Chapter 30: You’re Truly Kind-Hearted

“What would appease your anger?” Winford inquired, unaware of the tenderness softening his gaze. Ophelia glanced back at Cullen, slumped against the pool edge with heatstroke. “On such a hot day, why not let them cool off in the water as well?” she mused, sweetness dripping like poisoned honey.

A smile flickered in Winford’s eyes. He gazed at Ophelia and said gently, “You’re truly kind-hearted.”

Kind-hearted? Nicole Miller and the others began to doubt their understanding of the word. Looking at their soaked garments and hair, Cullen’s pathetic state in the pool, and recalling her cruel suggestion, could Ophelia have any connection to the word “kind-hearted”?

“No! I won’t!” Lara recoiled from the steaming pool, her shrill voice cracking. Tears welled in her eyes as she turned to Winford. “Mr. Winford, she’s lying! We didn’t say anything bad about you. She’s making false accusations out of spite!”

Knowing Ophelia couldn’t produce any evidence, she just twisted the facts. “Ophelia clearly doesn’t like me and is deliberately framing me! How can she punish me for something I didn’t do? Mr. Winford, I don’t want to go into the pool.” Her delicate shoulders shook with artful sobs. The performance drew sympathetic murmurs from male onlookers.

Ophelia’s blood boiled. At first, Lara insulted her husband, and now, seeing that he was handsome, she was shamelessly seducing him? Ophelia snorted coldly and was about to counter when Winford spoke first. “Her displeasure is reason enough to punish you.” His tone was indifferent yet undeniable.

The whimpering Lara was stunned. “M…Mr. Winford?” she stammered, her eyes widening. She couldn’t believe what she had heard. Winford ignored her pleas, turning instead to Ophelia. “How would you like this handled?” His tone softened considerably compared to when he spoke to Lara.

Ophelia was dazed for a moment. Then her eyes sparkled with unconcealed delight, glowing with joy at his blatant display of indulgence and favoritism. Now she couldn’t care less about Lara’s seductive ploys. What use was this cheap flirtation? Hadn’t she heard Winford’s words?

Hmph! “I originally planned to send them into the pool myself, but there are too many. Forget it. Let’s have Graham handle it.” Ophelia glanced at the ashen-faced ladies, seeming regretful that she wouldn’t get to toss them in herself.

“Mr. Winford!” Lara still wanted to beg. But Winford didn’t even glance at her. “Graham.” “Got it,” Graham answered.

Graham and his men moved swiftly into action. The first to be thrown into the pool was Elizabeth. She had assumed that, given her status and age, Ophelia would let her off. But instead, Ophelia had specifically pointed her out, ordering Graham not to skip her.

“Mr. Winford! I never spoke ill of you! Never!” As she was hauled toward the pool, she was utterly dumbfounded, shrieking desperate explanations. She was the Pruitt family matriarch. If she were humiliated like this in front of everyone, how could she maintain any dignity after this?

“Weren’t you just cursing me enthusiastically?” Ophelia drawled, throwing Elizabeth’s own words back at her. “Winford is my husband. To insult me is to insult him.”

After Elizabeth, it was the others’ turn. “This one! That one! And her!” Ophelia’s gaze was sharp and unerring, picking out every single person from the crowd without hesitation.

Not a single one who badmouthed Winford would escape. Splash! Splash! One after another, Cullen, who had been suffering alone, soon found himself surrounded by several miserable companions.

Ophelia stood beside Winford, her sharp eyes methodically scanning the crowd for overlooked offenders. Suddenly, her gaze narrowed on Bessie as she attempted to hide behind someone’s back. While Bessie hadn’t slandered Winford directly, her earlier insinuations lingered fresh in Ophelia’s memory. With a subtle glance, she signaled Graham. Graham intercepted the silent directive.

Despite their short acquaintance, an inexplicable rapport had formed between them. Even now, a single gaze from her was enough for him to grasp her intent. Without hesitation, Graham strode forward and yanked Bessie out.

“Ah! What are you doing?!” Bessie shrieked. “Graham, you’ve got the wrong person! I’m Ophelia’s sister—” Before she could finish, a loud splash echoed as she was tossed into the water. “My apologies,” Graham dusted his hands, deadpan. “My hand slipped.”

Ophelia applauded. “Good job!” Curving her lips into a smile, she whispered to Winford, “Darling, remember to give Graham a raise.” Winford’s eyelids lowered slightly, a shadow darkening his gaze. “You like him?”

Chapter 30: You’re Truly Kind-Hearted

Without missing a beat, Ophelia replied, “Who wouldn’t like such a capable subordinate?” Only after the words left her mouth did she realize the danger. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she hastily added, “Not that anyone compares to you! You’re the best!”

The faint crease between Winford’s brows finally eased. Ophelia secretly released a breath. “Mission accomplished, sir, madam,” Graham approached, bowing respectfully. “All done?” Ophelia asked, glancing in that direction. The scene made her almost burst into laughter.

Graham had stationed guards around the pool’s perimeter to deny exit. Bessie’s shrieks of “I’m her sister! There’s been a mistake!” dissolved into gargles each time she reached the edge and was kicked back into the water. The high-temperature water was scalding enough to make people shriek. Even two minutes in that water made them feel like a lobster about to be boiled crimson. These ladies had never endured such suffering. Begging mingled with choked sobs, drowning Bessie’s explanations.

Ophelia hummed a jaunty tune as she turned away. Did she hear pleas for mercy? No, absolutely nothing!

Suddenly, someone rushed forward. It was Cullen’s mother, Sienna. “Mr. Winford! Cullen has learned his lesson! Please spare him this once!” Sienna looked at her son in the water, pathetic and disheveled, on the verge of passing out, her heart breaking into tears. “Please! Cullen can’t take it anymore! Please let him out!” she sobbed.

Winford said casually, “Lia, how do you like?” Ophelia snorted without hesitation. “Let him stay.” Sienna’s eyes blazed with fury. “Ophelia! You—”

“Something wrong?” Ophelia smiled, her tone sharp. “Talking to me like that. Are you planning to join your son down there?” Sienna’s face paled instantly. The situation had changed. Ophelia wasn’t the same little girl she could bully anymore. Now, she was Winford’s wife. Who would’ve thought that the woman she once looked down on, the one she deemed unworthy of her son, would one day marry Winford and trample over her?

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