Chapter 119: Bending Over Backward for Money

"Come on, isn't this awkward? Aren't you embarrassed?" Isabella cheerfully mocked the group, continuing her performance. (+5 Pearls)

The air crackled with Isabella's unconvincing, feigned tears. Her performance, however, caused an uproar among the wives and Liam, who felt a storm brewing. The wives thought, "She's not some pampered sugar baby; she's the legitimate wife of the Quirk Group heir! What legitimate wife leaves her home and husband to become a variety show celebrity?" Liam lamented internally, "Introducing a new woman, speculating about her relationship with her brother-in-law… cousin, what have I done to deserve this?" Alexander knew Isabella was playing a role, but he awkwardly played along. He gently held her, his expression turning icy cold.

While Isabella wouldn't be taken advantage of, Alexander wouldn't tolerate disrespect toward his wife.

"Everyone, my wife is young and prefers to avoid trouble. Threatening and provoking her at Quirk Group constitutes bullying. Don't you owe us an explanation and an apology?" Alexander's icy voice carried an intimidating aura, leaving everyone utterly ashamed. He delivered his lines impeccably, living up to his domineering CEO persona.

Isabella's thoughts instantly threw Alexander's serious demeanor into chaos, leaving him exasperated. Their expressions were a mix of emotions—a sight to behold. They likely deeply regretted their actions, wishing they could disappear.

Isabella secretly reveled in their misfortune, glancing at the women. Selena and Rosalie, initially regretful for missing their chance to act, were captivated by Alexander's words and gloated over the wives' predicament. "Serves you right for abusing your power and bullying others! Coming into our territory and bullying one of our own…"

The wives, despite their unshakeable status in the entertainment industry, were now facing a prominent family's wife—someone they had dared to threaten. The thought sent shivers down their spines. Their husbands often needed investments to produce pieces… (The sentence fragment "brickand" and the following timestamp and percentage are unclear and should be removed.)

Upon realizing they had offended someone powerful, the women panicked. They hastily stood, completely changing their attitudes.

"You're Mrs. Quirk! Why didn't you say so? I thought you were a newcomer, so I spoke frankly, intending to mentor a younger colleague," one said.

"It was a misunderstanding, Mrs. Quirk. We apologize. We meant no harm; it was a joke," the others echoed.

The four women offered forced smiles, brimming with embarrassment. Their fawning over Isabella was instantaneous. The more they spoke, the smoother their apologies became, as if erasing the awkwardness.

(The following paragraph is unclear and grammatically incorrect; it appears to be a reflection from the narrator, possibly an internal monologue of Alexander or the author.) Even though a wise man submits to circumstances, I still prefer the way you guys bossed me around with an arrogant air.

Seeing Isabella unmoved, the wives remembered their earlier shopping trip. They presented their latest designer jewelry and bags as gifts. "We unintentionally offended you, Mrs. Quirk. Please accept these as a sincere apology."

Their forced smiles, and the clear pain at parting with their valuable, rare items, spoke volumes.

Selena and Rosalie were astonished by the significant sacrifice, realizing the women feared offending Quirk Group.

Isabella released Alexander's waist, focusing on the gifts. "I suddenly find their pragmatic demeanor appealing. Who wouldn't relish a windfall? A few criticisms hardly matter. One shouldn't reject money out of pride. This has to be several million at least!" Alexander was speechless; he'd intended to support her, but she'd bent over backward for money.

After her insincere show, Isabella accepted the apology. The wives watched their prized possessions given away, their hearts aching. They'd intended to teach Isabella a lesson, but learned one themselves. A loose tongue, indeed, causes trouble.

Their frustration grew at Ruth's lack of response. It couldn't end with their apologies and compensation; Ruth had instigated the whole thing. Her misunderstanding of Isabella's identity caused the entire incident. (The following timestamp and percentage are unclear and should be removed.)

The four women frantically glanced at Ruth. They easily let go of pride, having transitioned to business; Ruth, originally from the business world, struggled more, especially amidst her husband's divorce.

However, under Liam's intense gaze, she apologized. The words were hard to utter.

Ruth, holding back frustration, said, "Some of my remarks stemmed from a misunderstanding of Ms. Jeanner's identity. However, your wife has been quite a disappointment, Mr. Alexander."

Everyone was shocked, turning to Ruth. Liam was near tears, seeing his cousin's stubbornness.

"Ruth, shut up. You were disrespectful. Apologize now."

Ruth defiantly retorted, "I invited her to deal with a wicked person. I admired Ms. Jeanner's righteousness, but I didn't expect her to be so confused, even wanting to…" (The sentence is incomplete and should be removed or rewritten.)

Liam was taken aback, looking speculatively at Isabella, whose reputation hadn't always been stellar. He surmised that her husband's divorce from Rebecca had devastated her, leaving her desperate for sympathy and approval in her fight against Rebecca. Disagreement meant turning against her.

Although Isabella had accepted the apologies and gifts, Ruth's stubbornness left Isabella contemplating a sharp retort. Hearing Ruth's words, Alexander, having gleaned key information from Isabella's thoughts, understood the situation and sternly addressed Ruth. "Mrs. Gonzales, you placed expectations on Ms. Jeanner, then expressed disappointment when her beliefs differed. Isn't that presumptuous?"