Free Web NovelChapter 457: Chapter 457: The Will of the People
Finding that no one was on his side, Frank York was in an awkward and embarrassing position.
He had intended to use Quinn’s case to prove that Winnie Summers, as a woman, was impulsive and unfit to remain at the Emergency Office. He hoped the other residents in the living room would help him condemn her, but he never expected them to completely ignore his script.
Frank York grew anxious. His face flushed red as he frowned, pointed at Winnie Summers, and loudly retorted, "What are you all talking about? This woman has a gun! Everyone knows how impulsive women can be, right? She killed two people in a row today without even blinking. Aren’t you afraid of her?!"
The moment Frank York finished speaking, a girl in the crowd replied, "Why should we be afraid? Winnie has a gun, which means she can protect us. I couldn’t feel safer. What is there to be afraid of?"
Hearing this, Melody Summers followed the voice with her eyes. She realized she knew the speaker—it was Yvette Hollis, the young woman who had helped her notify the other residents on the 17th floor.
The commotion in 2305 was so loud it had attracted onlookers from other rooms, including Yvette Hollis.
It wasn’t just Yvette Hollis; May Sherman was there too. Cradling her little dog, Snowball, in her arms, May said coldly, "That’s right. We know Miss Winnie is a good person. She protects us residents. We don’t steal, we don’t rob, we don’t do anything wrong. Why would we be afraid?"
Maisie Lynch’s eyes darted around, and she chimed in, "Exactly! Over the past few days, Miss Summers has helped everyone so much, and we’ve all seen it! I think some people are just trying to stir up trouble! They’re rotten to the core!"
The moment Maisie Lynch finished, several other residents stepped forward to speak.
"Yeah, Miss Summers has really helped us a lot. During the heatwave, my mom got heatstroke, and it was Miss Summers who gave us a few bottles of ice water and some heatstroke medicine. Miss Summers has always been very good to everyone."
"That’s right! When my kid had a high fever that wouldn’t break, it was Ms. Summers who drove him to the hospital! No one else was willing to lend us their gas-powered car. Only Ms. Summers would help!"
"Winnie is the kindest person! I’m an old woman, and my legs aren’t what they used to be. Winnie often helps deliver supplies to my home. Young man, don’t even think about sowing discord. I may be old, but I can still tell right from wrong!"
"Everyone, listen to me for a second. I’m a shooter myself. This lady’s marksmanship is dead-on. Both shots went straight through the heart and lungs. She’s way better than I am!"
"Actually, a lot of the women on our shooting team are incredible. There’s no such thing as ’women aren’t suited for guns.’ Anyway, I feel pretty safe with the gun in this young lady’s hands. It’s much better than it being in someone else’s."
At this point, many residents started pointing fingers at Frank York.
"Hey, young man, what’s your deal? What’s your relationship with the Quinn family? Why are you always trying to stir up trouble?"
"Yeah, buddy. You keep calling him ’Mr. Quinn.’ Since you seem to respect him so much, why don’t you go collect the bodies of him and his son? It’d be a great way to show your compassion!"
"Look how concerned he is about the Quinns. Don’t tell me he’s related to them?"
"Even if he’s not a relative, it’s fine! He can just go ahead and call Quinn his father. The Quinn family line is cut off now anyway. A young man who can empathize so much with Quinn can surely carry on his legacy and continue the family line for them! HAHA!"
"..."
Listening to the crowd’s chatter, Frank York’s face went from red to white. It was quite a sight.
’In a disaster, might makes right,’ he thought. ’How could a weak woman accumulate so much authority?’ He truly hadn’t expected so many people to speak up for Winnie Summers.
His usual method of stirring up trouble had completely backfired. Instead, he’d drawn a crowd to attack him. He was regretting this bitterly!
Seeing so many people stand up for her, Winnie Summers felt her eyes grow a little misty.
She felt that her hard work over the past two years hadn’t been in vain. Her neighbors had seen everything she’d done.
Just then, Shawn Lynch, who was standing to the side, also stepped forward. He frowned, pointed at Frank York, and said, "What nonsense are you spouting here? We’ve worked with Miss Winnie for over two years. She has always been the most rational one among us. What right do you have to call her impulsive? Where are you getting that from?"
Harvey Jennings nodded in agreement, chiming in, "Ms. Summers helped the police deal with the robbers at the supply point before. The police themselves said she was calm under pressure and a steady shot. She is definitely not the impulsive person you’re making her out to be."
Seeing her chance, Maisie Lynch also stepped forward to add fuel to the fire. "You keep saying women are impulsive, but from where I’m standing, you’re the most impulsive one in this room! You’re the one who’s been losing his cool this whole time. Do you have a guilty conscience or something?"
Seeing everyone glaring at him with hostile expressions, beads of sweat started to form on Frank York’s forehead.
He had a feeling he’d really screwed up this time.
’This is the same tactic I always use online to stir up controversy and get clicks,’ he thought. ’Chloe and I like to film skits about car accidents, making digs at female drivers. In the comments, lots of men support me, and many women even joke that they’re just as clumsy. Why isn’t this method working now?’
Facing the crowd’s condemning glares, he wished the ground would swallow him whole.
Seeing Maisie Lynch glaring at him, ready to curse him out again, he could only lower his head, clutch his camera, and quietly shrink behind his girlfriend, Chloe Sharp.
Chloe Sharp had been trying her best to fade into the background, not wanting to get dragged into her boyfriend’s mess. Now, seeing everyone’s eyes turn to her, her doll-like face flushed bright red.
She didn’t care that someone had just died in the spare bedroom; she grabbed Frank York and fled back to their room.
Seeing the two of them beat a hasty retreat, the crowd erupted in another round of derisive laughter.
Just then, Winnie Summers stepped forward. She smiled at the crowd and said, "Alright, everyone, let’s not argue. A lot has happened today, and I’m sure everyone is shaken. From now on, the Emergency Office will increase security patrols to ensure nothing like this happens again. You can all rest assured."
Winnie Summers’s voice was very reassuring. Listening to her, the crowd’s mood slowly calmed down. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Winnie Summers continued, "Tomorrow is New Year’s Day, and the Emergency Office has cooked porridge for everyone. These are difficult times, and it’s in times like these that we must stick together. For now, please return to your rooms and get some rest. We’ll be distributing the porridge shortly!"
Hearing that they would get porridge, the residents exclaimed in surprise, "Really?! That’s great!"
"We’re really getting porridge? I can finally eat some rice!"
"We don’t have to eat sand vine cakes today? Am I dreaming?!"
The temptation of rice porridge was enough to make them forget all their troubles. The residents quickly lost interest in the day’s drama. They started rummaging through their luggage for bowls and chopsticks, preparing to enjoy this long-awaited feast.
Melody Summers quietly pulled Maisie Lynch aside and said in a low voice, "...Thank you for speaking up for my mom today."
Maisie Lynch’s tirade had completely flipped the script, shutting Frank York down and leaving him speechless. This took Melody Summers by surprise.
This was particularly surprising to Melody. She and Maisie didn’t get along, and Maisie was even sharing a room with Frank York. Wasn’t she afraid he and Chloe Sharp would retaliate against her?
