With such malicious intent, Sansa charged at Marissa like a hungry wolf. Those around Marissa stepped back, fearing they might get caught in the fight. Marissa stood her ground, watching Sansa approach with a slight smile. If she were to kick and break Sansa’s ribs, it would be considered legal self-defense, right?
As Marissa pondered this and subtly positioned her feet for a kick, Sansa was suddenly sent flying. Marissa turned to see Connor had appeared beside her and had kicked Sansa away
“Ah!” Sansa’s scream echoed as she was propelled ten feet and crashed to the floor. The crowd was stunned, not by Sansa being kicked, but by Connor’s sudden intervention
Standing tall at 6.2 feet, Connor exuded a commanding presence. His mere presence seemed to silence the hall with its implicit authority. The exhibition hall went quiet
Arabella, tugging at Connor’s sleeve, gave him a thumbs-up and whispered, “Well done, Connor. You have to keep protecting your wife like this!”
Hard of hearing, she thought she was speaking softly, but her words were heard by all
Connor replied with a smile, “Okay, Grandma.”
The previously tense atmosphere lightened slightly. Many women glanced at Marissa with envy; she had a wealthy husband and a family that openly supported her
Meanwhile, Marissa, feeling a bit self-conscious, brushed her hair from her forehead. She hadn’t watched enough of Sansa and Ayla’s humiliation yet. Why had she suddenly become the focal point?
Landen leaned in and asked quietly, “Didn’t everyone say Connor disliked you? Why did he come to your defense like this today?”
“After all, I am his wife. If I were attacked in public, it would reflect poorly on him,” Marissa replied nonchalantly
“You’re right.” Landen nodded
At that moment, Balthasar snapped back to reality. He lifted his cane and tapped Sansa firmly on the head. “Go home now!” After that, he hurled the fake D Pill of MindEase Elixir at Ayla. “You should leave this place immediately. You’re an embarrassment!”
Despite the pain from the impact, Ayla was too eager to escape the scene to care. She quickly got up, her hair a mess, and started to make her exit
“Wait!” Ferris called out abruptly
Ayla stopped, turning to face Ferris with a look of dread. She was uncertain of the further consequences she might face
Ferris smiled and said, “Miss Ayla Nash, this isn’t over yet. You can’t just leave.”
“What else do you want from me?” Ayla asked, her voice shaking
“I don’t want anything, but you broke the law,” Ferris said loudly. “You’ve been spreading rumors claiming Dr. Riss agreed to take you on as her apprentice. Additionally, you claimed Dr. Riss sold the counterfeit pill to you at a discount. These actions have severely damaged Dr. Riss’s reputation. We suspect that you, Miss Ayla Nash, have been involved in the creation and distribution of counterfeit drugs under Riss’s name, tarnishing her image. We’ve notified the police, and they’ll be arriving shortly. Please remain here for the investigation.”
Just as Ferris finished speaking, a piercing scream erupted from the crowd. “Ah!”
Ayla suddenly lost control, her hands clutching her hair as she screamed without restraint. Only moments before, she had radiated pride, basking in the flattery and compliments as Dr. Riss’s prospective disciple. Now, she resembled a madwoman, tearing at her hair and scratching her face until it bled
A woman often considers her face the most prized feature, yet Ayla appeared oblivious to the crimson marks disfiguring her face. The fall from grace into utter disgrace was a burden too heavy for many to bear. Ayla understood the grave implications if Riss’s team accused her of peddling counterfeit medicine. Buying medicine from the black market was illegal to begin with, and with no proof of her purchase, she couldn’t trace the seller or explain the origin of the counterfeit D Pill of MindEase Elixir. It would be presumed she had crafted it herself. Were it a lesser drug, the consequences might not be as severe. Yet, her involvement with the D Pill of MindEase Elixir, a product worth tens of millions and linked to the influential Riss, magnified the stakes. A charge from Riss’s team would shatter her life
Ayla’s outburst threw the hall into chaos. Organizers, striving to restore order, quickly summoned security. It required several guards to subdue her. Even as she was restrained on the floor, Ayla continued unabated, gasping and alternating between laughter and curses, stunning the onlookers
Marissa observed the scene with detached coldness. After a brief pause, she gave Ferris a nod. Taking her cue, Ferris approached Ayla and looked down at her with a mocking smirk. “Miss Ayla Nash, you must face the consequences if you’ve broken the law. Feigning madness will not aid your cause.”
Feigning?
