Chapter 288 She Doesn't Care, So Why Do You
The crowd was totally bug-eyed, looking at each other like, "Did that just happen?"
I mean, Jerry and Christopher were big shots, and everyone there was scared stiff of them. It was clear as day that the Parker family was toast.
Saskia was in shock. She glanced at Jerry and Christopher, too freaked out to even beg. Then, out of nowhere, she turned to me, all panicky, and said, "Ms. Royston, I messed up! I shouldn't have dissed you. You can slap me if you want, okay?"
She was on the verge of tears, not giving a damn about her high-society image anymore. "I really screwed up. Please, ask Mr. Hammer and Mr. Valence to spare my family. I came here to make a deal with Ms. Ortiz, but now I've pissed you off. My dad's gonna kill me!"
She wasn't kidding. In families like hers, kids got to live high lives but had to pay the price. If they not only failed to help the family but also dragged it down, the fallout was brutal.
Jerry shot me a look, probably seeing I was getting soft, then sneered at Saskia, "Ms. Parker, you're begging my fiancée? Do you think someone as ruthless as me would pick a softie?"
I felt a bit awkward. No need to make me sound like that. Sure, some said couples were alike, but others said opposites attract.
Saskia knew she was screwed, her hands shaking.
Her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she stammered, "Hello, Dad..."
"Get back here NOW!" A voice roared over.
Clearly, someone had already snitched to her dad. He was fuming on the other end.
Saskia left, looking like a mess, leaving Kimberly behind. Kimberly smirked. "What, you gonna bankrupt the Harris family too? I'm not scared!"
Of course, she wasn't. She knew Jerry and Christopher wouldn't go that far.
Jerry's eyes were icy, and he mocked, "The Harris family raised you for over twenty years, and this is how you repay them?"
His words cut deep.
Kimberly gritted her teeth. "Jerry!"
"Ms. Harris, right?" The security guard who had just talked to Jerry stepped up. "Ms. Ortiz says you need to leave now! Or we'll call the cops!"
Everyone gave her the stink eye.
Kimberly shot me a hateful glare. As she walked past, she whispered coldly, "Hope, just wait! My mom's got ways to deal with you! Don't think you'll be with Jerry forever. Enjoy it while you can!"
I was taken aback. Before I could say anything, she was gone. Watching her leave, I felt uneasy.
Skylar was definitely bad news, but what tricks did she still have up her sleeve?
Jerry frowned. "What did she say to you?"
"Nothing much." I forced a smile. "Just some trash talk."
I knew the chip issue was already enough to keep him busy. No need to pile on more stress.
Christopher seemed to pick up on my unease. "Hope, you okay?"
"I'm fine. Thanks, Mr. Valence!" I shook my head, keeping it polite and distant. Then I noticed that besides Donald, there was a woman with him. She was Jennifer.
She was rocking a white dress that showed off her curves. Her features were delicate, and her eyes were bright. But something about her dress seemed oddly familiar.
Maybe feeling my stare, Jennifer glanced over. When our eyes met, she looked a bit freaked out and scooted closer to Christopher.
Jerry noticed too and frowned. He leaned in and whispered, "Hope, I gotta talk business with Mr. Valence. Can you go check on Elissa and see why she’s not up here yet?"
"Sure." I nodded and headed out, dialing Elissa while waiting for the elevator.
Everyone could sense the tension between Jerry and Christopher. Nobody wanted to get in the middle of that mess, so they all kept their distance.
Jerry was about to blow a gasket but held back, not wanting to wreck Madison's party. He sneered, "Mr. Valence, can we chat in private?"
"Sure." Christopher watched Hope walk away, his fingers twitching a bit.
He thought having another woman around would make Hope jealous, but she didn’t give a damn.
He realized that he was just an ex-husband to Hope now.
Following Jerry to the fire escape, Christopher didn’t even get a word out before Jerry's fist came flying at him.
Caught off guard, Christopher took the hit, blood trickling from his mouth. He didn’t hit back, just wiped the blood away.
"Mr. Valence!" Donald, guarding the fire door, almost rushed in.
"It’s fine," Christopher said, acting like the pain was no big deal, and looked at Jerry with a provoking grin. "What’s your problem? I found a look-alike, and she doesn’t care. Why do you?"
Before he could finish, another punch landed on his face.
Jerry grabbed Christopher by the collar, eyes blazing. "You didn’t appreciate her, so why pull this crap now?"
Jerry could see right away that Jennifer and Hope looked a lot alike.
As a guy, he knew exactly what Christopher was up to.
Christopher smirked and pushed him away. "I do what I want, Jerry. If you’ve got the guts, let her talk to me."
Jerry glared at him, the tension thick. "Don’t disgust her."
"That’s none of your business." Christopher straightened his tie. "Whether I find a stand-in or try to win her back, that’s on me!"
Outside the fire door, Donald looked at Christopher’s injuries, worried. "Mr. Valence, what happened? Do you need a hospital?"
Christopher replied coolly, "No need."
Jennifer saw his bruises and clenched her fists.
Back in the banquet hall, the moment she saw Hope, she got why she was Christopher’s date today.
And now, seeing Christopher beat up and not caring, it was clear: the guy who hit him was Hope's current boyfriend. If he made a fuss, it’d affect Hope, so he let it slide.
Jennifer looked at Christopher, surprised. She didn’t expect such a powerful guy to be so devoted.
When I picked up Elissa and Francis and got back to the banquet hall, the party was just kicking off.
Madison, in a sleek black dress, stood on stage, giving a smooth, confident opening speech. Everyone was glued to her.
At the end, Madison’s eyes found me. "Lastly, I’ve got some happy news. Hope is my goddaughter. She’s also the founder of the hot new brand ElevateJoy, Elena. I hope you all support her."
The crowd buzzed. One of the girls who had sided with Kimberly gasped, "Elena, the designer whose custom orders are booked till next year?"
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