Chapter 187 Molly is so brave!
Eric booked a presidential suite and told his secretary to quickly get a modest cocktail dress for Molly.
Molly went to change while he lounged on the leather sofa, legs crossed, one arm draped over the back, and the other tapping his knee.
If he were in a black suit, he'd look like a groom waiting for his bride to try on her dress.
Soon, the door opened.
The secretary, smiling, gently nudged a shy Molly out.
"Eric, Miss Wellington has changed."
Eric turned lazily, seeing Molly in a burgundy lace dress, taking small steps toward him. Her big, innocent eyes blinked adorably.
He was momentarily stunned, his gaze deepening.
Eric's world was full of extravagance. He'd seen all kinds of women but never eyes so pure.
"Why'd you buy such an old-fashioned color? She's young. Couldn't you pick something more youthful?"
Eric's eyes stayed on Molly as he mocked the secretary, "How long have you been with me, and your taste is still this bad?"
The secretary, knowing Eric's picky nature, blushed and was about to apologize.
But Molly spoke up, "Eric, I really like this color, but you don't suit red. It makes you look dark."
The secretary almost laughed, while Eric's face darkened.
No woman had ever dared to judge him so boldly in his face.
He prided himself on his looks, thinking only Edward was better looking in the whole country.
"Because you're Edward's sister, I'll let it slide," Eric said, his voice stiff with displeasure.
"Eric, are you mad?"
Molly asked nervously, "If I said wearing red makes you look like a coal miner, would you scold me or hit me?"
The secretary struggled to hold back her laughter.
Eric's eyes widened, almost choking in anger.
With a stern face, he walked over to Molly, his tall frame casting a shadow over her as she clutched her teddy bear.
Eric bent down and gently flicked her forehead.
"You were right, I am going to hit you. Does it hurt?"
Molly held her forehead and shook her head.
"Next time, if you mock me again, I won't be so gentle."
Eric pretended to be angry, like teasing a child, leaving the secretary dumbfounded.
Edward had to clean up the mess Evelyn created tonight.
So, he had Bart handle the banquet and left the hotel for now..
Ada had been taken away by Evelyn, and Edward wasn't around. Jessica, feeling her plans falling apart, downed two glasses of wine in frustration and angrily dragged her dress to the stage, sitting at the piano.
Initially, the guests were chatting and laughing, not paying attention to her.
Suddenly, a loud noise erupted as Jessica angrily slammed her fingers on the piano keys, startling everyone.
People turned to look, some frowning.
"What the heck, that was scary."
"Yeah, what's with Jessica's rude behavior? Doesn't she have any manners?"
Jessica, used to being arrogant abroad and spoiled at home, grew angrier thinking about Edward's words. She wanted to throw a tantrum.
But now she was back in the country, at a banquet full of Mugden's elite, and as the daughter of the Clark Group, she knew she shouldn't disregard her image.
So, she forced herself to calm down and started playing the piano to ease the awkwardness.
As a top student from the Royal Academy of Music, Yatuok, Jessica's fingers flew across the keys, and the beautiful piano music poured out, making everyone forget her earlier rudeness.
Debra, dragging her heavy gown, stormed into the banquet hall with bloodshot eyes and returned to Tiffany's side.
"Tiffany! Molly is here!"
Tiffany was startled. "What? Where?"
"I just saw her with Mr. Clark. He even patted her head and gave her his coat!"
Debra's eyes were red with jealousy. "Tiffany, do you really think Molly is a fool? She's clever, pretending to be innocent to deceive us. She's been eyeing Mr. Clark all along, trying to compete with me! How shameless!"
"Stop calling her a fool and shameless. Where did all those noble manners and ladylike qualities you learned go?" Tiffany frowned and pinched her secretly. "Molly is still your sister! Both of you are my daughters. She's not that bad, so don't say such things again!"
Debra trembled with anger, biting her red lips.
She felt that Tiffany wasn't defending Molly but just didn't want to admit she had given birth to a fool!
"Tiffany, what should I do?"
Debra grabbed Tiffany's arm anxiously. "It's hard enough that Evelyn and Eric broke up, and now Molly shows up. Eric already doesn't like me much. How can I ever marry into the Clark family now?!"
"Don't worry, Molly won't get in your way. I think you misunderstood her. She doesn't have such intentions. Go find Bart and have him send someone to find Molly and take her back."
Tiffany didn't think it was a big deal. After all, she had controlled her two daughters tightly for years, and no one could disrupt her plans.
Given Molly's current mental state and psychological issues, it would indeed be hard to marry her off. But Tiffany would still try to package her well and find her a high-status family.
Ideally, one that could also benefit her, so raising this foolish daughter wouldn't be in vain.
"Jessica seems to have quite a temper," Tiffany remarked idly, watching Jessica play the piano furiously on stage.
"Tiffany, honestly, her temper is terrible!"
Debra and Jessica had a superficial friendship based on mutual interests. She didn't bother to pretend in front of Tiffany and whispered, "Compared to Nicole, she's far worse, very quick-tempered!"
"Good." Tiffany's gaze at Jessica was cold and calculating.
"Good? What's good about that?" Debra doubted.
"People with big tempers and exposed emotions are easier to manipulate. And all Jessica wants is to be Edward's wife. She's never lacked anything growing up, so her thoughts are simple, just a bit possessive."
Tiffany snorted coldly. "On the other hand, someone like Nicole, who sweet-talks you but is actually deceitful and treacherous, is much harder to deal with!"
Before she finished speaking, the heavy doors of the banquet hall were pushed open with a dull thud.
Jessica, lost in her music, didn't notice that the guests' attention had shifted from her to the entrance.
Molly, under Eric's protection, appeared in the surprised gazes of the crowd, shuffling in with her head down.
"Who's that young lady with Mr. Clark? I've never seen her before," a few celebrities whispered, eyeing Molly.
"Probably another new girlfriend. Eric changes women often. I heard the longest a woman lasted by his side was a month, and no one has beaten that record yet."
"She is quite pretty, but I thought Eric always liked sultry, sexy women."
"She looks prettier than Jessica on stage and better than Debra from the Wellington family. You men may not be as rich as Eric, and you certainly don't have his taste!"
"Looking at it this way, Eric has better taste in women than Edward."
Debra, seeing Eric and Molly together and hearing these comments, turned red with anger, her gums aching from clenching her teeth.
Tiffany's expression at this moment was equally grim.
