Chapter 294: Love Turns to Hate

Talk him down?

Sophia wanted to tear the man in front of her to shreds!

But she knew that wouldn't solve anything. Lancelot's method was actually more useful.

Mr. Langford's father was a board member of the Clifford Group. His shares weren't significant, but he was from Lancelot's father's generation and had deep ties with Wesley.

If they really moved against Mr. Langford, it would likely shake the Clifford Group.

Sophia pressed her lips together, pushing down her fury, and looked up at Lancelot.

"Go after whoever started this. He just believed rumors. Let it go."

Let it go?

As if. She was just swallowing her grievance for the Clifford Group's benefit.

Lancelot's thin lips slowly pressed into a straight line. The coldness in his eyes didn't diminish. "How can we just let this go? Mr. Langford has quite the network. Finding out who's behind this shouldn't be difficult, should it?"

He looked over coldly, at least giving him a chance.

Not delivering a killing blow, but making him find the person behind it all.

Mr. Langford froze. Under the manager's urging, he finally agreed.

The manager bowed and scraped apologetically some more before the farce finally ended.

But even with the delicious aromas wafting from the table, Sophia had lost her appetite.

Who could eat after being cursed at like that?

Besides, the manager kept wiping his sweat beside them, his face plastered with an ingratiating smile, though his anxiety and fear were plain to see.

"Mr. Clifford, why didn't you let us know you were coming? The staff was neglectful."

Lancelot methodically placed Sophia's favorite dishes on her plate before speaking lightly. "If I hadn't come, how would I know a few random words could become hotel gossip?"

The manager groaned internally.

In the hotel business, guests bringing mistresses was nothing new.

But they were a high-end hotel. Naturally, they wanted to avoid scenes of wealthy wives catching cheating husbands—that would damage the company's reputation too much.

Plus, with the recent change in ownership, he'd wanted to make a good impression.

When that guest had gossiped the other day, he'd paid special attention and had people memorize Sophia's face to prevent any adultery scandals from ruining the hotel's reputation and to leave a good impression on the new boss.

Who knew that instead of a good impression, now he didn't know if he could even keep his job!

He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Mr. Clifford, initially I was just worried about the hotel's reputation..."

"And now?"

"This... this..."

He couldn't get the words out. Lancelot didn't expect him to and instead had Aiden immediately investigate the matter.

They had to find out who was pulling strings behind the scenes.

As for those men earlier, he didn't give them a second thought.

They were fine for eating, drinking, and playing around, but for digging up this kind of information? Probably useless.

Besides, seeing Sophia's obvious loss of appetite, Lancelot was in a foul mood.

"Eat. Don't let them ruin your mood."

Sophia wanted to force a smile to reassure him, but thinking about all the people spreading these rumors behind her back, a vein throbbed at her temple. How could she eat?

As for inspecting the hotel, that mood was completely gone too.

"Mr. Clifford, I should head back to the office. The hotel inspection..."

"Stay." He cut her off lightly. "If you leave like this, people will think you were scared off."

"..."

Not exactly scared off, but continuing to stay here—she really wasn't in the mood.

But when Sophia met Lancelot's eyes, she couldn't refuse.

Lancelot waved the manager away and spoke quietly. "Don't punish yourself for other people's mistakes. Your stomach already isn't good. If you get so upset you won't eat, aren't you just playing into the hands of those spreading rumors about you?"

Sophia opened her mouth, then closed it, completely hesitant.

"If you want to say something, just say it."

"Now... I have a pretty good idea who's spreading rumors."

She hadn't thought of that person before because they had no connection, let alone any conflict.

But hearing those rumors now, it wasn't hard to figure out who was behind it.

Brielle.

She and Lancelot had gone on a blind date before. News even spread that their date was successful, and she'd followed Lancelot all the way to Lincoln.

But Lancelot hadn't given Brielle the time of day. In fact, he'd said he'd rejected her during the blind date itself.

So love turned to hate, and the target of revenge became Sophia?

Sophia groaned internally.

Earlier in the elevator, when she'd seen the photo on her colleague's phone—of her and Lancelot dining in Lincoln—she hadn't thought much of it.

Now she realized Brielle's methods were truly ruthless!

Spreading rumors like this was meant to completely destroy her reputation.

Never mind that she and Lancelot had nothing going on—even if they did, she'd be labeled a 'homewrecker who got promoted.' Add in her divorce, and what reputation would she have left?

But still...

Brielle was, after all, the Medici family's daughter. While their business ties with the Clifford Group weren't particularly tight, they were still business partners.

Just blurting out her name felt inappropriate.

Lancelot narrowed his eyes but said it for her. "Is it Brielle?"

Sophia was staying at the Clifford Group to repay him, not to cause him trouble.

Right now, she could only swallow her grievance. "Brielle probably just misunderstood. If we talk to her, we should be able to clear things up."

"You've been bullied this badly and you still want to talk?" Lancelot looked at her, his eyes full of both heartache and helplessness. "Where's that fire you show when you're mad at me?"

Sophia felt wronged. Where would she dare lose her temper with Lancelot?

Well, except when she was drunk and forcibly kissed him, groped him, and tried to sleep with him... Okay, she'd already been outrageously bold. Those were things most people only dared think about, not actually do.

Sophia pouted, her voice low. "If it's not handled well, it'll affect the partnership between our families."

"The person who did wrong isn't worried. What are you afraid of?"

Lancelot's voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight, giving Sophia psychological support.

He was right. Brielle spread the rumors. Sophia was just seeking justice for herself.

If Brielle wasn't worried about affecting the partnership, why should she be?

"Silly." Lancelot looked at her slightly brightening eyes and sighed softly. "Eat first. I'll definitely give you an explanation for this."

Having roughly figured out the source of the rumors, Sophia felt more settled.

Solutions always outnumber problems.

She ate—not enthusiastically, but happily enough.

After the meal, Aiden reported on what he'd found.

"Initially, Brielle posted Sophia's photo in a group chat, saying her blind date got stolen. She also took things out of context, claiming Delta's fiancé was stolen."

Any woman in any circle despised homewreckers, especially in high society where catching mistresses was as common as whack-a-mole.

They immediately spread Sophia's photo on their own, smearing her reputation.

Now the entire circle basically believed Sophia specialized in seducing other people's men.

Aiden scratched his head. This had blown up so big—it was hard to handle.

After all, bankrupting a company with one sentence was something from novels. No matter how capable Lancelot was, he couldn't just destroy the Medici family!