Chapter 38
Ophelia's tone turned severe. "Cecily, this is unacceptable. She’s our elder for goodness' sake. How could you just let her fall?"
"Are you all blind? Didn't you see that she grabbed me first?"
"So, you couldn’t stop? You knew she was holding onto you and yet you kept moving. What were you thinking?"
Cecily couldn't help but laugh bitterly. “So, I should just coddle her? Does she think I'm her mother or something?"
Ophelia was livid. "This is outrageous, Darian. We can't just let this go."
Ophelia clung to what she thought was a damning piece of evidence against Cecily, unwilling to let go.
Sandra clutched her knee, moaning in agony.
A frigid storm brewed in Darian's gaze as he looked at Cecily.
It wasn't Cecily's fault, and she felt no need to back down.
"Darian..."
"Let's get to the hospital," he said icily.
"No! I don't want to go to the hospital!" Sandra grabbed Darian's hand, taking deep breaths as if in excruciating pain.
"Darian, you see what I mean? This woman is ruthless and vile; she’s nothing like Ophelia. I want you to kick her out of Silver Frost Capital and ensure she never sets foot here again."
Joy briefly glittered in Ophelia's eyes as she looked at Darian with hopeful anticipation.
Exactly! She loved that idea. Cecily must be expelled from Silver Frost Capital, never to return.
“Kick someone out of Silver Frost Capital? Do you really think you rule this place? That you can do whatever you please?” Aurelie took a step forward, feeling very indignant.
The commotion wasn't minor; onlookers were gathering.
Aurelie raised her voice, "Everyone, please, help us settle this matter. This scam artist here grabbed my friend and then took a tumble. Now she's trying to shake us down, but there's surveillance everywhere. It's clear who's right and who's wrong."
Sandra clenched her teeth in anger. An illustrious lady of her stature was being gawked at as if she were a sideshow and being accused of running a scam. It was a blow to her dignity.
"Scam artist?" Sandra gritted her teeth.
"Yeah, what's the difference between your actions and a scammer's?"
"You really should wash out that mouth of yours." Sandra was seething. Spying a cup on a nearby rest area table, she grabbed it, preparing to douse them in its contents.
Cecily, quick and alert, pulled Aurelie behind her.
Darian's gaze sharpened.
The anticipated disaster didn't come.
Cecily felt only a few warm droplets splash her face.
As she opened her eyes, she saw Darian raise his hand to shield her, catching most of the coffee spill.
Cecily stared in astonishment at the man before her with a dark and stormy expression.
Ophelia and Sandra were both frozen in shock.
"Darian?" Sandra weakly asked.
Ophelia, witnessing Darian's instinctive move to protect Cecily, felt her heart besieged by a tumultuous sea of fear and turmoil.
Ophelia bit her lip and stepped forward, reaching for Darian's arm. "Darian, are you alright?" She asked with feigned concern.
Darian wiped his hands on a couple of napkins with a stern expression and turned his steely gaze on the four of them. “Had enough?”
Ophelia spoke up anxiously, “Darian, it’s your mom’s only request, can’t you just—”
Darian shot her a deep look. “Still not done causing a scene?”
Seeing the signs of anger on Darian’s face, Ophelia’s spirits plummeted.
“I’m just trying to get some justice for your mom.”
“That’s enough.” Sandra couldn’t stand being the center of gossip any longer and said gravely, “Ophelia, let's go.”
“But Aunt Sandra, aren’t we going to have Cecily leave Silver Frost Capital?” Ophelia asked.
Aunt Sandra insisted on leaving, so Ophelia had no choice but to bite her lip and push the wheelchair out, her eyes filled with reluctance.
“Don’t worry, we’ll deal with that little brat in good time,” Sandra murmured under her breath.
“Aunt Sandra?” Ophelia looked at her in surprise.
“I know you’re frustrated; I am too, but Darian is angry. Causing more trouble now just isn’t right. Patience is key, Ophelia. Just wait and see.”
Ophelia nodded eagerly, “You’re absolutely right, Aunt Sandra.”
As the crowd dispersed, Darian’s icy stare lingered on Cecily.
They faced off against each other.
“When will you ever learn to compromise?”
Cecily responded with a sarcastic smile, “Compromise? Sorry, that’s just not in my vocabulary.”
Darian narrowed his eyes, his gaze impenetrable. He turned and strode away, heading into the nearest restroom to wash the sticky coffee off his hands.
Just as he was about to leave, he caught sight of a small, peering figure emerging.
Darian frowned, finding the figure oddly familiar.
After tossing the paper into the trash, he stepped inside.
Rowan was unsure how things were going with his mom and had hidden in the restroom to sneak a peek but ended up seeing his dad at the sink.
Rowan quickly retreated into a stall.
But Darian caught a glimpse of his son’s figure instantly.
Before Rowan could even close it, Darian pushed open the bathroom stall door with a swift motion.
Rowan trembled in shock, eyes lifting only to meet Darian’s displeased gaze.
"Weren't you supposed to be practicing piano at home? How did you end up here?"
"I...” For the first time, Rowan was so anxious he didn’t know what to say.
What should he say now?
Griffin was still at home.
Now that Dad saw him...
He was certainly going to take him back.
It was over, totally over.
He was caught red-handed.
Rowan gripped his clothing tightly as his smartwatch began to ring.
He didn't dare look.
Because he knew, it must be Mom looking for him.
This was the end.
"Why aren't you answering?" Darian glanced at the watch on Rowan's wrist.
Rowan's heart raced as he stuttered, "Dad, I..."
Darian's phone buzzed in his pocket, thankfully drawing his attention.
Seizing the moment when Darian was distracted by the call, Rowan quickly ended the call and switched his watch to silent mode.
Then he tried to appear nonchalant, racking his brain for an excuse.
Sandra and Ophelia had exited the boutique and, noticing Darian hadn't followed, phoned to find out why.
With a curt response, Darian hung up and continued his stern scrutiny of Rowan, "Why did you come out here alone?"
"Because... the housekeeper told me you went shopping with Grandma and Auntie, and I got tired of practicing, so I just wanted to get some fresh air. I asked our driver to bring me," Rowan could only muster that excuse.
Darian did not look the least bit appeased.
This was not the first or second time Rowan had left without permission and without a bodyguard.
What if something dangerous happened?
Rowan fiddled with the hem of his shirt nervously, "I’ll do better next time."
"Next time? How many more 'next times' are there going to be?" Darian's tone now carried real anger.
Rowan bit his lip.
Darian glanced around and said, "Let's get out of here. You can face your punishment when you're back home."
His behavior was a product of being coddled too much; it only encouraged his tendencies to leave home on his own whim.
All Rowan could do was nod in agreement.
His phone, switched to silent mode in his watch, kept vibrating with incoming calls.
Cold sweat broke out on Rowan's forehead.
Fortunately, Darian turned and walked away without noticing his watch.
Rowan had no choice but to walk out, feigning composure.
Cecily and Aurelie had made countless calls with no answer, driving them both to the brink of hysteria.
Aurelie grabbed Cecily’s hand, "Cecily, don’t panic. Griffin is smart; he won't just get lost. Remember how he went off to play on his own in Dorde and managed to come back just fine? He’s going to be okay. Let's split up and search for him."
Cecily, frantic, agreed, "Okay."
Emerging from the restroom, Darian caught a glimpse of Cecily anxiously hurrying away.
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