A furious blush bloomed on Emilia's cheeks when her eyes were suddenly covered.
"A-Andras?"
"Don't look." Mimi looked up at the obscene video on screen with chilly, unfeeling eyes.
Mimi's gaze along with everyone else turned to look at the Hirogori family. The moment the video appeared, Henry Hirogori, who had been silent the entire night, slammed his palms against the table. From the flared nostrils and clenched jaw, it was clear he was furious.
"Turn it off. Now!" He demanded in a sharp, collected tone.
The employees working backstage couldn't bear the pressure and started trembling uncontrollably. They quickly tried turning off the screen but found they were unable to.
The sounds from the video continued to sound throughout the restaurant.
"Just like that Seth, harder!"
"You like that? It feels better than my old man's, doesn't it?"
"Mmm, yes! Faster!"
Everyone at the point was beyond mortified. Couples who attended the event covered their partner's eyes or abruptly stood up to leave.
Standing on stage, Lee Odo turned to the employees struggling to turn it off and looked at them with a warning stare.
"Why isn't it turning off?"
"I-I don't know! Nothing's working!" The employee stammered, nearly to tears.
Just as Lee Odo was about to try to calm the employee down, a cold voice interrupted.
"Let me."
As if he didn't see the lewd video on the screen or hear the loud moans, Tobias walked over to the employee and took the laptop in their hand.Glancing over the screen with a serious gaze, Tobias typed in a few things. In less than a second, the video was turned off.
Lee Odo released a heavy sigh and patted Tobias on the back.
"Thank you."
Tobias sounded a hum in response before returning to his seat.
The moment that Henry Hirogori's gaze fell upon Lillian, her body started trembling uncontrollably. She pulled on her dress sleeve, her eyes wide and her gaze fixed upon him.
"D-Dear, that video was obviously—"
In a deep voice, Henry Hirogori cut her off coldly, "We'll discuss this at home."
Flinching in her seat, Lillian quickly lowered her pale face. Meanwhile, Seth wasn't doing any better himself. Under his father's gaze, his head shrunk even lower. Henry Hirogori didn't continue speaking and simply stared.
"We're leaving." Henry Hirogori stood up from his seat and walked away.
Kenji followed behind him with a grim and brooding expression on his face. Standing up from his seat, Shen Jue remained expressionless as if the incident had nothing to do with him. His eyes glanced around and briefly skimmed on Mimi before turning away.
"Henry, I apologize. I don't know how that happened." Lee Odo approached the man.
Henry Hirogori gave Lee Odo a brief, disdainful glance.
"I have no interest in hearing your apology. Whether this was your doing or not, you lacked the ability and the power to manage it. I will be investigating this."
After that, Henry Hirogori left the pale-faced Lee Odo standing in shock. Before leaving, Alec stole a glimpse at Mimi. From his dim eyes and the bitter frown on his face, it was clear how he felt.
He was beyond disappointed in her.
Mimi watched the Hirogori family leave in silence. Her eyes drifted to Lee Odo whose rosy, bright complexion was now pale. A few people came up to sit him down as he wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
Mimi's eyes flickered, although she tried her best not to be fearful, she could not control her body's light trembling.
What has she done?...
At the Hirogori Mansion.
The moment they left the restaurant, a cold chill ran down the spine of everyone present. Throughout the entire ride, no one spoke. When they arrived at the mansion, Henry Hirogori was the first to exit the car.
"Dear, wait!" Lillian struggled to get herself out of the car and hurriedly followed behind.
Inside, Henry Hirogori finally stopped in his tracks, allowing Lillian to catch up.
"Henry, dear please—"
Smack—!
The slap was as loud as a clap and stung her face. It had been an open-handed smack and it had left a red welt behind. Just below her eye was a small cut where the ring on his hand cut her. She staggered backward, clutching her face, eyes watering.
"Dad!" Seth was in shock and quickly marched over to Lillian's side, but suddenly a fist was slammed into his face.
Blood pooled in his mouth as he hit the floor and coughed. Lillian screamed in terror but instantly covered her mouth upon receiving her husband's bone-chilling glare.
"Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think I don't know what goes on around my own people?"
His words were just like a bucket of cold water that was splashed onto Lillian and Seth's bodies, which also made them wake up completely.
How could the man not know? With all the connections he had, there was no way a measly affair could escape his eyes.
Not allowing them the chance to speak, Henry walked over to Seth lying on the floor and elevated his foot to kick him in the stomach. Seth gagged and covered his stomach, groaning in pain.
"I don't care if the two of you are fucking behind my back. Hell, you could do it in front of me for all I care." His eye grew colder each word he spoke. "However, I do care that you keep it discreet. That's all you had to do. Yet, instead..."
"Aghhh!" Seth groaned loudly as his father stepped on his fingers.
"Instead, you were seen by someone, let them share it with the public and seen by numerous figures in the industry. While I have the power to dispose of it, do you understand the stain this has left on our family reputation?"
By now, Seth was groaning and sobbing on the floor.
"D-Dad, I'm s-sorry."
Henry Hirogori raised his eyebrows in ridicule as he looked down at Seth, a sneer on his face.
"A scum son like yourself exists for one purpose and one purpose only—to be discriminated against. This is the only reason you are still permitted to live. If not for that, I would have thrown you out on the streets to die like the scum and wastes before you."
Turning away, he left with a scoff. "Pathetic."
Passing by the now pale-faced Lillian, Henry walked up to his office, not before calling for Kenji and Shen Jue. The two men followed behind expressionlessly, not even glancing at the groaning Seth on the floor.
When Henry Hirogori was no longer present, Lillian felt her trembling legs weaken as she collapsed on the floor. Before she could hit the ground, she was held up by a pair of arms. Stunned, she looked up to see Alec was holding her up.
"Alec..." She called out in a tender, affectionate voice.
His eyes flashed with disgust and contempt as he stepped back and summoned a nearby maid. "Let them treat your cut and fix you up."
Shocked for a moment, Lillian quietly nodded and followed the maid. Alec let out a sigh and walked over to Seth. The moment their father voiced his words, Seth had been silent. With his head lowered to the ground, Alec could not see his expression.
However, from the slight trembling in his shoulders, it was clear he was either angry or crying. Truthfully, Alec hoped he wasn't crying. He wouldn't know how to deal with him.
"Come on, get up." Alec reached to help him stand.
To his surprise, Seth did not struggle or refuse his help. Alec helped Seth stand up and sighed.
"Don't think too much. Go upstairs and rest, maybe get yourself together a bit." Alec pats him on the shoulder.
When he glanced at Seth's expression, he was stunned to see his expression empty.
"Hey..." Alec frowned and reached for his shoulder, but this time, Seth dodged him.
"I'm fine." He muttered.
Before Alec could speak, Seth was already walking away down the hall. Alec watched him with a complicated stare and let out a heavy sigh.
Mimi, what have you done?