Chapter 102

Chapter 102

"Looking for someone?"

Zoey acted like she'd heard a joke. She scoffed and stepped forward, almost pressing right up to Teresa's face, her lowered voice full of provocation.

"Looking for who? Don't tell me you're here to find Michael? Ms. Bennett, not to be rude, but people need to know their place."

Though her voice was lowered, in this suddenly quiet area, it still carried clearly to those around them.

"Michael helped you out of kindness, because he's a good person, because of Mr. Watson's sake. Don't get the wrong idea about yourself and overestimate your importance, following him to an event like this."

Zoey let out a light snort, her disdainful gaze sweeping across Teresa's face.

"If word gets out, it won't look good for the Watson Group or your own reputation,"

She deliberately paused, looking around, enjoying Teresa's increasingly ugly expression and the knowing contempt in the eyes of those around them, before continuing slowly.

"People who don't know better might think you came here to seduce men."

This last sentence completely ignited the scorn in everyone's eyes, and whispers buzzed around them.

Teresa suddenly looked up, her body swaying almost imperceptibly.

She closed her eyes, her hands hanging at her sides clenched and trembling slightly.

She could endure Zoey's harassment, could endure everyone's stares, but the accusation of seducing men was not only an insult to her character, but a complete denial of all her efforts and dedication.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood, barely managing to suppress the rebuttal that was about to burst out.

She couldn't lose her composure here.

Her purpose for coming here wasn't to argue with Zoey or defend her self-respect.

With this thought, Teresa's heart gradually calmed down.

She raised her head, the burning anger in her eyes becoming calm and still. Looking at Zoey's pretty face full of malice, she exhaled and spoke again.

"I'm looking for Dr. Reed. If you don't know where Dr. Reed is, please let me know and I'll find him myself. As for this party, I have no intention of attending."

Hearing this, Zoey froze.

Teresa had completely ignored her mockery. She also hadn't expected that in such an awkward situation, Teresa could remain this calm and even turn the tables.

"Looking for my brother?"

Zoey snapped back, her voice even shriller, with undisguised mockery.

"Ms. Bennett, if you're going to make up lies, at least make them believable. My brother is a psychologist, not some business partner the Watson Group can recruit."

Suddenly thinking of something, Zoey had a moment of realization. She looked Teresa up and down and spoke meaningfully: "What do you want with him? Oh, I get it now. Could it be that you have psychological problems yourself, or are you trying to use that pitiful act of yours—"

More unpleasant words were about to come out.

"Zoey."

A cool male voice, emotionless yet carrying natural authority, rang out at just the right volume, cutting off Zoey's words.

The voice wasn't stern, but strangely made the noisy surroundings instantly quiet, and made the smug expression on Zoey's face freeze immediately, a flash of panic in her eyes.

Everyone looked toward the voice.

A young man in a perfectly tailored dark gray custom suit with a tall, upright figure walked over slowly.

He wore a pair of delicate gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, his eyes behind the lenses calm and deep, his features handsome, his manner cool and refined.

Especially the aura he was born with made him naturally become the center of attention as soon as he appeared.

It was the Reed Family's eldest son, Henry Reed, Zoey's brother, and also the other true host of tonight's party.

Teresa froze, her clenched hands unconsciously relaxing.

If she wasn't mistaken, the person before her was the Dr. Reed she was looking for, and also Zoey's brother.

Seeing who it was, Zoey's arrogant attitude visibly deflated. A flash of discomfort crossed her face, but more than that was unwillingness and grievance. She stamped her foot: "Henry—"

"I told you to mind the occasion."

Henry's gaze swept lightly over Zoey, his tone not harsh but carrying invisible pressure that made Zoey immediately fall silent.

Zoey, rebuffed, bit her lip and glared angrily at Teresa.

Only then did Henry turn his gaze to Teresa, who was surrounded by the crowd. He narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked her over.

Teresa wore a plain, simple dress completely out of place with this glamorous occasion. Her face was somewhat pale, her lips even showing a shallow wound where she'd bitten them, but her back was straight.

Even after being publicly humiliated like this, beyond the suppressed humiliation in her eyes, there was more of a determined, desperate resolve.

A flicker of something obscure passed through Henry's eyes.

He'd seen too many people who, under Zoey's verbal attacks and the Reed Family's intimidating presence, became complete messes—crying and begging, or flying into embarrassed rages.

People like the one before him, who could remain calm and composed in such an awkward situation, were rare.

"Zoey was rude. I apologize on her behalf."

Henry nodded slightly toward Teresa, his tone polite: "I wonder what brings you here?"

The whispers around them grew louder.

Henry was personally apologizing to this uninvited woman?

Teresa's heart pounded heavily. She steadied her racing heart and met Henry's scrutinizing gaze, pressing her lips together: "Dr. Reed, I'm terribly sorry for the intrusion. I have some questions I'd like to ask you—"

Before she could finish, the door to the inner room opened.

Michael came out accompanying a white-haired elderly man with a sharp spirit and natural authority, apparently disturbed by the commotion outside.

Michael spotted Teresa immediately. He froze, then his gaze shifted to see Zoey glaring at her from across the way, and he instantly understood.

His expression changed dramatically. He immediately released his supporting hold on Trevor Reed's arm and quickly walked over.

"Teresa? What are you doing here?"

Michael's voice was full of surprise. Without waiting for Teresa to answer, almost instinctively, he stepped half a position in front of Teresa, facing Henry.

His brow furrowed slightly: "Henry, what's going on here?"

This unconscious, protective gesture stabbed hard into Zoey's eyes.

At the same time, it also fell into the sight of Simon, who had been watching the situation from not far away.

Simon's fingers gripping his champagne glass had tightened fiercely, his knuckles white.

Smart as he was, when Teresa said she came here wanting to find Dr. Reed, he had already guessed her intention.