She glanced at Eric, who was staring at Khloe with a faraway look in his eyes, and remarked, “Are you regretting it now? I warned you back then-Khloe’s mother had intelligence and talent. Even if her daughter had a few rough edges, she would’ve made a great match. Marrying her would’ve given you invaluable support, but you were too worried about your image.”
Claire sighed, her tone heavy with regret.
At the time, Eric had been too hung up on a few scandalous photos, and with Sloane stirring the pot, he’d never bothered to reach out to Khloe.
Now, even if he wished to make things right, it was already too late.
“Mom, enough,” Eric muttered, his face tightening with irritation. He exhaled slowly, trying to calm the mix of emotions stirring within him, and steeled himself to approach Khloe.
At the same moment, Sloane noticed Eric preparing to move toward Khloe and felt a pang of anxiety.
She had caught the look of infatuation on his face when Khloe appeared, and her jealousy flared.
No way. She couldn’t let Khloe outshine her.
With calculated intent, Sloane angled her body to stay out of view and, hidden from the camera and onlookers, reached for the diamond necklace draped around Khloe’s neck.
The necklace, though breathtaking, was fragile, held together by delicate silver threads.
If Sloane managed to yank it, she could destroy the necklace, which was a gift from Henrik.
Khloe wouldn’t let Sloane destroy it.
Sloane was hoping to provoke her into a reaction, to stir up a scene, and Khloe was more than willing to oblige.
A cold fury flickered in Khloe’s eyes as she quickly raised her hand, striking Sloane with a sharp slap across the face.
The sound of a sharp slap rang out, cutting through the silence of the banquet hall.
No one had anticipated that, especially with the live stream rolling, Khloe would slap Sloane in front of everyone.
Sloane pressed her hand to her stinging cheek, her eyes filling with tears. She staggered back, looking at Khloe with a pitiful expression.
“Khloe, I get it, you don’t like me, but it was just a small disagreement. You’re overreacting!”
Her voice was laced with faux hurt, but her eyes gleamed with a wicked satisfaction.
“A small disagreement?” Khloe couldn’t help but laugh.
Before Sloane could even react, Khloe’s high heel shot forward, the sharp point slamming into Sloane’s stomach with surprising force.
Sloane never saw the kick coming. She screamed in pain as she crashed to the floor, the banquet table toppling over with a crash, spilling cakes and drinks everywhere. Cakes and drinks drenched her, turning her into a soggy, pitiful mess, her disgrace complete.
Khloe had completely destroyed Sloane’s perfectly done hair and makeup, and now all eyes were on her, leaving her humiliation fully exposed.
Sloane lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the floor, her whole body shaking with barely contained rage.
Sloane seethed with rage, wishing she could end Khloe in that very moment.
The venomous curses echoed in her mind, but after a pause, she summoned what little strength she had left to lift her head, her face a picture of wounded frustration as she looked at Eric.
“Eric…”
“Khloe, you’ve crossed the line!” Eric shouted angrily and stepped protectively in front of Sloane as he helped her regain her balance. “You came here as a guest, Khloe, to my father’s birthday party, and I tried to be respectful, but now I see you’re completely out of control. Attacking Sloane like this in front of everyone is beyond outrageous. I’m giving you one chance-apologize to her right now!”
Claire quickly intervened, her voice calm but firm. “Eric, be careful what you say. Khloe is still a guest at this event.” With forced politeness, she turned to Khloe, saying, “Khloe, you really should apologize to Sloane. There are so many people watching, and with the live stream going, it wouldn’t look good for your reputation if this becomes public.”
Despite Eric’s sharp rebuke, Claire’s polite plea, and the stunned faces of the guests, Khloe did the unexpected-she burst out laughing. “Sloane, that act of yours, playing the sweet little angel, is getting old. I’m so over it.”
“How can she say that? She’s the one who struck Sloane in front of everyone!”
“Khloe is ruthless! Is anyone going to stop her?”
“Khloe’s lost it! Hitting someone like that in public-does she have a death wish?”
The live stream was flooded with outrage as viewers unleashed a barrage of insults at Khloe.
In the eerily quiet banquet hall, Lorraine stormed over, her eyes narrowing as she saw Sloane in a miserable state. She raised her hand, aiming a slap at Khloe. “You’re asking for this, bitch!”
With lightning speed, Khloe tilted her head just enough to dodge Lorraine’s slap.
Her gaze turned icy and calculating as she looked at Lorraine, her eyes as cold as the darkest depths of an abyss. “Lorraine, you shameless home-wrecker, how dare you try to strike me here? Have you actually convinced yourself that you’re the lady of the Evans family after all these years of stealing someone else’s place?”
The guests stood frozen in shock, their expressions a mix of disbelief and confusion.
“Khloe! Have you lost your mind?” Eric exploded in rage. He jumped up to his feet and reached out to grab Khloe’s arm. “Apologize to Sloane. Now! If you don’t, there will be consequences!”
Sloane’s voice wavered, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Eric, I’m okay. Please, don’t be so hard on Khloe. Maybe she’s just having a rough day.” She reached out and tugged at Eric’s sleeve, her expression gentle, filled with empathy and concern.
Khloe’s back stiffened as she met Sloane’s gaze with a chilling, icy glare. “Sloane, stop pretending. It disgusts me just looking at you.” Her gaze was so sharp that it made Sloane’s heart skip a beat.
“And you, Eric Watson,” Khloe spat, her voice seething with contempt as she turned her icy eyes on the pair. “Are you blind? How can you not see it? Do you have no idea how she wormed her way into your life? Her mother tricked her way into my family, and now she’s wearing my identity like a mask pretending to be some noble lady, while underneath, she’s nothing more than a shallow, materialistic liar. She plays the victim while scheming behind closed doors. And you treat her like a princess. It’s pathetic! And now you want me to apologize when she’s the one who framed me? Are you out of your damn mind?”
Sloane’s face drained of color, tears streaking down her cheeks as her body trembled, overwhelmed by the force of Khloe’s accusations. “Khloe, how can you say such things? What have I ever done to deserve this?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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