“Miss Woods, your generosity is boundless. We fall far short in comparison!”
“Miss Woods doesn’t even bother letting someone like Rose stain her feathers. It’s a kind of mercy and compassion, really.”
“Exactly! If we dig deeper, that woman couldn’t even touch the edge of Slatin’s world. If she knew, wouldn’t she be in tears of gratitude?”
In the private room, everyone praised Layla’s magnanimity. Flynn, however, snorted coldly, turned, and walked away.
“Such a big deal? How boring! Where do you even get your confidence?”
Layla glanced at Flynn, then calmly sat down. Her words had been delivered. Even if Slatin’s elite continued to make things difficult for Rose, it was no longer her concern.
Madeline chimed in, seizing the moment. “Miss Woods truly has an extraordinary temperament, comparable to Mr. Clark’s.”
“Let bygones be bygones, no hard feelings.”
“Take earlier, for instance. The woman with Flynn, Aunt Mabel, is my father’s old college friend…”
Madeline recounted the earlier events, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
Did Mr. Clark actually forgive the Duffy family?
She even wanted Mr. Ambrose to call Chase to ask for a job for Mia?
“Madeline, who the hell do you think you are? Do you even know?”
“Climbing up a sycamore doesn’t make you a phoenix. You’re still a country hen! And you’re here speaking up for the Duffy family? What gives you the right?”
“Get this straight, if it weren’t for us wanting to hear about Lord Valerian Nox’s miracles, you wouldn’t have even been allowed here. Country bumpkin, you’re not even as good as our maids!”
The crowd turned on Madeline, especially a group of wealthy young women whose voices were the loudest.
They were closer to Layla, and Madeline’s revelation of Layla’s secret had already made her unpopular. Now, speaking up for the Duffy family only made things worse.
The Duffy family was a public enemy. Years ago, if they hadn’t helped Adrianna and her son, countless families could have profited from the medical book. This wasn’t just the Clark family’s grievance-other families were involved too!
Madeline’s call to Paxton had already angered everyone. Now, she wanted to help Mia find a job? How shameless!
“No, I… I…” Madeline’s face turned pale, and she stammered helplessly.
She hadn’t expected such an intense reaction. The insults rained down like slaps, leaving her humiliated and in tears.
Madeline had thought she’d been accepted, that she’d been embraced as part of Slatin’s upper circle. She never imagined that in their eyes, she was beneath even their servants.
The barrage of insults shattered her illusions, forcing her to confront the harsh reality.
“Enough! You’re all people of status. Why are you acting like fishwives? Whose face are you losing here?”
“Wayne, help Madeline ask. Yes or no. Just get an answer!” Layla’s face darkened.
She had promised Madeline before that she would help Braiden Swanson pay back the two hundred million if the business war succeeded. Although that hadn’t been achieved, she could at least say a few words on Madeline’s behalf.
Wayne, seeing Layla speak up, quickly reassured her. “Madeline, don’t cry. I’ll make a call.”
He dialed Chase Landford.
“What?” Chase’s voice was impatient on the other end.
The Langford family had already gathered their entire clan, and over ten thousand subordinates had come together. Carter Landford had sent people to the Duffy family to ask about Flynn’s whereabouts, but the word was that no one was home! This had Carter in a frenzy.
“Mr. Landford, have you sobered up?”
“Cut the crap and get to the point!”
“Alright, alright!” Wayne shrank back and quickly explained, “Mr. Landford, it’s like this. Madeline, the one who drove you home yesterday, ran into the Duffy family at the Four Seasons Hotel.”
“You’re with the Duffy family?!” Chase Landford roared.
Finally! They’d found them!
“Yes, yes!” Wayne responded hastily but clarified, “No, we’re not with them. We’re in the Purple Rose private room, and they’re in the Phoenix room across the way.”
“Everyone knows the Duffy family is taboo! How could we possibly invite them to dinner?”
“It’s Flynn who invited the Duffy family, that disowned brat from the Clark family. We ran into him outside your house last night.”
Thinking Chase was angry, Wayne hurried to explain.
“Also, don’t get mad yet. Mr. Clark has already forgiven the Duffy family.”
“Madeline has some family ties with them and wanted me to ask if Mia could work at Golden Crest Imports.” Wayne asked cautiously.
“Work at Golden Crest Imports? Sure! Sure! Absolutely!” Chase Landford agreed immediately.
He couldn’t be more willing! Forget a job-he’d hand over Golden Crest Imports to Mia if it meant forgiveness!
Without waiting for Wayne to finish his thanks, Chase hung up abruptly.
“Mr. Landford agreed?” Madeline asked in disbelief, her face lighting up with joy.
Wayne smiled. “Mr. Landford and I have been friends for over ten years. Mr. Clark forgave the Duffy family, so naturally, he’d do me this favor.”
Taking credit for the favor, Wayne hoped to win Madeline’s loyalty.
“Thank you, Mr. Ambrose.” Madeline expressed her gratitude, though deep down, she had other thoughts.
Yesterday, during the drive home in Chase’s sports car, she’d noticed how often his eyes strayed to her legs.
She’d been wearing tight jeans. Did Chase like that look?
Surely, his agreement had something to do with her.
Madeline hurried to the Phoenix room.
“Aunt Mabel, Mr. Landford agreed because of me! If you don’t believe it, Mia can go to Golden Crest Imports tomorrow!” Madeline said proudly.
Those wealthy women who had insulted her earlier must have been jealous of her looks!
No matter. She couldn’t please everyone. As long as Mr. Landford and Mr. Ambrose liked her, that was enough. Their insults would only make her stronger!
“What? Mr. Landford… agreed?” Mia was stunned.
“Thank you, Madeline. Thank you…”
Mia felt like she was dreaming. Madeline had not only convinced the Clark family to forgive the Duffy family but also secured Chase Landford’s agreement.
Now, this was someone who got things done!
Compared to Flynn, Madeline seemed far more reliable.
“Look at Madeline. She acts immediately when she says she’ll help. That Flynn just brags!” James snorted.
“Thank you, Madeline,” Mabel said with a forced smile, then asked, “Have you seen Flynn? He was here a moment ago, but now he’s gone.”
The Langford family’s agreement should have been cause for celebration, yet Mabel felt no joy.
The Clark family’s charity was humiliating. But faced with reality, they had no choice but to bow their heads. It felt awful.
“He might have gone downstairs,” Madeline replied uncertainly.
Mabel frowned. “James, could Flynn have gone to buy you more wine?”
She remembered Flynn pouring wine earlier, and James praised its taste. Flynn had immediately left the room.
That boy must have gone to fetch more.
“So what if he did? He couldn’t even get Mia a job at Golden Crest Imports. What’s the harm in fetching wine? Is it beneath him?” James retorted irritably.
“No! He shouldn’t waste his money like that!” Mabel left the room at once.
As she passed the Purple Rose room, Brody Brightmoon’s eyes gleamed with malice. He whispered something to a nearby rich heir, and the two men quickly followed after her.
When Mabel reached the restroom, Brody suddenly grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth and dragging her inside. The door slammed shut.
He intended to taste this “ripe peach” right there.
The other man stood guard at the door, driving away anyone who approached.