Climbing up socially?
Zoe Bell sneered inwardly, Brandon Stone indeed despised her identity as an adopted daughter.
Ever since Mina Bell returned, he had intentionally belittled and suppressed her.
He made it clear:
If she were admired by him, she should feel lucky.
Marrying him was a blessing she had cultivated over several lifetimes, with no right to be picky. She should not be proud but instead try her best to please him.
Meanwhile, Mina Bell bit her lip and added fuel to the fire, "Sister, just because you are unhappy with Brother Brandon doesn't mean you can be ambiguous with other men. This... this isn't good, and mom and dad wouldn't be happy either."
These words ignited Zoe Bell to retort with a laugh, "Mom and Dad wouldn't be happy? You must be quite pleased though."
"I..."
Mina Bell was stunned.
Since she had been acknowledged as a family member and returned home, her interactions with Zoe Bell were limited, probably because of her identity as a foster child, she was not favored in the Bell Family, and thus used to swallowing her grievances.
Mina naturally thought of her as easy to bully, not expecting her to retort sharply.
This caused Mina's pale face to appear quite pitiable.
"What's going on?" In the middle of the argument, Kevin Bell and his wife hurried over.
Vivi Lange saw Mina Bell with teary eyes and quickly inquired what had happened.
"Sister misunderstood my relationship with Brother Brandon and wants to break off their engagement. I was just kindly advising her," Mina Bell said pathetically.
The Bell parents were surprised by her words but secretly pleased.
Vivi Lange frowned, "Enough, discuss this back in the private room. It's not good to talk here in the hallway where everyone is passing by."
Hotel guests had already stopped to watch.
"I'm not going back; I've lost my appetite. I'll go home now," Zoe Bell said. Her leg hurt, and her head ached terribly.
She tried to leave but was once again stopped by Brandon Stone, and the arm he grabbed throbbed with pain.
"Zoe Bell, you think you can just cancel the engagement whenever you wish? What do you take me for?"
"Let go!" Zoe Bell scowled.
"So you really did find someone better? How far have you gone with that other man?"
"You're disgusting, don't assume everyone else is as vile as you!"
"What did you say?"
Brandon Stone had never seen Zoe Bell like this, momentarily stunned.
Probably because of her status as an adopted daughter, her temperament was usually gentle and peaceful, and she rarely argued with others, making him forget the inherent pride inside Zoe Bell.
If he wanted, naturally many girls would throw themselves at him, which he found rather uninteresting.
So even though Zoe Bell wouldn't let him touch or handle her, he was willing to indulge her.
But over time, he had lost his patience.
It was inevitable that people around him mocked him: "Young Master Stone, are you unable? You're engaged yet can't win her over."
In their circles, it was said she had a proud backbone, but in today's society, only money and power mattered; pride and integrity were the least of considerations.
Zoe Bell forcefully broke free from his grasp and said, "Don't touch me. I find you repulsive."
Brandon Stone immediately sobered up, rage burning within him.
As more onlookers gathered, being called dirty by a woman in public was humiliating for him.
The Bell parents could guess what might have happened between their biological daughter and Brandon Stone. If others guessed similarly, then Mina Bell would be labeled as a homewrecker.
They would never allow such a thing to happen.
They wanted their own daughter to marry the man she liked, joyfully and with a clear conscience!
Brandon Stone scoffed, provoked into speaking harshly, "I'm dirty? If you're ambiguously involved with other men, aren't you dirty too?"
Vivi Lange hastily pulled on Zoe Bell, who was about to speak, "Zoe, it's your fault to begin with. Say less, do you want to embarrass yourself even more?"
Zoe Bell was so intelligent; how could she not understand what she meant.
Her foster parents wanted Mina Bell to climb over her.
Even if it meant sacrificing her reputation and making her the target of public scorn, she didn't care.
She always held a sliver of hope, having lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, that they had some affection for her.
She laughed.
It was just her wishful thinking.
"You still have the nerve to laugh! After all, Brandon is still your fiancé. You disregarded his feelings and got involved with another man, which is already bad enough, but when your sister kindly advised you, how could you not appreciate it?" Vivi Lange frowned.
Kevin Bell said coldly, "It seems we've spoiled you, making you forget your place."
Which meant:
She had the airs of a lady,
but not the status.
If one were to talk about what kind of knife wound hurts the most,
it certainly would be the one delivered by the person closest to you, cutting deep to the bone!
Murmurs were already starting around her; Zoe Bell stood there, her whole body's blood seemed to freeze, leaving her chillingly cold.
She scoffed, "Another man? Just because I picked up a men's coat?"
"We know that you're upset because Mina has been distant with you recently. If you want to call off the engagement, we can discuss it. There are many people here, let's go back to the private room and talk," Vivi Lange said with a frown.
She was also worried about saying too much, potentially stirring up other issues that could be difficult to resolve.
"Mom is right, sis, let's go back," Mina Bell said as she reached forward to pull her hand.
As if she was so understanding.
Zoe Bell bit her lip hard, her already pale face losing even more color.
The moment her hand was touched, almost instinctively, she raised it and pushed Mina Bell away!
Mina Bell staggered a couple of steps, nearly falling.
Vivi Lange quickly steadied her, shocked that Zoe Bell would dare to do such a thing, and glared at her with a cold look, then turned, showing distressed concern for Mina, "How are you? Did you sprain your foot? Are you feeling alright anywhere else?"
"Mom, I'm fine," Mina Bell said, pressing her lips together in aggrievement.
"Zoe Bell, have you caused enough trouble?" Kevin Bell couldn't contain his anger, "Apologize to Mina!"
Zoe Bell's right foot hurt terribly, so much so that her lips turned white, devoid of any color.
Yet, she still stood straight, with no intention of apologizing.
"What? I can't control you anymore? I raised you to adulthood, provided for you, hired the best teachers to teach you dancing, and now that you've found a better place, you dare to disobey?" Kevin Bell's words were both cutting and cruel.
Not only did he call her ungrateful, he also implied her behavior was indecent.
And yet, he painted himself as a paragon of virtue!
"Dad, it wasn't on purpose, there are so many people watching..." Mina Bell tugged at Kevin Bell's sleeve.
"It's better with more people. Let everyone see that it was your fault first," Kevin Bell glared at her, "Apologize to Mina right now, is this how I taught you? Such a disgrace!"
Zoe Bell took a deep breath, about to speak, when she heard a voice come from behind.
"Making such noise in a public place, President Bell does indeed show great manners."
The crowd turned towards the voice, seeing a man whose cold, dark eyes, under the light, reflected a deep-seated fierceness. He was tall, his mere presence imposing, let alone his inherent chilliness.
"Mr. Hale!" Kevin Bell's face stiffened, then quickly put on a placating expression, "What are you doing here?"
"Because I am the one you mentioned…"
"The other man."
The man's voice was hoarse and cold.
Like an undercurrent in the deep sea, quiet and coldly detached.
Standing behind him, Zac Cruz suddenly spoke, "Sir, that's not what they were saying about you."
"Oh?"
"They called you a wild man."
"Is that so?" William Hale's tone was subtly playful, casual.
His gaze was light, untroubled, but just the lifting and lowering of his eyes momentarily pressed the breath out of everyone present.