Chapter 100

Chapter 100

After the ceremony ended, the banquet officially began. William took Ophelia's hand and walked to the center of the hall, greeting the business tycoons. Many of them recognized William and came over to chat with him.

When they saw Ophelia, everyone couldn't help but praise William for his good fortune in marrying such a beautiful and sensible wife. Quite a few tycoons, having heard that Ophelia was in charge of cultural tourism projects at the Smith Group and had great ideas, actively exchanged contact information with her, hoping to collaborate in the future.

"Mrs. Brown is so young yet has such a sharp business mind. We should work together sometime."

"Mrs. Brown is not only beautiful but also so knowledgeable—truly rare. Here's my card, let's keep in touch."

Ophelia gracefully greeted each tycoon, exchanged business cards, and conversed appropriately without any sign of nervousness. William stood beside her, watching her shine, his eyes full of pride and affection.

Meanwhile, Marcella was completely left out in the cold. No one talked to her or paid her any attention. She stood alone in a corner, watching Ophelia surrounded by everyone, seething with hatred.

The banquet was in full swing when Ophelia finished discussing a collaboration with one tycoon and turned to look for William. A woman dressed in Brown family servant's clothing approached, bowing as she spoke.

"Ms. Blake, Mrs. Marcella Brown says the breeze by the pool is nice and asked me to invite you over. She says she has a few words she'd like to say to you."

Ophelia raised an eyebrow. She knew perfectly well that Marcella couldn't hold back anymore and wanted to cause trouble. During the ceremony, Marcella had been making snide remarks at every turn. Now that she was calling her over privately, there was no way it would be anything good.

She wasn't the least bit worried—in fact, she thought it was just as well. Better than having Marcella scheming behind her back. Might as well clear the air face-to-face.

"Alright, I'll come with you." Ophelia agreed, excused herself from the tycoon beside her, and followed the servant toward the pool.

As she walked, she deliberately glanced in William's direction and saw him talking with Xavier. His eyes swept over and met hers. She nodded slightly to indicate she was fine. William frowned but didn't immediately follow, though his gaze stayed on her retreating figure.

There weren't many people by the pool, and the evening breeze was indeed refreshing. Marcella was leaning against the railing, holding a glass of red wine. When she saw Ophelia approach, she immediately dismissed the servant.

With only Marcella and Ophelia left, Marcella's fake smile instantly vanished, her eyes full of undisguised contempt and jealousy.

"Ophelia, you've got some nerve showing up," Marcella spoke first, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Don't think that just because you gave the elders some gifts today, you've secured your place in the Brown family."

Ophelia walked over and leaned against the railing opposite her, arms crossed, showing no fear. "You didn't call me over just to say that nonsense, did you?"

Her composure made Marcella even angrier. Marcella downed her wine in one gulp, slammed the glass on the railing, and raised her voice.

"I just wanted to tell you—you're not worthy of being William's wife! What's your background? A daughter of the Smith family who was lost and raised elsewhere. Everyone knows what kind of life you lived before!"

"William dotes on you now, but it's just the novelty wearing off. Once he gets over it, you'll see which Brown family elder still acknowledges you. I bet you used some tricks to fool William and schemed your way into marrying him!"

Every word targeted her so-called background. Anyone else might have gotten angry, but Ophelia felt nothing. She had never been ashamed of her background. Getting to where she was today through her own abilities made her far better than someone like Marcella, who only gained her footing by marrying into the Brown family.

She laughed lightly, looking at Marcella. "Marcella, you're saying all this because you're just bitter inside."

"You see how well William and I get along, you see how the Brown family elders like me, and you're jealous. At the end of the day, it's because your own husband Finnian can't compare to William. He's incompetent, which makes you unable to hold your head up in the Brown family, so you take your frustration out on me."

Ophelia's words hit the mark precisely, striking Marcella's sorest spot. In all her years married into the Brown family, Finnian had been mediocre, not even a tenth as capable as William. Though the family elders didn't say it outright, she knew they looked down on Finnian, and by extension, were only superficially polite to her.

Marcella's face instantly turned purple with rage. She pointed at Ophelia's nose, unable to speak for a long moment. "You... you're talking nonsense! Finnian just doesn't want to compete!"

"Whether it's nonsense or not, you know best in your own heart," Ophelia said calmly. "Instead of wasting time on me, you'd better manage your own husband and stop obsessing over other people's lives."

Just then, footsteps approached from nearby. Marcella caught sight of William coming over from the corner of her eye. A flash of malice crossed her eyes, and a vicious idea suddenly emerged.

Marcella suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Ophelia's wrist tightly, gripping so hard it hurt. Using the momentum of their bodies pressing together, she deliberately staggered backward two steps, then suddenly released her hand and fell straight toward the pool.

Before falling into the water, she deliberately raised her voice in a shrill scream: "Ophelia, how dare you push me!"

The scream shattered the quiet by the pool, particularly piercing.

William had just turned around the pool corridor when he witnessed this scene—Marcella falling into the pool with a huge splash, and Ophelia standing alone by the poolside.

His steps stopped abruptly, his heart clenched, and he immediately looked at Ophelia. Seeing her standing there calmly, without any panic that would follow pushing someone, only her wrist was red from being grabbed, which she was unconsciously rubbing.

William's anxious heart immediately settled. He knew Ophelia too well—she had a gentle nature and would never push anyone, no matter how angry she got. Something was definitely wrong here.

He strode forward, immediately shielding Ophelia behind him without a word, his cold eyes sweeping toward Marcella in the pool, the chill in his gaze almost freezing, his tone even colder without a trace of warmth.

"Have you made enough of a scene?"

After falling into the water, Marcella flailed a few times before steadying herself. The pool water reached her chest, and the icy water made her shiver, but she couldn't care about that. She immediately started crying and shouting at the top of her lungs, loud enough to make sure people in the distance could hear.

"William! Look at her! Ophelia got angry after I exposed her schemes and pushed me into the water! She's a vicious woman!"

"I was kindly talking to her, and she actually laid hands on me! You have to stand up for me!"