Chapter 186 Countermeasure
Esme covered her face, feeling both shame and anger, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Ms. Hughes, why did you hit me? I swear I wasn't trying to cause trouble!"
"I don't buy it!" Emilia snapped, rubbing her wrist before slapping Esme again. "Come on, tell her how she should talk to me."
One of the Hughes Family servants stepped up and declared, "Ms. Hughes hitting you is a privilege. You should be grateful she even bothered."
Esme's face stung with pain, and she glanced over at Catherine, who had been silent the whole time.
Catherine's eyes were cold, making Esme feel like a complete fool in front of her.
"Catherine, we used to be family. Please, ask Ms. Hughes to let me go," Esme pleaded, thinking, 'Catherine will definitely try to look good in front of everyone and help me out.'
Catherine responded coolly, "Did you forget what I told you at the gallery last time?"
Remembering the incident at the gallery, Esme still felt her face tingle from the slap Catherine had given her in public.
"Ms. Windsor, please ask Ms. Hughes to spare me. I promise I won't do it again. Please help me," Esme begged, thinking, 'Catherine is just trying to humiliate me! She must be jealous that I'm part of the Hughes Family now.'
Catherine looked away and said, "No."
Esme fumed inside. 'How dare Catherine refuse me? Isn't she worried people will think she's heartless?'
Catherine didn't care about Esme at all, thinking, 'Esme's just trying to stir up trouble between me and Emilia for her own gain.'
"What's going on here?" a stern voice called out. Michael was pushing an elderly man in a wheelchair towards them. The old man looked frail but had an imposing presence in his suit.
Esme's eyes lit up. With Anthony here, she could finally complain!
Alexander seemed to sense what was coming and stepped back, holding Catherine's waist. He whispered, "This is going to be interesting. If you want to be friends with Emilia, you need to see what she's really like."
Catherine had never mingled with the wealthy circles of Imperia City before, so she didn't know much about Emilia. This was her first time meeting someone so arrogant yet straightforward. She didn't mind Emilia's bold personality.
Esme tried to run to Anthony, but Emilia tripped her with an outstretched foot, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Emilia covered her mouth, blinking innocently. "Esme, how could you try to bully me? You even wanted to hit me! But it's okay, I don't blame you. You just don't have any manners. Your dad's just an adopted son and never learned the ways of our Hughes Family."
Emilia pinched her waist, causing a sharp pain, and tears fell immediately.
Esme lay on the ground, cursing Emilia in her mind, 'When did I ever bully her? She's the one bullying me!'
"Grandpa, it's not true!" Esme cried out.
Emilia turned to Catherine, her eyes filled with tears. "Ms. Windsor can vouch for me. Grandpa, Esme is just ignorant. I don't blame her."
Anthony glanced at Catherine, who nodded in greeting. "Emilia's totally innocent."
Emilia winked at Catherine and then sneakily stepped on Esme's foot with her stiletto heel, making Esme yelp in pain.
"Esme, you're so rude," Emilia said with disdain. "It's sad just looking at you. How can you shout like that here? But I get it, you're just trying to get attention because you're ugly."
Esme cursed silently. 'Is Emilia nuts?'
Catherine's lips curled into a smile, her understanding of Emilia deepening. 'This Emilia from the Hughes Family is actually pretty likable!'
After Emilia's antics, Anthony's frown eased, and he waved her over. "Emilia's got sense. As for Esme, go rest. Don't come out unless it's important."
In other words, Anthony was disgusted by Esme's behavior.
Esme didn't dare to argue, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes." She was helped up by the servants and limped back to her room, but her eyes were full of resentment.
Emilia whistled cheerfully at her retreating figure and flicked her hair flirtatiously, thinking, 'Is that all you've got?'
Michael's gaze landed on Catherine, full of admiration. "Ms. Windsor, glad you could make it today."
Catherine looked at Michael coolly. "Michael, out so soon?"
Michael's mouth twitched, and he gritted his teeth. "You misunderstood! I was framed for what happened at your gallery!"
"Were you also framed when you confronted me in front of the media? Are you delusional?" Catherine looked at Michael with disdain, even stepping back as if he were something dirty.
Alexander steadied Catherine with his hand and frowned. "If the Hughes Family is so ill-mannered, my fiancée and I will leave. The Howard Family will no longer be involved in the Hughes Family's business."
Michael's face darkened. 'What does he mean? The Howard Family not involved in our business? Does Alexander remember he took all the Hughes Family's business in Imperia City last month? He's taken a lot from me, even orders the Howard Group doesn't need, causing us to lose a lot of money. Hosting this stone gambling event is to retain those lost customers. When I become head of the Hughes family, let's see if they still dare to look down on me!'
Seeing Alexander about to leave with Catherine, Anthony spoke up. "Mr. Howard, I apologize on behalf of Michael to you and Ms. Windsor. For my sake, please stay."
Alexander looked down at Catherine in his arms and asked softly, "Do you want to stay?"
Anthony understood. "Ms. Windsor, I'm sorry. For the sake of the relationship between the Hughes Family and the Windsor Family, please don't be angry."
Catherine chuckled. "Since Mr. Hughes has spoken, I'll stay. But if the Hughes Family lets an illegitimate child take charge, it will only disgrace you."
Alexander followed with a forced smile. "Mr. Hughes, my fiancée gets easily upset when she sees someone she hates, please understand."
Emilia yawned. "Catherine, it's our fault if the guests are unhappy. Grandpa, let's focus on the guests today!"
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