Chapter 313 Troubles at the Engagement Banquet
Lauren was like a cat on a hot tin roof, and Felix's call was like a soothing balm that calmed her anxious heart.
"What? Matthew is with him? Is that true?" Lauren was both excited and apprehensive. She couldn't understand how Matthew ended up there.
In a cool and firm voice, Felix told her, "Yes, Lauren. Mr. Robinson is extremely busy today and has no time, so you'll have to come and pick him up yourself."
He felt some sympathy for Lauren, sensing Quentin's deliberate difficulty towards her.
Matthew was Lauren and Quentin's son, and Quentin was the president of Robinson Conglomerate. No matter how busy he was, he had plenty of subordinates around him, so it wouldn't be hard to have someone else bring Matthew over. To Felix, it seemed Quentin was intentionally making Lauren come over to humiliate her.
But as a secretary, Felix shouldn't meddle in such matters. He could only use this indirect language to make Lauren feel a bit better.
Lauren gave a bitter smile. "Alright, I'll get there as soon as I can. Thank you, Felix."
She could guess Quentin's intentions. Today was his engagement day. She had pretended to be strong and not think about it, hoping the day would pass peacefully. However, things didn't go as she wished. Matthew's presence there forced her to face Quentin and Sophia head-on.
After hanging up, Lauren's relaxed mood became tense again. How would she face everyone at Quentin's engagement ceremony? She hoped that in the past three years, everyone in City A had forgotten about her and Quentin's past. It would be best if no one recognized her, and even better if she didn't have to see Quentin at all. That way, she could quietly take Matthew away.
Lost in thought, Lauren didn't realize her car had already arrived at the hotel. She got out, took a deep breath, and walked straight to the door.
At the hotel entrance, there were large posters with intimate photos of Quentin and Sophia, causing a pang in Lauren's heart.
She gave a bitter smile, resolving to hold on a bit longer. Once she had Matthew, she would leave immediately and never have any further dealings with Quentin and his people.
Entering the hotel, Lauren intended to bypass the hall and go directly to the room where Matthew was. But unfortunately, the engagement ceremony was set up right in the center of the first floor, and she had to pass through the middle of the seats to reach the stairs.
The engagement ceremony had just begun, and all the guests were quietly watching Quentin and Sophia on stage. Lauren's sudden entrance successfully drew everyone's attention.
The guests wore mocking smiles, thinking Lauren was there to cause trouble. Realizing this quickly, Lauren decided to defuse the situation with her quick wit. She smiled and nodded at everyone, hunched over, and tiptoed towards the stairs, pretending to be someone who had walked into the wrong place.
Lauren could feel her heart pounding. She didn't know why she felt so guilty, as if she had committed a grave crime, even though she had done nothing wrong.
Just as Lauren was about to leave, Quentin suddenly spoke, "Lauren, don't you have a blessing for us?" His cold voice echoed through the microphone, reminding everyone that Lauren was Quentin's ex-wife.
Lauren felt her face flush with embarrassment. The more she wanted to blend into the background, the more Quentin made sure everyone knew who she was, deliberately making things tough for her.
The guests' stares intensified, clearly showing Quentin's words had hit their mark. The scandal from three years ago resurfaced, and whispers and snickers filled the room, almost calling her a slut to her face.
"Oh my God, how does Lauren have the nerve to show up here? Poor Quentin, being pestered by such a woman," one woman said sharply.
Another woman chimed in, "I think Sophia is the one to pity. She and Quentin grew up together, and then Lauren came along. She'll never be rid of Lauren."
Lauren was dizzy with anger from these demeaning words. She forced herself to hold back her fury, glaring at the gossiping people.
They hadn't expected Lauren to dare look back at them, especially with such a fierce gaze, and they quickly shut their mouths.
Lauren knew she had to take action to restore peace. So she raised her face, put on a bright smile, and looked at Quentin on stage. "Today is your engagement day. Of course, I won't withhold my blessings. Congratulations on your engagement. I wish you a lifetime of happiness and a future filled with children and grandchildren."
Quentin's eyes flashed with a hint of sadness at her words, but he quickly smiled broadly. "Thank you. We will certainly live up to your wishes."
Sophia, holding Quentin's arm, smiled charmingly. "Ms. Walker, thank you so much. I'm really happy to hear you say that. I hope we can be friends in the future." She then smiled at Quentin, clearly showing she was in love.
Lauren sneered at Sophia's words but didn't show it. She nodded at Sophia and then walked towards the back room.
Sophia's face showed a fierce expression. She thought Lauren was truly despicable, but after today, she knew she could finally be at peace.
Ruby, watching from the audience, was furious. She couldn't tolerate a woman as lowly as Lauren ruining Sophia's happiness. She had to protect Sophia's happy life.
In the back room, Lauren found Matthew pouting. She gave him a cold look and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Matthew, with a stubborn face, replied, "Mommy, Daddy is about to marry that wicked woman. He's going to abandon us. How can you not be sad at all?"
Lauren's heart ached. "Matthew, you don't understand. You're just a child! Do you know how many people were worried when you suddenly disappeared from kindergarten? How can you be so reckless?"
But Matthew was unrepentant. "Mommy, if you don't fight for your happiness, I won't be happy. I don't want to share my Daddy with anyone else."
In her anger, Lauren couldn't help but slap Matthew. She immediately regretted it. Tears welled up in her eyes as she knelt on the ground, trembling as she tried to hug Matthew.
Matthew looked at Lauren in disbelief, feeling both wronged and sad. Although he had grown up with just Lauren and Kimberly, he had always been happy and content, never feeling he lacked anything compared to other children.
This was the first time Lauren had hit him, which was unacceptable to the proud and well-behaved Matthew.
Tears, as clear as morning dew, fell from his eyes one by one. Matthew looked pitifully at Lauren, heartbroken, and avoided her hands.
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