Chapter 1529 Chased and Cast Aside
Seeing Ann cry only irritated Paul further. This woman was like a persistent ghost. Combined with Shelley's baseless accusations, his patience had run thin. "Hasn't the Harper family been having some troubles lately? Ms. Harper, I'm surprised you have time to meddle in other people's affairs."
Shelley went rigid, her gaze sharpening as she stared at Paul with renewed focus. "Right now I'm talking about Ann's situation. Mr. Adams, surely you aren't the type to hurt a woman and then deny it?"
Her eyes blazed with intensity, her voice steady and controlled. "I may not have known Ms. White for long, but she's always been timid when it comes to relationships. She wouldn't actively pursue anyone."
The implication was clear: you pursued her, then discarded her—what's that supposed to mean?
Paul found it amusing and actually laughed, his voice dropping to a cold, low register. "I can't be held responsible for every woman I've slept with." He smoothly produced a card and held it out toward Ann with practiced ease. "Three million dollars."
Ann's tears stopped instantly as she looked up at him in disbelief. His eyes showed no emotion whatsoever—only impatience and an urgent desire to be rid of her. Her fingertips trembled, clearly not expecting him to pull out a card so publicly.
Shelley stood frozen, then snapped back to reality and snatched the card, ready to throw it in Paul's face.
Alex quickly grabbed her arm, smiling at the surrounding crowd. "Nothing to see here, folks. Move along." His voice dropped significantly lower. "Ms. Harper might want to rein in that temper. Paul's right—with the Harper family in crisis, you need all the help you can get."
The words made Shelley freeze. Just as she was about to retort, she felt the card being pulled from her hand. It was Ann.
Ann straightened her spine, staring at the numbers on the card as if she'd never seen them before, her voice hoarse. "Thank you. I'll take the card, and I won't... I won't bother you anymore."
The words came out as her tears flowed even harder. She wanted to maintain her dignity in front of him, but emotions were beyond her control.
She shoved the card carelessly into her purse and turned to leave, but Paul's voice stopped her cold. "In three months, I'm getting engaged to the Reed family's daughter. I hope you keep your word."
Ann's steps faltered, and she nearly stumbled to the ground. She thought she was beyond feeling pain, but in that moment her cheeks burned with fresh humiliation.
"Ann, you know I never cared for you in the first place."
This final blow shattered what remained of her composure. She spun around and hurled the card directly at Paul's face without hesitation. Paul hadn't expected such defiance from her, and the card stung his cheek. This weak woman actually dared to... Before he could finish the thought, a sharp slap cracked across his face.
The sound was so crisp it stunned everyone in the hall. Every person present had just witnessed Ann slap Paul—it was tantamount to slapping death itself. Even Alex's eyelashes fluttered in shock. This was bad.
Paul touched his face, his dark gaze boring into Ann with menacing intensity. Only then did Ann realize what she'd done, her voice shaking uncontrollably. "We're... we're breaking up."
She turned to flee after those words, but Paul's hand clamped down on the back of her neck. "Did I fucking say you could leave?"
Ann shrank back in terror, the last traces of color draining from her face. Now she wasn't just hurt—she was terrified. Paul held some primal power over her that she couldn't escape. She feared him, and she never imagined that in her emotional breakdown, she would slap him in front of so many people.
"I... I..." Her lips trembled repeatedly, but no complete words emerged.
Alex quickly grabbed Paul's arm. "Come on, let it go. It's just one slap—how much force could she possibly have?"
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