To say Adrian was not boiling with anger would be a lie. He was seething with indignation.
But he couldn't show this in front of everyone. He was still the host of the ball. But he will make the Davies family regret their actions.
At the moment, he wanted everyone to leave and meditate for a few hours to control his anger.
Adrian looked at Max, who stood there with his shoulders slouched, his face had swelled horribly and the black and blue bruise forming from the corner of his eye looked horrific.
But Adrian didn't sympathize with him. He would be a terrible father if he sided with a person who hurt his daughter.
"Should I call for a Royal entourage to show you the way out?" Adrian spoke with a light smile as if he wanted to make Max comfortable.
Max was embarrassed. He had barged in, brought a female partner on his arranged engagement day, accused his to-be fiancée of robbery and cheating, and insulted her family.
None of them were mistakes he could atone for. His heart strongly desired to see Emma for the first time.
'Is she sad? Crying?' Max wanted to ask these questions but was sure that if he did, only his corpse would leave the Woods family Mansion.
"Can I see Emma one last time?" Max said gritting his teeth, enduring the pain on the right side of his face.
Although it was a shameful move, he didn't want to go before trying at least once.
Ever since he saw tears falling from Emma's face to the ground, he was extremely uncomfortable. He still decided to try his luck.
As expected, "The audacity-" Adrian was furious after hearing Max's outrageous words and went forward wanting to break Max's jaw but his wife held his hand.
"You should leave while you still can. I can't guarantee otherwise." Mrs. Woods spoke coldly.
She wanted no more drama to take place. And if Max were to remain here for a few more minutes, Adrian would beat him to a pulp, which wouldn't be good for their reputation.
"Get out of my house this instant" Adrian roared. He was done dealing with this.
He would beat Max up if he remained there without thinking of the consequences.
"I'm sorry," saying this Max finally left. Ana trailed behind him.
Adrian heaved a sigh of relief, still glaring toward the direction Max had disappeared into.
Mrs. Woods looked over at the trio, who had not spoken a word in Emma's defense, but instead supported Ana Smith.
She couldn't entrust her daughter to such 'legitimate' friends. She walked over.
"I am greatly embarrassed to inform you that our evil family can't afford to maintain contact with people of higher status like you. I ask for forgiveness in advance for our tardiness in not inviting you to future events. I will forbid my thief of a daughter to no longer maintain any contact with you. I wish you three a very pleasant night." Mrs. Woods put on a humble face and spoke kindly.
"My daughter is not worthy of friends like you" Coldly saying this last sentence, Mrs. Woods made her way to bid the other guests farewell.
"I'm extremely regretful to part ways like this, Mrs. Shelby. And that too on the first Woods family event you have attended in a long time." Mrs. Woods said generously.
By putting herself at fault, she avoided the snarky remarks of most aristocratic ladies.
'They will surely discuss this matter for a few months but will eventually forget about it.' Mrs. Woods thought as she sighed inwardly.
"Oh no, you are not at fault. Whoever says that you are the wrong one must fight with me." Mrs. Shelby said righteously.
"No matter what you say, who is going to marry Emma now? I mean, no man likes a woman who has devoted so many years of her life to another man. You know, just saying," It was Jennifer's mom who spoke.
Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Jennifer had inherited her conceited thoughts and jealousy from her mom, who respected her superiors and trampled on those below her.
Right now, Emma was someone who got rejected on her engagement day and was below her daughter, which was why she could say something like that.
Mrs. Shelby frowned upon hearing these words, lightly held Mrs. Woods's hand, and said, "My proposal is still valid. When Emma has recovered a bit, let us arrange a date for our children. I'm sure my son will fall for her head over heels." She giggled at the end.
Mrs. Woods's heart calmed down after hearing this. She smiled. "Let's not be hasty. The children are still young so no need to worry."
"As for those who point at others' daughters, they should look at their pea in the pod first. Men also don't like a scheming women," Mrs. Gatsby loudly said and all of them laughed.
Jennifer's mom couldn't stand being humiliated and quickly grabbed Jennifer's hand and exited the venue.
"No need to pay attention to such tramps. Oh, and by the way my proposal is legit," Mrs. Shelby let go of Mrs. Woods's hand and made her way out.
Slowly, all the guests started departing. After some time, only the Woods family remained in the hall.
Adrian sat down on the sofa, the butler quickly brought water for them.
"How do you want to deal with the Davies?" William began.
He would never take an insult lying down. He would repay every penny the Davies owed.
"What do you say? Father. We would go with what you say." Adrian said rubbing his temples. He had a bad headache.
"Let's discuss this in the study," William said getting up, signaling the presence of servants.
"Sasha, Where's Emma?" Adrian stopped following his father and asked his wife.
"She went to the garden. I was going to check on her," Sasha answered.
"Let me know how she is after you check on her," Adrian said going up the stairs.
Sasha went to the garden, looked around, and called,
"Emma? Where are you?" but received no answer. She grew anxious after calling out a few times.
"Emma, dear, Mom's calling you. Please answer."
Sasha had looked through the whole front garden but hadn't found a trace of Emma. She was afraid.
She knew Emma's obsession with Max and worried about her safety the most.
She rushed back to call Adrian but stopped in her steps as she observed something near the swing.
It was dark there so she couldn't see clearly. She immediately went to the swing and cried out in surprise when she saw Emma collapse on the grass under the swing.
"EMMA!" Her abrupt cry alerted the servants.
"Quickly call Adrian!" Sasha cried, losing her composure as she kneeled near Emma.
She checked Emma's breathing and was relieved to find her breathing laboriously. She was running a fever as well.
Adrian and William had just taken a seat in the study when they heard a knock.
Adrian opened the door and found the head butler standing there.
"What's the matter?" Adrian asked.
"Sir, Young Miss was found unconscious in the garden" The head butler replied.
Adrian's heart fell. William also got up abruptly.
In a few moments, they arrived at the garden.
"Emma! Open your eyes! Emma!" Adrian called out to no response.
"Quickly call the ambulance!" William yelled at the servants.
"Sir, we have called the ambulance. It'll be arriving here any moment now," The head butler replied.
Emma woke up in a hospital. The clock hanging on the wall read 3.
Looking at the darkness, it was 3 in the morning. She sighed, not wanting to think how she ended up in the hospital.
She felt unbearably empty. She didn't know how to react to this situation.
Slightly turning her head, she glanced at her plastered hand. She remembered the feeling of her bones cracking when she hit Max.
'He must be in so much pain' she thought dejectedly.
Even if she was furious at that moment, she couldn't bring herself to hate him. She loved him so much.
Her love for him had long crossed the barrier of wanting him to reciprocate her feelings.
'I knew from the moment I fell in love with him that you will not be mine. Yet, I still acted upon my feelings. You're unsalvageable,' She wanted to cry, wail, yell, and break down.
Her mind couldn't process the fact that Max did something like this to her.
Unconsciously, tears began to fall down her cheeks and wet the pillow underneath her head.
She tried holding back her sobs but to no avail. Slowly, she began falling deeper and deeper into the abyss. Her thoughts becoming more and more out of hand.
She felt a cold hand touching her forehead. As she turned her head, her heart picked up a beat at the hopeful possibility only to return in vain as she saw the face of her dad there.