Chapter 30 Slaps and Claps
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The words hit Adeline like a dagger, yet her expression remained calm, not showing any turmoil. Only her coffee slightly, then quickly steadied.
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“Enough. Adeline finally spoke up. She slowly turned her head, her dark eyes piercing into Paige with a suffocating chill. “If you’re looking to start trouble, find another place. You’re not welcome here.”
Paige felt a chill at the base of her spine from that gaze but still tried to maintain her bravado, “What? Can’t I speak the truth. anymore? Or are you just too guilty to listen?”
“Smack–A crisp sound echoed through the coffee shop.
Everyone, including Paige, was stunned. She clutched her reddened check, looking incredulously at Adeline, “You… you dared to hit me?”
Adeline withdrew her hand, her expression icy, “That was the first slap, for your filthy mouth.”
Adeline!” A deep, angry voice came from the entrance.
Gavin strode into the coffee shop, his handsome face clouded with gloom, his hawk–like eyes fixed sternly on Adeline. He walked up to her, grabbed her slender wrist forcefully, ‘Apologize to Paige!”
Adeline looked up, meeting his gaze. Her eyes showed no retreat or fear, only a deep coldness and distance.
“Let go,” her voice was low, but carried an undeniable power.
Gavin’s brow furrowed, his grip tightening, “I said apologize!”
“I won’t apologize for something I’ve done.” Adeline scoffed coldly, “Rather, you should repent for everything you did three
years ago.”
His heart seemed to explode with her words. He flinched, releasing her momentarily before his demeanor hardened again, Three years ago was your fault, you brought it on yourself!”
“My fault?” Adeline slowly stood up, her gaze sharp as a knife aimed at him, “My fault was trusting the wrong people, believing that so–called family ties could outweigh personal interests, naively thinking I actually had a family!”
Gavin’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he couldn’t rebut.
He clenched his fists, his voice low, “Now is not the time to dwell on the past. I’m just asking you, will you apologize for today?”
“Impossible.” Adeline’s tone was resolute, “Even if it happened again, I would do the same.”
“Adeline… Michelle, who had been silently watching, suddenly spoke up. She crouched down, grabbing Adeline’s wrist with a pitiful and somewhat pleading tone, “Adeline, I know I’m sorry for what happened back then, but we are still family! Please, can’t we stop this fighting, please?”
The onlookers cast complicated looks, some murmuring,
“She seems quite sensible…
“It’s too humiliating to beg for mercy in such a situation…”
But they didn’t know, this was just one of Michelle’s usual tricks. As everyone watched, she looked up at Adeline with teary eyes, almost choking up.
“Adeline, if you think I’ve done something wrong, please tell me, I’ll change! But please don’t keep hurting the feelings of family…
11:19 AMI 다
Chapter 30 Slaps and Claps
“Are we done here?” she asked in a low voice, chilling to the bone, “Is the act over?”
Michelle froze, her eyes flashing panic before returning to her pitiful facade, “Adeline… how can you say that?”
+8 Pearls
“A family?” Adeline snorted. “From three years ago, I was no longer a part of the Layton family. If it weren’t for Grandma… do you think I would want to come back?”
This revelation shocked everyone, Gavin most of all. He jerked his head up to look at his sister–or rather, his former sister- her familiar yet estranged face filled with scorn and determination.
He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. Years of suppressed resentment, guilt, and conflict now enveloped him, making it hard to breathe.
Adeline’s face remained unemotional as she coldly looked at Gavin, pulling her wrist from his grip with a swift, clean motion. The air was thick with tension, as if a larger conflict might erupt at any moment.
“Gavin,” her voice was deep and icy, like a sharp dagger, “what right do you have to demand an apology?”
JGavin, fueled by her defiance, felt his chest heave violently. He stared at Adeline, his sharp eyes burning with uncontainable
fury, “Because I’m your brother, because of everything I’ve done for you!”