Free Web NovelChapter 444: Your Girlfriend Is Much Cleverer Than You Are
"Corrine’s assistant colluded with the supplier? That makes her highly suspicious.
However, if it was really her, would she still dare to stay in Rheinsville City? Isn’t she afraid that Timothy Woods will come after her?"
"Timothy Woods could not find any evidence and her assistant had long escaped. If he had evidence, Timothy would have called the police long ago."
"Corrine Swift owes everything she has today to Timothy. I heard he saved her from drowning in the sea back then. And this is how she shows her gratitude?
Perhaps she really wants to get back with her ex-husband. After all, with HG losing favour with the masses, many of their clients have gone over to her ex-husband’s company instead. She betrayed her mentor for the sake of the man she loves.
Sigh..."
...
Todd turned to observe Wendy’s reaction after he heard that comment.
This was the first time Wendy had heard such rumours.
After she fell out with Timothy, she hadn’t gone to work nor socialised with any other people.
The news of HG’s closure on the net did not indicate that Wendy was involved at all.
Timothy would not say anything to the media before he had any proof.
Besides, he probably wasn’t free to deal with such frivolous matters.
These people were different.
Tonight’s guests were all the upper echelons of Rheinsville City. Most of them had their own sources of information. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
They definitely had more information about what happened with HG than the average person.
That’s why they were saying that Wendy was ungrateful.
Todd glanced at Wendy’s stiff smile and walked purposefully towards the gossiping group .
His eyes glinting coldly, he spoke to the group in an icy tone. "First of all, before you talk about Corinne betraying HG, be sure you have proof. If you do not, please do not speculate wildly or you will hear from my lawyer. Second, Corrine is my girlfriend. I had no idea she wanted to get back with her ex-husband. If any of you know, pray tell me about it. If it’s true, I will be thankful, otherwise I will take it as you are wilfully and purposely trying to sow discord between us."
Todd had always been sunny and exuberant in Wendy’s presence. He had always been warm and gentle with her and she had never seen this cold distant side of him.
It worked, however. The group that had been talking fell silent.
Some even mumbled their apologies with their heads lowered.
"Thank you." whispered Wendy to Todd.
"I am supposed to be your boyfriend. I have to get angry if I hear about you colluding with your ex-husband, otherwise, my act will fall through!" replied Todd with a smile.
Inwardly, he felt his heart ache dully.
Todd was reminded that his identity as Wendy’s boyfriend was merely an act. It was laughable the way he sometimes forgot.
"No matter what, I still want to thank you." Wendy did not know what to say to Todd, and decided to simply thank him again.
The guests slowly filtered in.
At seven o’clock sharp, the banquet host went onto the stage. He gave a somewhat lengthy welcome speech and ended with the hope that everyone would enjoy the night.
Wendy and Todd continued weaving through the crowd. They were looking for someone, that someone being Clement.
It was already half past seven and all the guests should have arrived. They had walked around the entire banquet venue and yet still did not see any sign of Clement.
Worriedly, Wendy asked, "Could he have changed his mind about coming?"
Todd’s expression hardened and he replied, "I think he will come. He and the host are quite well acquainted therefore it’s unlikely Clement would miss his birthday party."
...
"Let’s continue looking around." Wendy said, "It might be just that there are too many people here that we just happened to miss him in the crowd."
There were indeed a lot of people attending this banquet.
Most of them were similarly well-dressed and it was rather hard to find a particular person in the sea of faces.
Finding Clement among all these guests would be quite a difficult feat. Wendy and Todd continued their search as they weaved among groups of guests.
"Beautiful, are you alone? Do I have the honour of having a drink with you?" they heard a man ask.
The man was hitting on an attractive woman with a wine glass in his hand.
Wendy and Todd exchanged a look before nodding imperceptibly at each other.
They had just been commenting about how difficult it was to find Clement in the crowd and there he was right in front of their eyes.
It seemed he really liked women of a particular type, soft and fairy-like. The woman he was talking to was exactly his type.
Wendy felt her confidence boosted.
Glancing meaningfully at Todd, Wendy told him, "Go round to the back of the crowd, I’ll pretend to be looking for you."
