Chapter 237 The Rules of the Hensley Family
Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, a cold voice came from nearby.
"What's all this commotion about?"
Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Dione slowly approaching, surrounded by a group of wealthy ladies.
Today she wore a sapphire blue luxury suit with a large pearl necklace around her neck. Her makeup was exquisite, her manner haughty—the perfect picture of a noble hostess.
The moment Anna saw Dione, her eyes lit up, and feelings of grievance and desire to complain surged up all at once.
"Mrs. Hensley, you're finally here! If you hadn't come, we would have been bullied terribly!" She quickly went up to her, affectionately linking arms with Dione, her voice tinged with tears.
Dione frowned, her gaze sweeping across the scene before finally landing on Cecilia, who was being protected by Stefan. Her eyes immediately turned cold.
It's because of Amelia again.
I knew it—wherever Amelia is, nothing good happens.
"What's going on?" Dione's tone was very displeased.
Elise immediately rushed to complain, recounting what had just happened with plenty of embellishment.
Of course, Elise completely left out the fact that she had provoked them first, only portraying herself and Anna as victims who had been unreasonably humiliated by Amelia.
"Mrs. Hensley, you don't know how awful Amelia was! We kindly greeted her, and not only did she not appreciate it, she called us walking price tags and said we were tacky! When Anna spoke up for me, Amelia cursed at Anna too, saying we weren't worthy of talking to her!" Elise spoke with tears in her eyes, looking as wronged as could be.
Some guests who didn't know the truth looked at Cecilia with strange expressions after hearing this.
After all, Anna and Elise were both well-known noble ladies—being publicly humiliated like this did seem a bit much.
Dione's expression grew even darker.
What she valued most was dignity. In her view, Amelia embarrassing Anna in public was showing Dione disrespect and bringing shame to the Hensley family.
Dione looked coldly at Cecilia and scolded her: "Ms. Martinez, is this your upbringing? Even if you didn't want to, Anna and Elise kindly greeted you—you shouldn't have been so aggressive and hurtful with your words. The Hensley family cannot tolerate someone so ill-mannered!"
These words were extremely harsh.
Anna and Elise's faces immediately showed triumphant smiles.
We have Dione backing us up—let's see how arrogant you can be now!
Before Cecilia could speak, Robert and Mabel, standing beside her, changed expressions first.
Though Robert and Mabel couldn't quite understand those insights about fashion and brands, they heard Dione's words about "ill-mannered people" loud and clear.
She was looking down on Cecilia, looking down on their family!
Robert and Mabel had been honest and decent their whole lives. Hearing Dione criticize Cecilia so mercilessly in front of so many people, they felt terrible.
Mabel's eyes immediately reddened, and she helplessly tugged at Robert's sleeve.
Robert's face was also iron-blue, his lips pressed tightly together, his fists clenched—clearly very angry.
Cecilia felt Robert and Mabel's tension and sadness. Her heart ached, and anger flared up inside her.
I can endure any humiliation and difficulties Dione throws at me, but I absolutely cannot tolerate her hurting Robert and Mabel.
Just as Cecilia was about to fight back, Stefan took her hand first, giving her a reassuring look.
Then Stefan stepped forward, standing in front of Cecilia, Robert, and Mabel, facing Dione's anger alone.
"Mom." Stefan's voice was calm but carried an undeniable force. "You just said the Hensley family cannot tolerate ill-mannered people. So I'd like to ask—what kind of manners count as Hensley family manners?"
Dione was stunned, not expecting Stefan to question her publicly.
"Our Hensley family's manners are being modest and polite, respecting elders, and treating people kindly!" Dione said sternly.
"Good." Stefan nodded, his gaze turning to Anna and Elise, his eyes suddenly turning cold. "Then I'd like to ask Ms. Clark and Ms. Russell—publicly speaking rudely to Amelia and her family, mocking and ridiculing them—does that count as being modest and polite?"
"I..." Elise felt guilty under his gaze and stammered, unable to speak.
"I didn't!" Anna immediately denied it, looking innocent. "Stefan, you misunderstood. We just wanted to be friends with Ms. Martinez—she's just too sensitive."
"Sensitive?" Stefan laughed coldly. "Throwing around words like country bumpkin and low birth—that's called making friends? Anna, do you think I'm deaf or blind?"
Stefan's tone wasn't loud, but every word was full of coldness, lowering the temperature around them.
Anna's face immediately turned pale.
Even Dione's expression changed.
Though I don't like Amelia, I hate being used even more. If Anna and the others really provoked them first, then my accusatory speech just now became a joke.
"Stefan, what did you hear?" Dione's tone carried a hint of doubt.
"What I heard doesn't matter." Stefan's gaze swept across Anna and Elise's faces before returning to Dione. "What matters is that I only believe what I saw with my own eyes. What I saw was that after Amelia and her family entered this banquet hall, they kept to themselves and didn't provoke anyone. Instead, certain people took the initiative to approach them and did everything they could to provoke and humiliate Amelia and her family."
He paused, his voice growing even colder: "Mom, you just said the Hensley family cannot tolerate ill-mannered people. I agree. Someone like Anna—two-faced, vicious-minded, and stirring up trouble—really doesn't deserve to marry into the Hensley family."
"Since everyone is here, let's all bear witness. The engagement between the Clark family and the Hensley family is officially canceled today! From now on, our two families have nothing to do with each other!"
"Stefan, you!" Anna trembled with anger, tears welling up in her eyes.
I never thought Stefan would say such absolute things in front of so many people to protect Amelia, leaving me no dignity at all.
This time, not only Anna but even Dione couldn't maintain her expression.
"Stefan! Shut your mouth!" Dione was so angry her voice changed pitch. "For Amelia's sake, you won't even listen to me anymore? Let me tell you, as long as I'm alive, I will never agree to let her marry you!"
Dione and Stefan arguing publicly made the scene quite ugly.
The surrounding guests didn't dare breathe loudly, each one looking down, pretending they saw nothing.
This was Hensley family business—who would dare say anything!
Cecilia looked at Stefan standing in front of her, then at Dione whose face was blue with anger. Her feelings were mixed.
Cecilia tugged at Stefan's sleeve, signaling him to say less. She didn't want the relationship between Dione and Stefan to completely break down because of her.
But just then, Mabel, who had been silent all along, suddenly made a move.