The crowd gaped at Ayla, who abruptly ceased her antics. Ayla had not anticipated Ferris’s relentless pursuit even in her current sorry state
“Oh dear, that truly frightened me,” someone murmured. “I thought she had lost her mind, but it seems it was all an act. How astonishing!”
“To commit such bold crimes and then feign insanity upon capture, she discards even the basic dignity of a person. It’s clear now, her noble air was merely a facade!”
“And what of the Nash family? They chose her as their representative. Clearly, they are bereft of reputable members. The prestigious medical legacy established by Dr. Brian Nash is nearly destroyed by their actions. They seem capable of nothing but underhanded schemes.”
“It might be best for the Nash family to simply leave Blebert. Staying here, they face nothing but daily ridicule. What a disgrace!”
As the crowd’s jeers continued, each word seemed to strike the Nash family like a physical blow. Balthasar trembled with rage, and the rest of the Nash family members turned pale, wishing for a place to vanish. Their earlier grandeur had now flipped into excruciating humiliation. They all wished they could tear Ayla apart for bringing such shame upon them. As the family endured the public’s scorn, they shrank back. Even Rex, the head of the family, furrowed his brows in silence
Only Landen stepped forward, raising his voice to address the crowd. “Yes, our family has produced two disgraceful members, making us the butt of jokes. We will address these issues internally,” Landen declared. “I ask that you do not judge our entire family by these failures. Led by my uncle, Dr. Brian Nash, our family was once at the forefront of Blebert’s medical community. Despite recent setbacks, we remain committed to his legacy and to making meaningful contributions to medicine.”
As he spoke, Landen’s sharp gaze swept over the crowd. “We will not shield anyone who tarnishes our family’s name. Justice will take its course. Should anyone attempt to smear the Nash family over this incident, they will face my wrath!”
“Clap! Clap! Clap!” Promptly, someone began clapping vigorously for Landen, endorsing his firm stance
Landen was young and not a core member of the Nash family. Moreover, he hadn’t made any notable achievements in the medical field, so no one took him seriously. This unassuming figure suddenly stepped up, making everyone feel a bit ridiculous. However, many had to admit that Landen’s eyes had been full of a terrifying determination. Those who wanted to ridicule him held back their words. After he finished speaking, the hall fell unusually quiet. Then, applause broke the silence, capturing everyone’s attention. They traced the sound to find Marissa applauding by herself
If it had been Connor clapping, everyone would have taken it seriously. But Marissa’s applause left people feeling ambivalent. Everyone knew her as a failure, yet she was married to Connor, the wealthiest man in the city, who did not care for her. Marissa was a contradictory and complex woman, and no one quite knew how to react to her behavior
Of course, Marissa didn’t care about what others thought. She applauded with genuine enthusiasm. She saw Landen as courageous and responsible, a man with promise
Landen, too, was indifferent to others’ opinions. Seeing Marissa applaud for him, he smiled at her and said, “Don’t worry. The Nash family won’t fall. You will always have us as your backer.” With a faint smile, Marissa turned to Rex and said, “Uncle Rex, as the leader of the Nash family, you chose to remain silent when the family is facing trouble because of your daughter. It seems you should relinquish your position.” Rex bowed his head in guilt. But Sansa, who had been silent on the floor for a while, suddenly reacted
Hearing Marissa’s words, she stood up abruptly, pointed at Marissa, and snapped, “Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to the head of the Nash family in that manner? Don’t forget, you are no longer a member of the Nash family!”
“Oh, right,” Marissa nodded, her smile unwavering. “I forgot I’m no longer a member of the Nash family. Well, let me share my thoughts as an outsider. The Nash family is a spectacle. The leader and his wife have failed to educate their daughter, turning the whole family into a laughingstock. In times of crisis, the head’s wife throws tantrums while the head behaves like a coward. It’s quite a sight. But there’s still hope for the Nash family. This young man, Landen Nash, is brave, smart, and responsible. He’s also handsome, presenting a good image. He’s promising. It might be better to let him lead the family.”
Landen touched his nose awkwardly, unaccustomed to such praise. “Bah!” Sansa scoffed, lacking any grace. She pointed at Marissa and spat, “Keep your schemes to yourself. You think you can snatch the position of the family head? You’re dreaming!”
She glanced at Ayla, who lay subdued on the floor, and clenched her teeth in frustration. “I’m in my forties and can still bear another child. A useless man like Landen will never lead this family!”
Marissa looked at Sansa’s belly and laughed ironically. “Mrs. Nash, even if you have another baby now, it will take twenty years to raise them. I’m afraid the Nash family will go bankrupt before your second child grows up. By then, everyone in the family will be homeless.”
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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