Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Brandon’s sharp eyes immediately locked onto Allen’s hand with a fierce intensity.
Matilda’s body stiffened. She was clearly caught off guard, but she quickly regained her composure.
The moment Shelby asked that question, she had already put Matilda at a disadvantage. Allen was simply trying to pull her
out of that mess.
Allen glanced at Shelby, his gaze far colder than usual. He spoke slowly and clearly, making sure every word carried across
the room.
He said, “Ms. Webster, how do you even have the nerve to ask that? Do you think everyone’s like your mother-having kids, dumping them, taking the money, and running?
“When you were eight, your mom dragged you into wrecking someone else’s marriage. When the wife found out and beat her up, she ditched you and ran off.
“I thought you were lucky that Mr. Grimes took you in, hoping maybe he could straighten out the mess in your blood. But it turns out you’re even more shameless than your mother was.”
The crowd erupted. Everyone in the business circle knew Shelby had been raised by Brandon. Matilda had once exposed Shelby and Brandon’s shady relationship.
The scandal hadn’t lasted long, but rumors had stuck. Plenty of people knew the two of them had been tangled up for years.
Matilda looked at Allen with admiration, moved by his thoughtfulness.
He had actually dug into Shelby’s past ahead of time, knowing she might pick on Matilda, just to defend her.
Her eyes lit up. “Thank you, Allen.”
Allen pulled her tighter into his arms, leaning close to the faint little mole under her right ear. “Now that you’re Jolene’s family, you’re my woman. No one gets to push you around.”
Matilda froze for a second before smiling at him. Her face looked pure and elegant, her eyes bright and steady.
Shelby’s face had turned ghostly pale with her background laid bare.
Brandon wrapped his arms around her, shielding her in his embrace.
He glared at Allen. “Her mother’s dead, Dr. Saunders. For you to tear into her like that is heartless and cruel. Show some respect.”
Matilda’s smile vanished. She said coldly, “Mr. Grimes, maybe you should first ask Shelby if she even knows what respecting others means.”
Afraid the truth about slapping Matilda might come out, Shelby quickly stopped Brandon. “Don’t say any more. We’re still at
school.”
The parents watching silently rolled their eyes. She knew they were at school, yet she still caused this mess.
The school staff rushed over and split into groups to calm everyone down. Only then did the four finally back off.
The drama had ended abruptly, leaving the parents feeling like the show had been cut short. That was when someone remembered the “punishment part” of the game.
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Chapter 42
Gillian awkwardly announced the losing side’s punishment: the parents had to kiss in public for one minute.
Normally, parents kissing wasn’t a big deal. But given Brandon and Shelby’s relationship, this was about to blow up. The crowd started cheering for Brandon to keep his word.
Shelby didn’t hesitate. She even put on an act of being considerate. “Brandon, don’t feel awkward. I’m fine with it-” Brandon clenched his fists, his gaze flicking toward Matilda.
But she didn’t spare him a glance-her eyes were only on Allen and Jolene.
His eyes darkened. When he looked back, he caught his reflection in Shelby’s eyes-her entire gaze was filled with him.
“Brandon, I’m willing to do anything for you. No complaints, no regrets,” Shelby said earnestly.
Slowly, Brandon unclenched his fists. He cupped Shelby’s face in both hands and kissed her hard.
Gasps broke out in the crowd.
Even before Matilda turned around, her eyes had already gone cold. She slowly turned her head, little by little, and her heart tightened.
Allen reached out and covered her eyes. “Don’t look.”
Matilda stubbornly pulled his hand away. She insisted on watching. Only by seeing it clearly could she let her heart completely die, so she wouldn’t go soft when facing Brandon in the future.
A full minute passed before Brandon finally let Shelby go. When he turned to look in a certain direction, Matilda was already gone.
He turned away, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and walked off to the rest area for water.
Jolene, holding an unopened bottle, kindly offered it to him. “Here, you can take this one.”
Brandon looked down at her, a strange, complicated feeling stirring inside him—something between like and dislike. Whatever it was, it made him uneasy.
Instead of taking her bottle, he walked around her and grabbed another one for himself.
Ignored, Jolene lowered her head sadly.
Matilda, having just washed her face, came back in time to see it. She went to comfort Jolene first, then turned to Brandon. “Anyone else can treat Jolene coldly, but not you.”
Brandon sneered, “I’m not like you. I only care about my own kid.”
Matilda said firmly, “Jolene is Dr. Fischer’s child. Dr. Fischer saved me-saved your child. Shouldn’t you be kinder to her kid?”
Brandon froze for a moment. A strange wave of relief washed over him. So Matilda cared so much for Jolene just because she was Edwina’s child.
But when he thought about her smile at Allen, his chest felt heavy and blocked. “And what about you, Matilda? Allen is Dr. Fischer’s husband. Shouldn’t you stay away from him? Yet you even say you love him-are you planning to repay kindness with betrayal?”
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Chapter 42
Matilda was stunned, unable to respond for a long moment.
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Allen, freshly changed, came looking for Matilda and Jolene. Jolene pointed him toward where Matilda and Brandon stood.
Allen followed her gesture. Just then, Brandon turned, and their eyes met across the space.
Brandon’s face was cold and distant. Allen’s gaze was steady and intense.
After Jolene received her medal, Matilda told her and Allen she had another appointment and wouldn’t be joining the
celebration.
Jolene looked a little disappointed but smiled anyway. “Thank you for today. I’ll never forget it.”
Allen asked, “Where are you going? I’ll drive you.”
“No need. I’ll grab a taxi, Matilda said.
“It’s still early. I don’t have anything else to do-” Allen pressed.
“Really, it’s not necessary.” With that, Matilda left the school, flagged down a cab, and quickly disappeared.
Allen stood there watching the direction she had gone, his heart unsettled. The warmth she had shown him earlier seemed to have cooled back to how it was before.
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