Chapter 256: Confrontation

"Did you have any disputes with Ms. Adams before? Why would she push you?" someone asked.

Ronald, hearing the commotion, rushed over. Assuming the role of protective father, he interrupted. "That's right, don't talk nonsense! We don't know you; why would we trouble you? What reason would Maggie have to do such a thing?"

"But his posture does resemble someone who's been shoved," another person observed.

After a moment's struggle, Ben raised his head, eyes reddened. He explained, "Perhaps I accidentally bumped into Ms. Adams and displeased her."

A wave of gasps rippled through the onlookers. While feeling angry after a collision was understandable, pushing someone down the stairs seemed excessively malicious.

The crowd's gaze shifted to Maggie, imbued with a new, unsettling meaning.

Maggie didn't rush to defend herself. She retorted coldly, "If you bumped into me and didn't apologize, I could simply file a complaint with the hotel. I believe being accused of attempted murder and getting you fired would make me happier than watching you fall down those stairs in front of everyone."

Nathael's gaze was icy as he assessed Ben. He asked in a deep voice, "Since you're accusing Maggie, do you have any evidence?"

Ben tensed. He glanced involuntarily at the second-floor staircase. The hotel had surveillance cameras, but they didn't cover all areas; the stairwell was a blind spot—precisely why he'd chosen that location. Formally accusing Maggie, he lacked evidence.

Beth, observing from the crowd, found the waiter quite clever. Despite the failed plan, his accusation had caused Maggie some trouble, a situation Beth found satisfying.

"What kind of evidence could there be? Sir, do you believe I'm framing her? I'm merely a waiter. How could I dare offend a guest?"

Ben looked at Nathael, a hint of panic in his reddened, helpless eyes.

Nathael's gaze was profound. He looked directly at Ben and said coldly, "So, you mean we're plotting against you?"

Maggie frowned, noticing his self-incrimination. The waiter had accused her directly but used "we."

[The previous paragraph's incomplete sentence is removed as it continues into the next paragraph.]

Gently grasping Nathael's fingers, Maggie looked at Ben. "While there may not be surveillance at the second-floor stairwell, there are cameras elsewhere. You mentioned going downstairs to replace a wine glass, meaning you were serving wine to guests on the second floor."

Ben furrowed his brow, unsure of Maggie's intent. Her clear, calm voice captivated the audience.

"In that case, please tell us which guests you served wine to, and where you were when they took it." Ben stammered, "Howhow could I possibly remember? With so many guests, it's impossible."

Maggie smiled. "The main event was on the first floor. While some guests were on the second floor, most were resting in their rooms. If a guest took a drink, you should remember it clearly."

Cold sweat beaded on Ben's forehead. After emptying his tray on the first floor, he'd deliberately followed Maggie to the second floor, encountering no guests.

Ben remained silent. Maggie turned to the hotel manager. "If I recall correctly, your hotel assigns specific duties and areas to each waiter. May I know this waiter's assigned duties and area?"

The manager, realizing the implication, replied, "I'll check that immediately." He quickly obtained the duty roster. "According to the schedule, Ben's service area was the eastern section of the first floor, mainly serving drinks and collecting empty glasses."

The ballroom's first floor was divided into four areas, each staffed with three waiters.

The manager, frowning at Ben, asked, "Why were you on the second floor? That's not in your service area."

Ben's face paled, his sweating intensifying. "II just wanted to slack off," he mumbled.

Maggie raised an eyebrow, acknowledging his clever—though unlikely—excuse.

Maggie planned to request the manager review the upstairs surveillance footage. If Ben's movements at the stairwell weren't recorded, they should investigate his activities. With his explanation, the absence of his image made more sense.

"Then your earlier statement about changing glasses was a lie. When your first statement is a lie, how can we trust the rest of your story?" Maggie challenged.

Ben opened his mouth, but no words came out. He'd hoped to force Maggie to scramble for proof, but she'd turned the tables.

"Ms. Adams has a point," someone in the crowd said. "How can we trust a sneaky liar?"

Ronald spoke again. "You dare slander my daughter; explain yourself, or we won't let this go!"

Everyone glared at Ben, his forehead drenched in sweat.

Beth frowned. Maggie was too cunning. The waiter was clever, but his schemes were no match for hers.

"IIWhy would I slander someone I don't know?" Ben pleaded with Maggie.

[The final line "Send Gifts" is unrelated and removed.]