Chapter 22
Eugene looked helpless, rubbing his temples.
“How would I know? Just because she liked me doesn’t mean I liked her. She did go to Adora once, but I thought you already
knew…‘
His words were meant to reassure Ruby, but instead, they completely offended Julianne.
“Eugene Turner! Who the hell do you think you are? You think I liked you? I must’ve been blind back then!
“I stopped caring about you ages ago! If Peter hadn’t pursued me, I wouldn’t have wasted another second thinking about you!”
Julianne, still in Peter’s arms, suddenly turned and snapped at Eugene.
Hearing that, Ruby wasn’t having it.
She immediately shot back, raising her chin.
“Oh, shut up! You’re just bitter because you couldn’t have him! If I’d known you had a thing for Eugene, I never would’ve let my
brother date you!”
Julianne sneered. “And who do you think you are? You’re just an orphan the Matthews family took in–nothing but a fraud.
“Do you really think you’re some kind of heiress? What right do you have to meddle in Peter’s love life?”
Ruby lost it. “Julianne Carter, say one more word and I’ll rip that filthy mouth of yours apart!”
Theodore and Lilian had never expected a simple family dinner to turn into a full–blown disaster.
Watching their son, their soon–to–be daughter–in–law, their daughter, and her fiancé all tearing into each other, they tried to intervene–pleading on one side, pulling on the other–but no one was backing down.
“Ruby, enough!”
“Julianne, we were in the wrong tonight. Please, for our sake, don’t take it out on Ruby.”
But Julianne, having been raised as a privileged socialite, had never been insulted like this before.
Seeing Ruby about to lunge at her, Julianne refused to back down.
Instead, she stepped forward on purpose, tilting her face up mockingly.
“Come on then! Do it! Let’s see if you’ve got the guts! Whoever doesn’t strike first is a coward!”
Peter held onto his girlfriend with all his strength while barking at Eugene, “Take Ruby upstairs!”
“I’m not going!” Ruby snapped.
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Chapter 22
“Brother, you can’t marry this woman–she’ll bring nothing but chaos into this family!”
Meanwhile, Adora had been sitting quietly at the table, eating her fill.
She had gone through all her favorite dishes and, now satisfied, leaned on her hand, watching the chaos unfold like a spectator at
a show.
“Ruby, I actually agree with you on this one,” she added, casually stirring the fire.
“A woman who jumps from one man to another really isn’t fit to be our sister–in–law.”
Lilian turned to her eldest daughter, eyes burning with rage.
“Adora! What exactly are you trying to do? Are you determined to tear this family apart?”
Adora pouted innocently. “Mom, I just stated the facts. What they choose to do with them isn’t my problem.”
As she spoke, she absentmindedly scratched at the rash on her arm, making it redder and more inflamed.
“You…” Lilian clenched her teeth so hard she nearly cracked them.
She wanted to lash out but could do nothing against her daughter’s nonchalant indifference.
Right now, no one even dared to get close to Adora, too afraid of catching whatever illness they believed she had, let alone lay a
hand on her to teach her a lesson.
In the midst of the chaos, Ruby suddenly broke free from Eugene’s grip and, to everyone’s shock, actually slapped Julianne across
the face.
Even Adora was stunned.
However, Julianne was not the type to take a hit lying down.
Without hesitation, she turned and sank her teeth into Peter’s arm.
As he recoiled in pain and loosened his grip, she lunged forward and grabbed Ruby’s hair, yanking her head back before
delivering two hard slaps in return.
“Ahhh-!” Ruby shrieked like a madwoman, her hands flying up to retaliate, but before she could strike back, Peter snapped.
He swung his arm and slapped Ruby across the face instead.
“Enough!” he roared. “Can you all stop acting like lunatics?”
Ruby stood frozen, clutching her stinging cheek, her hair a tangled mess.
She stared at him, wide–eyed, disbelief written all over her face.
“Brother… you hit me?”
