Chapter 122
Krystal stepped back in fear, hiding behind Mr. Manning.
Mr. Manning had never let his daughter suffer such humiliation, especially in his presence. He immediately said, “Harold! Krystal is a young woman, and you are older than her. You should be considerate. How could you…”
Before Mr. Manning could finish, Harold laughed dismissively. “Are you teaching me how to behave?”
The onlookers wore expressions of amusement at the unfolding drama.
Only Harold’s elder brother, Gordon, had ever had any control over him, and no outsider had ever dared to preach to him.
Mr. Manning’s face fell as he said, “Regardless, I am still your elder!”
“You think you qualify as such?”
Harold showed no respect to Mr. Manning at all. In their circle, respect was only given to those more powerful. Mr. Manning, who merely ran a modest company making a few hundred thousand a month, would never have stepped foot in such elite circles if not for the invitation sent by Sophie.
“Mr. Harold! This woman is nothing but a gold-digger. How can you humiliate us for such a person? Our family owns a business, and this woman has no status whatsoever!”
At that moment, Krystal, bolstered by his father’s presence, started to cry.
Harold’s gaze grew even more menacing. “I said, if you utter those words again, I’ll make you regret it!”
Krystal was frozen by Harold’s intimidating look. She couldn’t understand why a gold-digger could provoke such fury from Harold. Jenna spoke icily, “Open your eyes! She is Sophie, the daughter of the Russell family. Do I need to spell out what that means?” Krystal was all too familiar with that name. Tina was also stunned. They had just seen the news about Sophie shopping with her husband.
The woman before them was actually Sophie!
“No, that can’t be! How could she be the daughter of the Russell family?” Krystal was in disbelief..
She thought she had found a loophole, “If she’s the Russell family daughter and already married, why would she flirt with someone else’s boyfriend? You think I’d believe such nonsense?”
“Exactly, if she is Mrs. Burke, shouldn’t she be here with Mr. Burke at such an event?”
Tina also refused to believe that the woman before them was Sophie. This completely overturned their understanding.
“What is all this noise?” Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the commotion.
Sophie turned to see a man in a wheelchair, frail, wearing only a white shirt. His features were delicate, yet his eyes were icy, and the family crest on his chest confirmed his identity.
It was Gordon, the current head of the Aldridge family.
“Gordon. Harold stood aside when he saw Gordon.
“Mr. Gordon, I’ve long heard of your reputation!”
Mr. Manning had never dreamed he’d meet Gordon, and Mr. Gerber beside him rubbed his hands in anticipation of a handshake. Gordon didn’t even glance their way, his tone mild yet chilling, “How dare you make a scene here. Harold, see them out”
“Yes.”
Harold coldly told Krystal and Tina’s families, “Leave now!”
Krystal’s expression shifted, “Mr. Harold, we were invited by you, and we’ve just arrived. Why are we being asked to leave? What kind of hospitality is this?!”