Understanding her plan, Todd nodded and left promptly.
After Todd had disappeared into the crowd, Wendy picked up a glass of wine from a passing waiter. She glanced at the wine with a frown before putting it back down on the tray.
Since Clement liked otherworldly beauties, he probably wouldn’t like one who drank.
With that thought, Wendy took a glass of juice from another passing waiter instead.
Then, she headed in Clement’s direction. As she walked, she waved anxiously in Todd’s direction, "I’m here..." The next instant, Wendy’s ankle buckled and the glass of juice in her hand spilled onto the front of Clement’s shirt.
Clement was busy hitting on a woman and instantly flared up when the juice spilt on him. Turning around angrily, he scolded, "Watch where you’re going! You..." Before Clement finished his sentence, his gaze fell upon Wendy’s appearance. He looked her up and down appraisingly.
The anger in his eyes changed obviously to one of appreciation.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose..." Acting flustered, Wendy looked around for a napkin before trying to dry Clement’s shirt with it.
"I’m really sorry. How about you let me know how much your shirt is? I’ll pay for it."
Wendy beseeched Clement with wide eyes that were glistening a little for her supposed mistake.
Together with her get up for the day, any other man would have been completely smitten with her, much less Clement, whose preferences for which she had specially dressed up for.
As expected, Clement waved off her offer generously. "What is this shirt worth? It’s just money or twenty thousand. If this beauty so desires, you may spill as much juice as you want on it."
The more he looked at Wendy, the more he found her familiar. However, he simply could not recall who she was or where he had seen her.
If he had met such a beautiful woman before, there was no way he would have no impression of her.
"You’re joking, right? I don’t like spilling juice on people, I was just careless." Wendy put on her most apologetic look and said, "Thank you for being magnanimous."
"What are you doing?? How did you get juice all over this man here? Apologize quickly!" At this time, Todd approached and reprimanded Wendy fiercely upon taking in the situation.
At this time, Clement would definitely not bear to see Wendy getting chastised.
He looked at Todd and demanded, "What are you doing? I didn’t get angry, why are you being so fierce? What will you do if you scare this beautiful woman with your shouting?"
...
"You’re lucky he is not taking it up with you. Thank the man, quickly!" Todd glanced at Clement then stretched out to pull Wendy toward himself. His tone was sharp as he scolded, "You do nothing but get into trouble whenever I bring you out!"
"I already said it was okay, why are you still scolding her?" Frowning, Clement faced Todd grimly, "Who are you to her? Why are you being such a busybody?"
"I am her boyfriend. Since you said it’s okay, I’ll thank you on her behalf." Then he turned to Wendy and continued berating her grumpily.
Clement looked on disapprovingly.
He felt sympathy and heartache for the delicate beauty who dared not utter a word in retort even when her boyfriend scolded her.
"Thank you..." Wendy lifted her head and looked shyly at Clement, her eyes full of gratitude.
Todd grabbed hold of Wendy’s arm and pulled her away as he turned to leave.
Wendy gave a helpless sigh and followed Todd.
In her mind, she started counting down. Three... Two... One...
"Wait!" Clement called out just as they were leaving.
Clement strode up to Todd and Wendy then stopped in front of her. He cast a measuring look at Todd and commented, "How did a bad-tempered man like you find such a beautiful and gentle girlfriend?"
His words were calculated to incite ire.
Todd raised his chin slightly and pulled Wendy behind him with one hand. Icily, he said, "This is a private matter between the two of us. I don’t think you have any right to interfere."
"It is none of my business, but I have always had a soft spot for the damsels in distress." Clement’s gaze bypassed Todd and landed on Wendy. Arching his brow at her, he continued, "If you don’t know how to love such a beauty properly, how about you let me have her?"
"Please watch your words!" Clement was hitting on his woman in front of so many witnesses, Todd had to act furious.
Clement was quite bold!
The guests at this banquet were all rich and powerful. That he dared utter such words in their presence was an indication of his disregard of propriety.
As expected of a man who had business that were not entirely legal, he took what he wanted without preamble.
