A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

“You think this is funny?”

Mia couldn’t believe the nonchalant expression plastered on Matilda’s face. How could this woman’s heart be so cold? Was she not ashamed? She was being humiliated in front of everyone!

But why did it feel like the more she tried to anger Matilda, the more she felt like the one being insulted?

Mia clenched her fists, her gaze falling to Matilda’s hand resting on the table, the little finger tragically cut off at the knuckle. The sight made everyone wonder just how much more Matilda could take.

They were supposed to be laughing at her, yet it felt like they were also mocking themselves…

Grinding her teeth, Mia stepped forward and stomped down hard on the back of Matilda’s hand! “Ugh!”

“Mia!” Yvan’s eyes shrank in shock, “Get off her!”

“Stop it!”

A woman’s voice joined Yvan’s from the doorway. Chloe was stunned as she walked in. She had only stepped out for a moment to see Mr. Yeager off; how had things turned so sour in her absence?

Seeing Matilda pinned to the floor. Chloe felt a pang of sympathy. She shoved Mia aside and, without another word, slapped her across the face.

Struck for the second time. Mia clutched her cheek and staggered back, looking incredulously at the returning Chloe.

“You hit me?”

“Yeah, I hit you. You think I need to schedule an appointment?”

In full view of everyone, Chloe helped Matilda to her feet. Matilda was unsteady, pale–faced, but smiling at Chloe. “What are you doing here?” From NôvelDrama.Org.

“I just dropped Mr. Yeager downstairs. What about you?” Chloe wiped the spilled wine from Matilda’s face with a napkin, then turned to the onlookers, “What’s this all about? Has Matilda committed murder or arson that you’re all ganging up on her? Don’t you have any conscience?”

Adrian felt a stab of guilt at Chloe’s words and retorted reflexively, “Does a woman like her deserve our pity?”

“It’s not like Matilda is dying for your pity!” Chloe’s eyes reddened. Ignoring Adrian, she turned to Mia. “That slap was just a taste of what you deserve! Being used as a pawn, and you don’t

even see it. Ella is the one Yvan truly cares for. You’re sleeping with the same man and fighting her battles; talk about sisterly love!”

Mia’s face drained of color, disbelief turning her gaze toward Ella. Ella had told her she was just Yvan’s sister, so she hadn’t targeted her.

Ella’s pitiful facade was slipping, and she cursed Chloe silently for Interfering. But Chloe didn’t care; she had Mr. Yeager’s backing, and even Yvan wouldn’t dare touch her.

Thus, Chloe helped her friend stand, only for Matilda to shrug her off and steady herself. Her slender silhouette seemed like a mere shadow, swaying as if about to fall, but at the last second, she would always find the strength to stand tall.

Matilda locked eyes with Yvan; in them. Yvan could see a world crumbling, a fierce defiance.

She stood tall before everyone, her presence so commanding it took their breath away.

They held their breath, waiting for her retaliation.

But she just smiled. Merely smiled, turning all their insults into a joke so dismissively light. As she turned away, without a word, they felt an inexplicable pain…

When Matilda disappeared from view, her cold smirk lingered, wounding them long after she

was gone.

In the glitzy, sordid world of high society, her smile had made captives of all the men in the

room.