Chapter 5 Rosalie’s Stubbornness
The banquet hall fell dead silent again. Everyone exchanged glances, then turned to stare at Rosalie.
Dominik’s face went pale, the corner of his eye twitching wildly. “Rosalie, what are you doing?”
Rosalie lifted her chin slightly, voice calm. “Shouldn’t she apologize for cursing and shoving me?”
Dominik froze, just in time to catch a flicker of guilt cross Tianna’s face. He roughly pieced together what had happened.
Though irritated that his niece had caused a scene, he was even more annoyed by Rosalie’s stubbornness.
He thought, ‘She was picked up from the countryside—no manners at all. With everyone watching, can’t she just let it go?
‘My Meissen vase worth about 400 thousand dollars was smashed, and I’m letting it go. Why can’t she let go of a few harsh words?’
Taking a deep breath, Dominik forced a patient smile. “Rosalie, your cousin was just joking. Don’t take it seriously.”
At that, Rosalie tilted her head to look at him. Phoebe had said something similar just now.
A faint scoff echoed in her mind. She thought, ‘Are we really daughter and father?’
“I didn’t even know her when she began to ‘joke’. And I wasn’t aware joking involved cursing people,” Rosalie said. She paused. “So this is acceptable behavior?
Dominik’s eyelids twitched at her words.
Guests gaped at Rosalie’s bluntness. Even those who’d gossiped about Rosalie earlier shrank back slightly.
Kareem, silent until now, couldn’t hold back a laugh.
He laughed for a moment, the sound echoing in the silent hall. When he noticed everyone staring, he explained, “Mr. Spencer, your daughter’s words are more enlightening than any classic text.”
Dominik’s face turned livid, cheek muscles twitching uncontrollably.
After a long pause, he exhaled sharply and wheeled on Tianna, voice tight, “Tianna. Come over. Apologize. Now.”
Tianna gaped in disbelief. “Dominik, so this bitch is a part of the Spencer family now? She has no manners! She even incited an outsider to break your precious Meissen vase, and you didn’t make them pay. Why should I apologize? I did nothing wrong!”
“Don’t you remember you tried to blackmail me?” The man leaning against the shelf finally spoke again.
Under everyone’s stare, he pulled a checkbook and pen from his suit pocket, scribbled a signature, then tore out the check and stuffed it into Dominik’s collar.
Dominik’s eyes fixed on the name “Hayden” written on the check, too astonished to respond.
Kareem chuckled again, this time with obvious gloating.
“Hay, I was wondering where you’d gone to. So you sneaked in early, had fun with this lady, and even broke a vase?”
The moment he said that, the hall went deathly still.
Only one person in Webston would be addressed so familiarly by Kareem. That was Hayden Merritt.
The Merritt family stood as the paramount of Coranburg’s four renowned clans, their influence surpassing the simplistic label of “wealthy family”.
Through fluctuating annual wealth rankings, only the Merritt family, holders of the top position for over a decade, remained unshakable.
In every layer of society, the Merritt family perch unrivaled at the pyramid’s apex.
Hayden’s notoriety was legendary. With a cold visage, ruthless demeanor, and thunderous methods, even within the Merritt family, none dared disrespect him.
Such a figure actually visited Webston and appeared at the Spencer’s mansion…
Dominik finally recognized Hayden, his complexion draining to ashen.
He wished he could fling his idiotic niece out the door.
Dominik thought, ‘How dare she accuse Mr. Merritt? Blackmailing Mr. Merritt, now she gets herself into real trouble.’
