Chapter 436 Grace's Apology on Her Knees
Riley followed the website link sent by his assistant in the order provided. As he clicked on the link, he found himself face-to-face with a news article. The headline sent shockwaves through him, causing his usually composed demeanor to twist with shock.
Unable to contain his fury, Riley shot an intense gaze toward Grace, who was still on stage, her expression filled with anxiety, and her breathing becoming uneven.
Without losing a moment, Riley proceeded to open the other links, each one presenting the same news story but on different platforms. The screenshots shared by his assistant all revolved around the same shocking revelation.
Comment 50: "Grace is the most disgusting, vile, and horrifying woman I've ever seen—without equal."
Comment 809: "The Koch family has always had a decent reputation. How could they produce someone like this? She's the rotten apple that spoils the barrel."
Comment 1209: "Did you see her expression? It's like something straight out of a serial killer movie."
Comment 3000: "Is she some kind of nutcase or something?"
Comment 3003 replies to 3000: "Drop the 'or something'—she's a total psycho."
Comment 5090 replies to 3003: "It's more than just being a psycho. I think she's just plain evil, the kind of evil that's ingrained."
Comment 7280: "People like her should be locked up. If she doesn't get caught this time, there will be a next time. It's only a matter of time before she kills someone if she's not stopped."
His assistant had flooded Riley's device with these screenshots, highlighting the harshest and most critical comments from internet users. Of course, not every screenshot was sent, only the ones spilling the harshest venom.
Riley suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, both physically and mentally.
Grace, oblivious to the storm brewing, timidly called out, "Big Brother, I..."
Riley fixed her with a chilling gaze, devoid of any sentiment. "Kneel."
Grace's eyes widened, so shocked that she forgot to cry, unable to believe what she had just heard from Riley.
"But—"
Riley's voice grew even more sinister. "Kneel."
His expression and voice were so terrifying that Grace trembled in fear, casting a pleading look toward Shane for rescue, who remained indifferent, head tilted back, and eyes closed, ignoring her completely.
She then turned her gaze to Jeremy, hoping that her brother, who had always adored her, would come to her rescue. Despite his broken heart and anger, surely he wouldn't abandon her now.
Unfortunately, Jeremy just stared back emotionlessly, with not the slightest intention of coming to her aid.
With no one to turn to, her gaze returned to Riley.
How could she kneel in front of so many witnesses and the live stream audience, to Patricia no less? How could she ever face anyone again?
Riley understood the calculations in her mind all too well and offered no leeway, his voice firm. "You committed the error first. If you truly want Miss Watson's forgiveness, you'll do as she asks."
Grace, nearly biting through her lower lip, adamantly refused to kneel. To her, kneeling represented not just a loss of pride but a stripping away of her dignity. It would mean publicly acknowledging her theft of Patricia's designs.
However, Grace found herself isolated in the room. Her grandpa, big brother, and even Jeremy had all turned their backs on her, leaving her engulfed in a whirlwind of anger, frustration, and loathing.
Then, out of nowhere, a voice from the crowd sparked a chant, "Kneel, kneel..."
It started with one person, and then, like a team rallying behind a cause, the rest went wild, arms flailing, shouting in unison for her to kneel. The sound was deafening, almost enough to lift the roof off the place.
Grace's face transformed through shades of pallor and flushed embarrassment, mirroring the ugliness inside her.
Riley observed the situation with a cool demeanor, well aware that his sister had unwittingly incited a mob. The news circulating online had left her reputation in tatters. If Grace didn't kneel and apologize to Patricia today, the backlash from the crowd and the online community would be relentless.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Grace reluctantly succumbed to the pressure. Her knees buckled, and she knelt before Patricia, echoing Patricia's earlier words.
"Patricia, I'm sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn't have stolen your designs, I shouldn't have framed you and Jeremy, I shouldn't have targeted you time and again. I apologize, and I hope you can forgive me."
Patricia didn't forgive her immediately. Looking down, she asked, "Do you mean it?"
Grace didn't dare say anything but the truth, nodding and saying, "Yes."
"Do you understand your mistake?"
Swallowing her pride, Grace admitted, "I do."
Patricia pressed on, "Do you want my forgiveness?"
Still nodding, Grace insisted, "Yes, I want you to forgive me!"
Patricia had never felt such satisfaction as she did in that moment, especially seeing Grace kneel before her, begging for forgiveness in front of everyone. The thrill was indescribable.
Only when Grace finally knelt to admit her faults did the commotion in the crowd start to quiet down.
Just when Grace thought Patricia would forgive her, that this would be put to rest, and her reputation could be salvaged, Patricia's voice dropped a bombshell. "Sorry, apology not accepted."
Grace was speechless. The venue fell silent in an instant.
After a brief lull, someone said, "Yeah, I wouldn't accept it either."
"Mercy to a villain is cruelty to oneself. She truly doesn't deserve forgiveness."
"I have a feeling that Miss Koch isn't truly remorseful. People like her never think they're at fault; they're beyond forgiveness."
Feeling insulted, Grace shot up, eyes ablaze with rage, face twisted in fury. "Are you playing me?"
Patricia, arms folded, raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Did I say I'd forgive you if you groveled and apologized? Apologizing is your business, owning up to your mistakes. Whether I forgive you or not is up to me. And I choose not to."
Grace trembled with rage, feeling her pride trampled under Patricia's feet. Never had she felt such humiliation.
Anger blurred her sense of place, and she lashed out with a slap aimed at Patricia's face. However, Patricia caught her wrist with ease and countered with her own slap.
A resounding 'snap' filled the room, and a stunned silence descended upon everyone present, as if they had turned to stone. Including Grace, who held her cheek in disbelief, her eyes wide and speechless.
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