Chapter 17
1/2
An inexplicable anger and annoyance surged within Callum in an instant.
He gritted his teeth and called Julian back, saying in a deep and icy voice, “Once you find Nadia, bring her to me immediately!”
Hanging up the call, Callum held back the annoyance he felt and wanted to return to the crowd. However, as soon as he took two steps forward, he noticed that the mood on the deck was off.
The guests who were spread out and admiring the fireworks were all huddling in the same direction. The crowd was abuzz with discussions. It seemed like they were gathered to watch something major unfold.
“What’s the matter?”
“It seems like Ms. Cooper and Ms. Jaeger are arguing with each other!”
“Really? In a place like this?”
Callum’s heart sank, and he quickly parted the crowd.
Then, he saw Wendy confronting Brittany angrily in the middle of the crowd. The air was thick with tension.
Suddenly, the sound of a clear slap broke the noise.
Immediately after that, Wendy waved her hand, and dozens of photos were thrown into the air before they landed all over the floor like snow.
In the photos, Brittany and Knox were standing very close to each other, looking intimate. Brittany was practically stuck on Knox.
Anybody with a sharp gaze could tell that the angles in many of the photos looked unnatural. There were clearly suspicions of angle manipulations in those photos.
However, in the chaos, that was enough to stir up everybody’s thirst for gossip.
“Isn’t Ms. Jaeger Mr. Ford’s fiancee? Why is she getting involved with Mr. Nicholson?”
“This is the Ford family’s event. It’s so bold of Brittany to do this.”
The crowd started discussing with each other.
Wendy’s voice was sharp and harsh. Without holding back her anger and disdain, she said, “How shameless of you, Brittany! Did you even think about what kind of place this is? This is an anniversary gala for Ford Group. Who do you think you are? How dare you come for my man?”
Brittany clearly panicked a little and quickly explained, “You’re mistaken, Ms. Cooper. Mr. Nicholson and I were only talking about the ambassadorship for the brand. It’s not what it looks like in the photos.”
Wendy sneered and gave her another slap. The slap was so hard and so loud that it left Brittany dazed. A clear handprint instantly appeared on her cheek.
“Everybody in Seora knows that Knox is my fiance. How dare you seduce him in front of so many people? Is it because you think my family is easy to mess with, so you don’t even take me seriously?”
Brittany was so frightened that she was out of her wits. Tears started welling in her eyes, and she shook her head with all her might while covering her face.
“No! Listen to me, Ms. Cooper! I am not interested in Mr. Nicholson!” Brittany looked at her surroundings in a panic, trying to seek help. However, all the gazes she met were filled with curiosity, disdain, or delightfulness at seeing her in a bind.
“We were just talking about work! I’m being serious!” Brittany was so desperate that she just ran her mouth, her voice shaking.
At that moment, she had no way to defend herself. Those photos were concrete evidence to brand her with shame.
Suddenly, she rushed up to Knox and grabbed his arm as if she was grasping at straws.
“Quick, Mr. Nicholson! Explain to Ms. Cooper that there’s nothing going on between us! We were just talking about work, weren’t we? Hurry up and tell her!” Brittany urged.
Knox looked tembly upset. With a frown, he flung Brittany’s hand off and said icily, “Enough, Wendy. People are watching.
Wendy walked up to him, looked at him with a bloodlust, and sneered as she said, “Knox! Are you seriously still protecting her now?”
Knox was speechless.
“I really didn’t think minor actresses like you would shamelessly seduce the person in charge of the brand for an insignificant ambassador deal. Where’s your professionalism? Where’s your limit? Have they all gone down the drain?”
Every single word Wendy said cut like a dagger, stabbing Brittany mercilessly in the heart. Her words echoed in the ears of the onlookers as well.
Brittany completely lost it. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks were red and swollen, and her tears were mixed with humiliation. She simply looked miserable.
At that moment, she was the target of public criticism. Her manager was not around, and her family was not powerful enough.
At that moment, she became the hottest gossip at this luxurious party and a live example of being so embarrassed that one could die.
The discussion in her surroundings got louder.
“I didn’t expect that an award–winning actress would do this to make money…”
“There’s really no way to tell a person’s true colors by their looks. She’s working too hard just to secure a job, isn’t she?”
Ms. Cooper is really aggressive. She just slapped Brittany without any hesitation!”
“Now, this is going to be fun to watch I wonder how Mr. Ford is going to take care of this later.”
“Enough” An icy voice with an intimidating air silenced the noise.
It was Callum, looking incredibly sullen
The anger within him cald not be any clearer as he looked at the chaos before his eyes and at Brittany, who was covered in tears and looking disheveled. However, before he did anything else, another voice that had more authority than his sounded, “Stop it, all of you!”
Barclay had walked over at some point. He had a solemn expression as he scanned the crowd calmly.
All the guests indiately shot their mouths, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
Barclay first nodded at the guest. His tone was calm yet filled with an undeniable sense of authority as he said, “I’m sorry that you have to see this, ladies and gentlemen. It’s ust a small misunderstanding, but it has dampened all of your mood. I’m really sorry about that.”
He did not even take another glance at Brittany upon saving that. He simply signaled the bodyguards behind him with his eyes and said, “Escort Ms. Jaeger ashore.”
Yes,
Two bodyguards in black immediately mished forward. They ignored Brittany’s struggle and cries, and they semi–forcefully brought her away from the scene.
“I don’t want to leave! Let go of me! Callum! Save me! I didn’t do it!” Brittany’s voice got further and further away before she finally disappeared from the crowd’s
Barclay looked at the crowd again and smiled calmly as it nothing had happened before.
“It was just a minor hiccup, Carry on, everybody. The fireworks show is not done!” he said.
Barclay handled the matter in a swift and decisive manner, but it was clearly impossible for that drama to die down.
Everybody was whispering to each other, discussing the exciting scene earlier and guessing the inside scoop and the further development.
“Callum, help me to my cabin.” Barclay clearly said that to stop Callum from having a chance to chase after Brittany,
Callem clenched his fists so hard that his veins were popping. However, he still helped Barclay toward the cabin.
Suddenly, he stumbled and telt a little dizzy and a little weak as well. It was as it he was drunk.
“What’s the matter?” Barclay noticed that something was oft about Callum. It seemed that Callum had been set up by Brittany. Fortunately, Barclay had anticipated this
“I’m fine, Grandpa.” Callum did his best to utter those words.
Right at that moment, falian walked over and quickly supported Callum.
Barclay glanced at him and said sterly, “Take Callum to the cabin and get Nadia to take care of him.”
“Yes, sir.”
