Chapter 182 The Out-of-Control Scene
Lauren had always hated noisy crowds, especially in awful situations like this.
But this time, she wasn't scared. She felt brave. Just as she rushed to the stage, a hand grabbed her from behind and pulled her back.
Lauren turned around, surprised to see Noah.
"Mr. Martin, let go of me," Lauren said.
Noah was sweating bullets. "What are you doing running up there? You want to get scolded with Quentin? Stop causing trouble. Let me handle this. Get out of here, okay?"
"No, Mr. Martin, this is mine and Quentin's mess, not yours. Don't worry about us. I believe this storm will pass soon." Lauren focused on Quentin, eager to rush over.
Noah was about to lose it. "Are you trying to drive me nuts? Quentin and you won't listen. Can't you see the situation? Explaining won't help. You two will just get scolded."
Lauren smiled faintly. "I know, but I can't let him face this alone. He's already done too much for me."
Ignoring Noah, Lauren insisted on getting on the stage. The crowd still didn't accept Quentin's apology and kept criticizing him.
"Mr. Robinson, we're so disappointed in you. We didn't expect you to use us like this."
They didn't dare do anything to Quentin, but Lauren's sudden appearance on stage gave them an outlet for their anger.
"Lauren, how dare you show your face here?"
Hearing Lauren's name, Quentin straightened up. "What are you doing here? Leave now!"
Lauren calmly replied, "I'm here to take responsibility for our mistakes with you."
"This has nothing to do with you. Leave now!" Quentin growled softly, realizing he couldn't change Lauren's stubborn mind.
"Everyone, both Quentin and I are responsible for this. I sincerely apologize to all of you," Lauren said earnestly, bowing deeply to the reporters just as Quentin had done earlier.
Seeing Lauren's seriousness, Quentin felt a warmth in his heart and looked at her with newfound admiration, thinking, 'This is the wife I need, the kind of wife I want.'
So Quentin didn't stop Lauren but held her hand and bowed with her to apologize. Seeing this, the crowd didn't know what to say and fell silent.
However, a man hiding at the back of the reporters was quietly making a phone call. "Yes, I understand. Leave it to me."
The man ended the call with an evil smile, then said something to the people around him, who understood and began a new attack.
"Mr. Robinson, please stop acting. Do you think we're fools to fall for the same trick twice? Do you think we'll be deceived again?" the man loudly mocked.
Quentin's face turned pale with anger, and he glared at the man with fiery eyes.
The man's accomplices jumped in to stir the pot. "Yeah, we can't be fooled again! Remember how we fell for their act before? It was all fake!"
"Don't believe them! Get off the stage! We don't accept any apologies!"
Lauren was taken aback by the sudden hostility. She saw the reporters getting riled up, turning against her and Quentin, and started to panic.
Seeing the chaos unfold, the man smirked and kept fanning the flames. "Down with the scheming woman! Lauren, get off the stage!"
He walked towards Lauren, opened a bottle of water, and splashed it at her.
Stunned, Lauren froze. Luckily, Quentin reacted quickly, rushing over to shield her, taking the water himself.
In the cold winter air, the water felt like ice. Quentin's head and neck were drenched, and he shivered from the cold.
Lauren was shocked and asked anxiously, "Quentin, are you okay?"
Quentin forced a smile. "I'm fine."
Then he glared at the man with a fierce look, as if warning him.
Determined to make things worse, the man ignored Quentin's warning. "Mr. Robinson, I'm really sorry. I'm not targeting you, but Lauren is a scheming fraud. So to avoid hurting you, please step aside," he said with a grin.
"How dare you hurt Lauren?" Quentin growled through gritted teeth.
But the man showed no fear. "Mr. Robinson, are you still acting? Trying to play the hero saving the damsel in distress?"
His words made the other reporters even more disgusted with Lauren and Quentin, and the crowd began to chant.
"Get off the stage! Get off the stage! We don't accept your apologies!"
The man was thrilled with the chaos and aimed the water bottle at Quentin, throwing it at him. "Get off the stage!"
His accomplices joined in, throwing water bottles and crumpled paper at Quentin and Lauren.
Quentin immediately shielded Lauren, taking all the hits himself.
Lauren watched Quentin protect her with wide eyes, feeling both heartbroken and sad.
"Quentin," she murmured softly.
Quentin's eyes were as gentle as water. "It's okay. It will be over soon."
Lauren was well protected in Quentin's warm embrace, not hurt at all, while Quentin was soaked and even had a bleeding head.
Noah rushed over with security to maintain order, but it was useless.
"Quentin, Lauren, leave now! Staying here is pointless!" Noah shouted.
Quentin whispered to Lauren, "Are you scared?"
Lauren gently shook her head. "I'm not scared!"
'As long as he's here, I won't be afraid even if the sky falls,' she thought.