"You treat your girlfriend so badly. Are you going to stop her from choosing someone else too?" Clement pushed Todd’s hand away so that it was no longer in his way. He stepped toward Wendy and again arched his brow at her. "Beautiful, your boyfriend is not nice to you at all. Will you consider changing boyfriends? I may look fierce but I am very gentle and I will definitely not scold you."
The commotion had attracted many curious onlookers.
Many of them were acquainted with Todd and Wendy.
The comments started coming fast and furious.
"Isn’t that Todd Lewis and Corrine Swift?"
"What is Clement doing? Is he stealing someone else’s girlfriend?"
"Clement is not an ordinary man. Anyone who offends him will come to no good end."
"I wonder if Todd Lewis can keep the woman Clement has set his target on."
"There’s going to be a good show."
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Todd and Wendy heard all the comments.
Putting on an incensed expression, Todd swept his gaze across the gathered onlookers. Then he said loudly to Clement, "This gentleman, we have only met once and you’re already trying to steal my girlfriend. Aren’t you being a little too much?"
....
"Too much?" Clement burst out laughing. "Did you say I am too much?"
Clement looked Todd up and down. He sneered, "Who are you? What do you do?"
"That’s private information." Todd reached for Wendy’s hand again and threw a dirty, menacing look at Clement.
"Nevermind, I don’t care what you do." Clement was not interested in dealing with Todd, he merely had his sights set on Wendy.
The fact that she had a boyfriend was of no consequence to Clement.
He wouldn’t care even if she was married and had a husband.
As long as he saw a woman he liked, he had to have a go at her.
However, they were at a banquet and he could not act too wilfully. He had to maintain his reputation.
"Your girlfriend dirtied my shirt, she should help me clean up, no?" Clement kept his gaze fixed on Wendy. He reached out and pushed Todd aside. Looking at Wendy, he put on his gentlest smile and asked, "Beautiful, will you help me clean the juice off my shirt? After all, you dirtied it, right?"
"What are you trying to do?" demanded Todd. He had taken two steps back after being shoved by Clement.
Clement was tall and stockily built. He had used quite a fair bit of strength pushing Todd away.
Todd was not short, but still his build was slighter and was not a match for Clement.
"Do you not understand English? Are are you too stupid to understand what I’m saying?" Clement snapped his head around and threw Todd a vehement look. "She got juice all over me. Is there anything wrong with me asking her to help clean up?"
"You’re doing it on purpose. Didn’t you say it was okay earlier?" Todd retorted.
"I had intended to let it go on account of her being a beauty. I didn’t know she had such an annoying boyfriend! I don’t feel like letting it go anymore." Clement’s words were challenging.
"Fine, I’ll pay for it then. How much is it? I’ll send the money." Todd fumed.
"Money? Ha-ha..." Clement again burst out laughing. "My shirt is custom made, it’s not something money can buy! I do not want compensation. I want her to help me clean it!"
"You’re just making things difficult on purpose. We’re leaving!" Todd grabbed Wendy’s hand and snapped, "Let’s go!"
"I’ll see how you manage to walk out of here today!" Clement growled and immediately reached out with one hand to grab Todd’s arm.
Flexing his muscles, Clement picked Todd up and threw him over his shoulder and onto the ground.
What followed was Todd’s agonised yell.
The onlookers all stepped backward to give them more space.
They were afraid they might accidentally be pulled into their confrontation.
Wendy saw Clement approach Todd again and quickly stood between them, blocking his way. "I will help you clean your shirt."
Wendy’s words elicited a smile from Clement. He lowered his head and regarded Todd, who was lying on the ground, with disdain. "Look, your girlfriend is much smarter than you are."
Clement then cast his gaze over the onlookers. Chuckling, he asked, "All of you can see for yourselves. My shirt got dirty but I do not want compensation. All I ask is that the one responsible help clean it up. Am I wrong?"
There were people among the onlookers who were acquainted with Clement. They knew what he was like and shook their heads at his question.
The ones who did not know him knew that anyone who had been invited was probably someone influential. They would not stand against Clement for fear of drawing fire unto themselves.
