Chapter 293: Someone Is Spreading Rumors Behind Their Back

When Lancelot's voice rang out, both Sophia and the server's expressions shifted.

"Sir!"

The server was clearly excited, though when she turned to Lancelot, her face morphed into a wronged expression. "I know you might have a good relationship with this lady, but do you really know her?"

Lancelot's handsome face revealed no emotion. His voice was flat. "I wouldn't say I know her."

"So she could very well be deceiving you!" The server's smile was barely contained.

Lancelot said nothing more, just stared at the server, silently urging her to continue.

The server couldn't hold back any longer and blurted it out.

"A few days ago, a guest came and said there's a woman who specifically targets other people's boyfriends and husbands. She told us to be careful."

"After all, we're a hotel. Giving rooms to that kind of person really damages our reputation."

She shot Sophia a disdainful look before continuing. "So the manager had me specifically ask about this woman's situation. The guest showed me a photo of her—and it's her!"

She pointed at Sophia, triumph gleaming in her eyes.

Sophia's frown deepened. Being slandered like this, having someone point at her nose and curse—it was infuriating.

Lancelot hummed. "So your hotel, without any verification, just based on a few words from another guest, decided she's a problem?"

The server froze. This wasn't going how she'd imagined. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

The man's expression grew noticeably colder. "Aiden!"

"Yes!" Aiden responded immediately and pulled the server away.

She was still struggling when Lancelot walked to Sophia's side. "Figured out who it was?"

Sophia nodded, then shook her head. Her voice unconsciously carried a hint of grievance.

"Delta is the most likely, but right now she's..."

She paused, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Could it be that Vivian?"

She hadn't seen Vivian's face that day, but she'd heard the wariness in Lancelot's voice. And she'd hoped Vivian wouldn't see her—was it because she was afraid Vivian would come after her?

Her mind was in chaos. Lancelot shook his head. "If she's involved, her priority would naturally be rescuing Delta. She wouldn't rush to make a move against you."

Lancelot had people watching that situation.

Besides, if Vivian had really seen Sophia's photo, this wouldn't be such small-time harassment.

"I haven't offended anyone!" Sophia was frustrated, mentally sifting through everyone around her.

Lancelot ruffled her hair. "Let's eat first."

She was unhappy, but she knew this wasn't something that could be resolved quickly.

They headed toward the restaurant. As soon as Sophia walked in, someone grabbed her wrist.

"So it's you? You're even prettier in person than in the photos. You definitely have the assets to seduce people."

The man in front of her had clearly been drinking. He looked Sophia up and down without restraint, obvious admiration in his eyes.

He reached out to touch her face.

Shocked and furious, Sophia turned her head to dodge and looked at Lancelot.

Lancelot's handsome face had already darkened. His voice carried obvious chill. "Whichever hand you touch her face with, I'll chop it off."

The man was clearly a rich kid, with several similar types trailing behind him.

Facing Lancelot alone, why would he care?

He snorted coldly. "What, playing the hero? I've got my eye on this woman. I'm having her first today."

Sophia's face flushed with anger. When had she ever been treated like this?

Seeing her fury, Lancelot kicked a nearby chair at the man gripping her wrist.

The man cried out in pain but didn't release her wrist. Lancelot kicked toward his wrist again, pulling Sophia into his arms.

The man fell backward directly, letting out a scream. "You... do you know who I am? How dare you hit me!"

Lancelot looked down at him coldly. "Do you know who I am?"

"Why should I know who you are!"

"You dare touch my person without finding out who I am first. You'll die without even knowing why!"

The group of men had been drinking, but now they were basically sober.

They were all standard rich kids, used to being fawned over wherever they went. When had they ever been scolded like this?

They immediately started rolling up their sleeves.

At that moment, the manager rushed over, sweating profusely. "Mr. Clifford, this is all a misunderstanding."

He quickly restrained the rich kids who could barely contain their anger, making meaningful faces. "Mr. Langford, this is Mr. Clifford. He just acquired our hotel."

Mr. Langford was clearly familiar with the manager. Understanding his expression, he realized the man before him was someone he couldn't afford to provoke.

But pride wasn't so easily swallowed.

"So what, you acquired the hotel and now you're cocky? My father..."

"Mr. Langford." The manager pressed his hand down soothingly again. "The hotel was acquired by the Clifford Group."

Who in elite circles didn't know the Clifford Group? And who didn't know who Mr. Clifford was?

Now, they were completely sober.

No matter how much of jerks they were, they knew this was someone they couldn't mess with.

Their faces immediately looked unpleasant, but they still stiffly managed, "Sorry. Had too much to drink."

A completely perfunctory, dismissive attitude.

Lancelot's expression was displeased. He spoke coldly. "Don't you know who you should be apologizing to?"

"Apologize to her? She doesn't deserve it!" Mr. Langford rolled his eyes.

Lancelot was furious.

But his fury was the invisible kind. Still, his cold gaze was enough to send chills through anyone's heart.

Even Mr. Langford, backed by countless family assets, could barely withstand it.

But he remained stubborn. "What's with that look? Her photos are all over our circles. First she stole someone's fiancé, then she seduced you even though you have a girlfriend..."

He couldn't finish. Lancelot's gaze was too terrifying, making him wish he could disappear immediately.

Now Sophia finally understood completely.

Someone was spreading rumors behind her back, trying to completely destroy her reputation!

That's why the server and this rich kid dared act that way. Her "legend" had probably spread through the entire elite circle by now.

With these things, rumors spread in minutes. Trying to clear them up? Nearly impossible.

Sophia's expression darkened. Lancelot gently patted her back, offering comfort.

But both his gaze toward Mr. Langford and his tone carried ill intent.

"So, just based on hearsay, you dare lay hands on someone? The law doesn't apply to you?"

His lips curved, but his smile was full of cold intent. "Then I'll deal with you myself. Using your punishment as a warning to others should work pretty well, don't you think?"

Whether it would work well or not was unclear, but the person being made an example of was definitely unhappy.

Mr. Langford's face changed drastically. "You can't do this to me!"

The manager panicked too. If something happened to Mr. Langford on his watch, how could this possibly end well?

"Ms. Percy." He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "This whole thing was definitely instigated by some villain. Please, talk to Mr. Clifford."