Chapter 19 Are You Going to Force Me?
78%
01:11:37
11 37
Finished
“It seems you’ve made up your mind, Mr. Landon,” Raymond said, his lips curling into a faint smirk as Benedict’s icy glare softened just a fraction.
Benedict let out a sharp exhale. “Let go.”
Raymond released his grip and stepped back, still wearing that infuriatingly calm smile. Benedict, however, stayed where he was, his gaze cold as he watched Francesca and Suzanna. He made no move to intervene.
Seeing Benedict’s lack of action, the others at the party exchanged uneasy glances. None of them dared to step in either.
Suzanna, clutching her face, looked to Benedict with wide, tearful eyes. “Benedict?” she whimpered, her voice trembling with hurt and disbelief. But when Francesca took a step closer, Suzanna flinched, panic overtaking her anger. “Francesca! What is wrong with you? Are you crazy?!”
Francesca bent down slightly, her eyes hard and unyielding. Her voice was low but carried a sharp edge. “You say I bullied you? Fine. If you want to play the victim, I might as well give you something real to cry about.”
“Don’t think you can intimidate me just because you have someone behind you!” Suzanna snapped, her voice breaking as she stumbled back toward Benedict, seeking safety.
“Watch closely this time!” Francesca grabbed Suzanna’s arm, yanked her back, and spun her around effortlessly. Before anyone could process what was happening, Francesca’s kick sent Suzanna flying into the fountain pool.
The sharp splash and Suzanna’s scream echoed across the courtyard. Soaked and humiliated, she sat in the water, too stunned and embarrassed to climb out.
The pool wasn’t deep, but falling in and being shoved in were two totally different experiences.
“Now there’s no need to check the cameras,” Francesca said, her voice calm and biting. “Everyone saw me push you this time.”
Her gaze lingered on Suzanna for a moment longer, her disdain unmistakable. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away. The crowd parted silently as she passed, too stunned to react.
With that, Francesca turned and strode away, her heels clicking against the stone path. As she passed the party’s organizer, she slowed. Her sharp, disdainful gaze locked onto him, and the man visibly shrank under the weight of it.
He looked anywhere but at her, his guilt practically written on his face. Francesca held her stare for a beat longer, then walked past him, leaving the party behind in a swirl of tension and shock.
Raymond sauntered up to the organizer with an easy grin and murmured, “You really managed to tick her off. Oh, and one small detail I forgot, her last name is Anderson.”
With that, he strolled off to catch up with Francesca, leaving the organizer standing there like a deer in headlights.
For a second, it didn’t click. Anderson? So what? Andersons are a dime a dozen. But then it hit him. That Anderson?!
1/2
12:41 Fri, 9 May Q.
78%
Chapter 19 Are You Going to Force Me?
01:07 79
Finished
The crowd noticed his reaction, and whispers rippled through the room. It was clear Suzanna’s story wasn’t holding up anymore, and the vibe shifted fast.
Benedict stood frozen, watching Francesca walk away with a look on his face like someone had just pulled the rug out from under him.
Francesca strutted toward the entrance, all confidence and poise, like she owned the place. Raymond was right on her heels, exuding calm authority. People instinctively parted to let her pass.
Behind her, there was the unmistakable sound of a splash. She didn’t even have to look back to know Benedict had jumped in to fish Suzanna out of the fountain.
Moments later, Suzanna was dragged out of the water, soaked and shivering. Benedict climbed out after her, but when she tried to lean into him for comfort, he shrugged her off and marched after Francesca instead.
“Benedict! Where are you going? I’m freezing!” Suzanna called after him, her voice shaking.
He ignored her completely, his focus locked on Francesca as she slid gracefully into a sleek Bugatti. Raymond was there, making sure her gown was in place and her legs were tucked in like she was royalty.
Benedict stepped forward to stop them just as Francesca turned her cool, amused gaze on him. “Mr. Landon,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “coming to speak for your fiancée?”
The word “fiancée” landed like a punch. Benedict’s brow furrowed. “If I’ve upset you, I’ll apologize. But you owe Suzanna an apology too.”
Francesca’s lips curled into a smirk. “And if I don’t? What are you going to do? Force me?” Raymond casually stepped closer, easing her back to his side. The effortless way he shielded her sent an even deeper chill through Benedict.
20
