Chapter 219: Kindly Return the Money Within Three Days
For a married woman, being asked by her husband to return to her parents' home was deeply humiliating. Audrey made a last-ditch effort, but she hadn't anticipated Caleb's harsh words. Terror seized her as she realized her long-ago scheme had been discovered. Caleb, unlike Josiah, wasn't easily deceived.
Audrey's face went ghastly pale—a shade even worse than death. Tears streamed uncontrollably; she couldn't speak or breathe, and fainted. Chaos erupted.
The onlookers whispered amongst themselves. Had she truly fainted, or was it an act? The Quirk family, however, saw it as a deserved punishment for her wickedness.
George and Helen rushed to their daughter's side, crying out for help from Caleb, but his indifference crushed their hopes. Noah and Lorelei, exhausted and emotionally drained, cared little for family honor or dealing with their disgraced daughter-in-law. Josiah, flustered and overwhelmed, was equally unhelpful.
George and Helen left the Hampton manor with Audrey, the divorce seemingly inevitable. The wine tasting party was disrupted, but Caleb gracefully managed the guests' departure, offering each a bottle of fine wine as a parting gift.
Despite the Hampton family's humiliation, Caleb's handling of the situation impressed everyone. A successor like him would easily maintain the family's standing. As the Quirks prepared to leave, Caleb offered them wine and asked, "May I know why?"
The Quirks were caught off guard. Caleb wasn't oblivious; a simple investigation would reveal their role in the video. Just as Alexander was about to speak, Isabella interjected, "It's me! I bullied people. Dakota and I are friends. Someone had to start the trouble."
The Quirk family naturally sided with Isabella, prepared to sever ties with Caleb if necessary. Alexander, seeing Isabella's protective stance, smirked. This was the first time Caleb had seen this side of Alexander, noticing a lipstick mark on his cheek and feeling a pang of envy.
Caleb's initial question stemmed from genuine curiosity. In prestigious families, such direct exposure was unusual. Discreet avoidance was the norm. However, the Quirk family's actions were unnecessarily complicated—interesting, yet reliable in business dealings.
Seeing Isabella's nervousness, Caleb chuckled, "Justice Upholder, you are indeed formidable." Isabella wondered if he was mocking her, but his expression suggested otherwise. After shaking hands with Alexander, Caleb attended to the other guests.
Outside, the family encountered Alexander's friends, who were discussing wedding plans. Suddenly, a loud slap echoed from the lawn. Before anyone reacted, the Quirks heard Isabella's thoughts: "Great! I get to see him grovel…or rather, he's already ashes!" Dakota had vanished during the earlier chaos.
Josiah was the one who found Dakota, but he was about to be stopped by the shocking slap she delivered. He asked in disbelief, "Did you just hit me?" Dakota replied coldly, "You had it coming." Josiah was stunned by this abrupt change in Dakota's demeanor. He had always held the upper hand, and her rejection sparked panic. He humbly begged her to stay.
Isabella expressed disbelief, and the Quirk family watched scornfully. Everyone displayed disdain, even Clifford. However, Josiah's genuine terror of losing Dakota overshadowed his embarrassment. He blocked Dakota's path. "Are you really breaking up with me?"
Dakota scoffed. Josiah launched into a cliché-ridden, self-pitying plea. He blamed his wrongdoings on Dakota's kindness. Isabella's cynical comments prevented general sympathy, instead turning the situation into amusement.
Dakota seemed lost in thought. Josiah, seizing an opportunity, claimed his feelings for Audrey were a thing of the past. He insisted it was a one-sided decision. His manipulative words didn't fool anyone. He tried to grab Dakota's hand to start over.
Dakota sidestepped him, her expression ruthless. "I'll send you the bill later," she stated. Josiah was shocked. The onlookers were stunned.
"For the two years I've supported you, every penny I've spent, every transaction—I'll calculate it all. I'll send you the bill, and I want repayment within three days."