Tsubaki paused at the stairs, looking behind her as the sound of slapping faded. Her eyes landed at a corner. There was one woman dressed in a luxurious gown, facing another woman who wore a helper's uniform. The expression on the noble lady's face was full of contempt while the poor helper just lowered her head, one of her hands covering her cheek.
"How dare you to dirty my dress with the wine? Don't you know how much this dress cost?" The woman in the pink dress scolded the helper.
"I'm sorry... miss..."
Tsubaki knitted her brows. The woman in pink was clearly reciting lines she had always heard from the soap operas from the TV. Did she think this was a drama shooting? How could she easily slap someone for only dirtying her dress?
"Madam..." Old Yuuzo who also noticed the incident took a look at Tsubaki. He looked worriedly at her and the helper who was still in the predicament.
"It's okay, Old Yuuzo," Tsubaki smiled as she understood his intention. "It's just right for me to handle it. Please tell Grandma I'd be a bit late."
"Understood, Madam." The old butler bowed to her. Before he left, he added, "I believe you know how to resolve the situation according to our values."
"Okay!"
Tsubaki waved him off and quickly went to the corner. The woman was still scolding the helper and even though they were in a secluded corner, they still attracted the attention of the nearby guests due to the shoutings.
"Where's your supervisor? We should deal with this swiftly!" The woman in pink crossed her arms and looked scornfully at the helper. Her beautiful face contorted due to anger, making her appeared scary. "How could a peasant like you work in this household? You sure have no manners!"
"I'm sorry... Miss... I didn't intend to... it's because of you suddenly..." The helpless expression on the young girl's face was so evident. Her hand was still pressing on her cheek that had started to swell.
"You want to shift the blame to me?"
The woman roared. Her face was red with fury. She raised her hand to give the helper another slap before another hand solidly gripped on hers. Her shoulders jolted in shock as she turned her head in annoyance.
"Who is it?!" The woman screamed.
"I'm sorry, miss. But I believe your behavior isn't suitable for a lady with a noble upbringing like you."
A gentle voice could be heard from her side, coming from a lady who gripped her hand. The lady released her grip before turning to the helper who was startled with her appearance. Seeing the poor girl's tear-stricken faced ached Tsubaki's heart.
"Are you okay?" She asked without paying attention to the woman in pink who was staring daggers at her.
"I'm okay..."
"Who are you to meddle in this?" The woman angrily looked at Tsubaki. Her veins popped in the burst of her anger. "This woman spilled wine on my expensive dress! Do you know how much this dress cost? I'm the heiress of Subaru Group! She couldn't even pay this dress even after working her entire life to pay for it!"
Tsubaki asked for another helper to bring the poor one to get her face checked. Both of them left in a hurry, afraid of earning another rage from the woman.
"You! Why did you let her go? This matter isn't settled yet!" The woman continued to fume in fury.
Tsubaki calmly looked at the place where the wine had dirtied the woman's pink dress. It was only a small spot at the edge of the dress. While the woman was still in a rage, Tsubaki still kept her calm and landed her gaze on the woman's face. The heiress wanted to continue raging but seeing the lady's peaceful expression, she stopped from saying what she had wanted to say.
"I don't know how much this dress has cost you but I think it's not to the point of you freely slapping someone in a fit of rage," Tsubaki said coolly as if she wasn't affected by the attention drawn to them because of the scuffle. The guests had started whispering among another while watching the show.
"Ha? Not deserving my slap?" The woman scoffed. "Who are you to meddle in my affair? Defending this helper? I've never seen your face before in any gala or dinner? Are you one of those vixens who stick to any rich man to climb the social ladder?"
Tsubaki smiled, brushing away the insults with poise. It was not worth it to counter-attack this heiress by throwing insults too. It was such a disgrace.
"It's not important who I am but you have wrongly treated the young girl. Why don't we step aside first and try to solve this matter without using any violence?"
Tsubaki glanced indifferently at the guests who were still looking at them. She scoffed inwardly when they saw the looks of ridicule on some of their faces. Since they didn't know her identity, they were obviously siding with the arrogant heiress. She could hear the whispers of the ladies who looked at her like she was a seductress.
"Step aside because you're ashamed now since I've said the truth?" The woman wasn't one to easily backing down. The contempt on her face intensified as Tsubaki was still calm. She had the urge to slap this lady's face and tear away the calmness.
"I've nothing to be ashamed of since you've spoken nothing but lies. I asked you to step aside because in my eyes, by acting in this way you didn't even have the gracefulness of a lady. I don't suppose the noble upbringing of yours taught you to act like a drunken woman in rage?"
A snort could be heard from the guests once Tsubaki finished her speech. Someone had even stifled his laugh to avoid making the situation awkward but it was enough to boost the heiress' anger. Being made fun in the public was one she loathed the most! Moreover by an unknown woman like her!
"You! Do you have a death wish?!" The woman shouted. She raised her hand with the intention to give this woman a lesson. Before she could slap her, a force came suddenly and strongly pushed her.
Pak!
"Argh!"
The heiress stumbled on her feet. She flailed to grab on the railing, almost falling down on her butt. She raised her head in anger, wanting to look at who was dared enough to push her when she wanted to slap the vixen. Once she raised her head, her eyes met with a pair of eyes so cold they made her shivered in fear.
"President Fuse..." One of the guests gasped as he saw the sudden appearance of the man.
Most of the guests knew the face of the head of Fuse Family. They were shocked because they didn't expect to see him in such a manner. While the heiress of Subaru Group wanted to slap the lady in the dark blue dress, suddenly the heiress was pushed to the side.
"Mr. Fuse..."
The heiress' lips quivered, she couldn't say anything in the face of his obvious rage. But, why did he hold the vixen intimately? One of his hands was placed protectively around the lady's waist, notifying everyone that he and the lady weren't mere companions.
Ren didn't bother to look at the heiress anymore. He turned his head to look at his wife, who had boldly called out to the spoiled woman. He didn't know the details but from the bits he heard, the heiress was being arrogant to one of his helpers.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Ren asked, his voice laced with worry.
Tsubaki looked up to meet her husband's eyes. She smiled. "I'm okay, don't worry."
Their intimate interaction brought a shock to the guests who were witnessing the scene. Their eyes widened as they paid attention to the lady in President's Fuse's arms.
Sweetheart?