You're no good either. A divorced woman with a kid daring to seduce someone like Atlas! None of you are any good!" She seemed determined to keep things vague.I took a step forward. "I'll ask you again, who told you this?"She stubbornly refused to make things clear. "It doesn't matter who told me. You two are just a pair of scheming women, trying to climb the social ladder by seducing men."Another resounding slap echoed.Philip was genuinely shocked by his wife's antics. It seemed like he had invited trouble upon himself."Why don't you tell me who said these things?" Philip shouted, his eyes blazing. I knew he was trying to divert attention, but his foolish wife wasn't cooperating."Why are you hitting me?!""Speak up!" Philip abandoned his usual refined demeanor and roared.I saw Vicky's mouth twitching as she quietly retreated into the crowd, attempting to blend in.Evelyn, covering her face, scanned the surroundi
"You can say that." Atticus didn't evade at all. "You chose this path yourself.""Atticus, I'm your wife. Yet you're siding with an outsider and threatening your wife in front of everyone?""Wife? Hmph! Don't defile that word. I bet you don't even know whose wife you are." Atticus shot a fierce gaze at Liora, showing no sign of backing down.Everyone gasped and stared in disbelief at Atticus. No one expected the highly respected Atticus to utter such words.The privacy of wealthy families was well-guarded, but Atticus chose this opportunity to air some dirty laundry. Those who enjoyed gossip in the crowd were getting excited. I hadn't expected Atticus to disregard his own reputation like this."Atticus..." Liora's furious eyes emitted a cold light."Why aren't you leaving?" Atticus did not give her an inch as he coldly uttered those words.She looked at him, her eyes filled with resentment. For a moment, the two just stared at each other. It was as if time had stopped.Ever
I was left stunned. Just as he knelt on the ground, I was about to exclaim but quickly covered my mouth, afraid of disrupting the unfolding scene.The entire hall fell into a hushed silence. Everyone wanted to know what Oliver was about to say. Some even discreetly opened their phones to record the moment.Oliver spoke in a magnetic, husky voice, "Lauren, I carefully selected this ring for you. I've been waiting for this moment. Today, I want everyone here to witness that I have been unequivocally in love with you. I've been avoiding this truth for far too long."Onlookers exchanged puzzled glances. This was Oliver, who stood above everyone in Foswood. He had been silently loving Lauren all along, and now, in front of everyone..."But without you, Lauren, my heart is empty, and my soul is shattered. I can't live without you."Lauren stared at him dumbfounded, like a deer caught in headlights."Since the day I met you, you've shouldered all kinds of criticism, insults, and sla
I watched as he disappeared, feeling a bit uneasy. I wondered if Lauren would have a change of heart.I felt that this time, Oliver was genuinely sincere. He had kneeled in front of everyone, including Foswood's business elite. This showed his sincerity. It was a significant gesture.As people around me started discussing Oliver's departure, I looked at Atlas, who had somehow appeared beside me. I scolded him a bit. "Why did you pull me? We need to go check on them!"He looked at me, extending his arm to pull me into his embrace protectively. He gazed at my dissatisfied face with a tender smile and said, "They need some personal space. They're not kids anymore. What are you worried about?"I pondered his words. He did make sense.As I lifted my gaze to the dispersing crowd, I noticed that those left were mostly women with starry-eyed expressions, unable to hide their admiration. Not far away, Harmony was staring at Atlas's handsome face.Philip and Evelyn, who had caused th
I looked at her helplessly, seeing her aggrieved look."How am I the bad guy?" I asked, puzzled."Ah! If he gives me a way out, should I just take it? Do you think I’m that cheap? Am I really what people say I am? Am I just a pushover?" Lauren said indignantly.I could only say that I wasn't her and couldn't fully understand her feelings and current state of mind.But I thought, sometimes, you just need an olive branch.Just as I was thinking that, I heard someone talking at the door. The office door burst open, and Ivanna rushed in.She exclaimed, "This has become an internet sensation. The whole place downstairs is filled with reporters."After finishing her sentence, Ivanna noticed Lauren sitting on the sofa, looking dejected. She asked, "Why are you here so early? Isn't it—?"That sentence immediately drew a sharp gaze from Lauren.Ivanna added belatedly, "I didn't mean anything. I just thought you must have reconciled by now."She awkwardly chuckled and coughed. "That's
She couldn’t bear to revisit all those haunting memories and overcome the hurdles in her heart.Oliver had complied with all her requests, giving her exactly what she needed. Honestly, only he could give her that. Lauren had become accustomed to the lifestyle she shared with him. How could she forget all that?"That settles it! What I mean is, you can play it cool, but make sure to handle it delicately. Don't let Oliver waste all the effort he’s put in and make him think you've already made up your mind to leave. That would be a loss for you," Ivanna spoke the absolute truth, which was precisely what I was concerned about."Ivanna’s right, Lauren. There's a balance in everything. You really need to navigate this carefully," I added."There's a time for everything in life. If he can't endure this, it’ll mean he's not sincere. So why force it?" Lauren set down the cup in her hands.Ivanna and I were left speechless.After a moment of silence, I asked, "Didn’t he catch up with y