Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 41: Face Slap
"You..." Vivian Linton was at a loss for words.
The color drained from her face, then flooded back. She nearly dropped her act.
"Don’t you dare go easy on me, because..." Holly Sinclair looked down, brushing the dust from the hem of her clothes. When she looked up again, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. "I won’t be showing you any mercy!"
Vivian Linton was stunned by Holly’s gaze.
She instinctively covered her own cheek.
She remembered the scene from a few days ago, when Holly had locked her in the bathroom, bullying and humiliating her.
Even though several days had passed, her cheek seemed to ache faintly at the memory.
In her few confrontations with Holly, she had never come out on top.
Even with Tristan Sterling’s favor, she had still received her fair share of slaps from Holly.
At this thought, rage flared in Vivian’s heart. She wished she could tear Holly limb from limb.
"Holly Sinclair, I just want to live a peaceful life. What will it take for you to leave me alone?" Though she was seething with hatred, Vivian put on the face of a victim, sobbing wretchedly.
"Get out of my sight," Holly said coldly, enunciating each word.
"You..." Vivian swayed slightly, as if she couldn’t handle the blow, and collapsed against Tristan Sterling’s chest, tears streaming down her beautiful face.
"Holly! That’s enough!"
Tristan Sterling’s face was as dark as iron as he issued a stern warning.
"You can get out, too!"
Holly shot him a cold glance.
"What did you say?!" Tristan’s sharp brows furrowed, his eyes glinting coldly.
’She refuses to repent for her mistake, and now she’s picking a fight with the whole world?’
’Who gave her the nerve to talk back to me!’
"Tristan, don’t be angry. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come back. If I hadn’t, Holly wouldn’t be targeting me and making you angry. I should have just died abroad..."
Tears streamed down Vivian’s face as she seized every opportunity to fan the flames.
Holly sneered.
’What a shame Vivian Linton’s acting skills are going to waste. She should have gone into show business.’
’Look at that aggrieved, tragic expression. If there were a pillar in front of her, she’d probably ram her head into it to sell the act.’
"Don’t say such foolish things," Tristan chided, gently stroking Vivian’s long hair.
"Tristan, I’m sorry..."
"It’s not your fault."
Nestled in Tristan’s arms, Vivian shot Holly a triumphant smirk.
Listening to the man’s doting tone and watching the obvious affection between the two, Holly’s sneer deepened.
’In a world with the three of us, he says it isn’t Vivian’s fault. And since he’s the proud and arrogant Mr. Sterling who can never be wrong, that means... I’m the one at fault!’
’Right!’
’It was her fault.’
’The biggest mistake of her life—’
’Was falling in love with him!’
"Who ruined my qipao?!"
Just as the atmosphere grew tense and rigid, an elderly but resounding voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.
Mrs. Quincy’s face was ashen with uncontrollable rage.
Leaning on her granddaughter Penelope Quincy for support, she walked in with a cane.
"I’m sorry, Mrs. Quincy. It’s all my fault. I failed to manage my people properly..."
Vivian spoke first, then looked at Holly. "Holly, you ruined Mrs. Quincy’s qipao. Hurry up and apologize to her."
She directly diverted the old woman’s fury onto Holly.
"Apologize?!"
Mrs. Quincy turned to glare at Holly, heartbroken and furious. "This qipao was the last piece my best friend ever made. Now it’s ruined, and you think a simple, empty apology will suffice?! Whichever hand you used to ruin it, I’ll take that hand!"
THUD. She slammed her cane on the floor.
Tristan Sterling frowned.
The corner of Vivian Linton’s mouth curved up uncontrollably.
But Holly remained as calm as if it had nothing to do with her.
"Mrs. Quincy, please don’t! Holly is a designer, her hands are very important. If her hands are crippled, what will she do in the future?" Vivian cried out in feigned distress.
Though she was begging her not to, inwardly, she was ecstatic.
’She wished Mrs. Quincy would cripple both of Holly’s hands.’
’That way, Holly would never be able to crush her again.’
"Her hands are important, but my qipao isn’t?"
Vivian’s words were undoubtedly fuel on the fire, enraging Mrs. Quincy so much that her eyes went wide with fury.
"Mrs. Quincy, please calm your anger. We are at fault. I will provide double the compensation," Tristan Sterling said, his tone elegant, composed, and humble.
"Tristan, do you think Madam Quincy is short on your pocket change?" Mrs. Quincy grew even angrier.
"Of course not."
"When we signed the contract, I specifically stated that this qipao was very important to me. Why would you still make such a rookie mistake?"
Vivian began, "Mrs. Quincy, I’m so sorry..."
Mrs. Quincy didn’t want to hear it. She waved a hand, gesturing for her to shut up.
"Quick, bring me the qipao! Let me see just how badly it’s been ruined!"
Mrs. Quincy shot Holly a vicious glare before speaking urgently to her granddaughter.
Penelope Quincy immediately brought the qipao over, trying to comfort her worriedly, "Grandma, please don’t be upset. Your health is more important."
Mrs. Quincy’s eyes reddened as she cautiously took the beloved qipao.
Slowly, she unfolded it...
Vivian watched Mrs. Quincy’s reaction with anticipation.
’She hoped the old hag would be angered to death.’ freewebnovel.cσ๓
’If that happened, Holly wouldn’t survive either.’
The Quincy Family’s influence in Mistcroft was second only to the Sterling Family’s.
’If the old woman died from anger, the Quincy Family would definitely not let the matter rest.’
’Then, Holly would be doomed!’ frёewebnoѵēl.com
’Even Master Sterling, who doted on Holly the most, wouldn’t be able to protect her when he returned.’
The more Vivian thought about it, the more excited and expectant she became.
"This..."
Upon seeing the camellia on the qipao, Mrs. Quincy’s eyes shot wide open.
Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
It was clear she had received a tremendous shock.
Penelope’s eyes reddened with anxiety, and she quickly began patting her grandmother’s chest. "Grandma, don’t get too excited! The doctor warned you not to get overexcited—"
"This flower..."
Mrs. Quincy ignored her granddaughter. Her sharp gaze shot toward Holly as she asked in a trembling voice, "Did you embroider this?"
"Yes, Mrs. Quincy."
Holly nodded, neither servile nor overbearing.
"You..." Mrs. Quincy’s eyes grew even redder as she scrutinized Holly from head to toe.
The more she looked, the more agitated she became.
"You... you, come here." Mrs. Quincy beckoned to Holly.
Seeing this, Vivian’s eyes lit up, and she could barely contain her gleeful smile.
’Holly was definitely about to get slapped.’
’Mrs. Quincy would never let her off the hook for ruining her most prized possession.’
’I can’t wait!’
Holly stepped forward.
Halfway there, a large hand grabbed her.
"Mrs. Quincy."
Tristan Sterling pulled Holly behind him.
"Get out of the way!"
Mrs. Quincy shot him a disgusted look.
Holly twisted her wrist, trying to break free from the man’s grasp.
But Tristan only tightened his grip, giving her a warning glare.
’Now is not the time to be willful, is it?’
Seeing Tristan’s action, Vivian secretly clenched her fists.
’What’s wrong with Tristan?’
’Is he trying to protect Holly?’
’No!’
’I won’t allow it!!’
Her eyes darted. Vivian bit her lip and said timidly to Mrs. Quincy, "Mrs. Quincy, please don’t be angry. Holly didn’t mean to curse you..."
Her hesitant tone, however, only served to cement the accusation of Holly’s "malice."
"Curse me?"
