Chapter 82
"Man, today's news is just one bombshell after another. I don't even know where to start, it's all too much."
"Is the drama between the Smiths and the Browns really that crazy? Who's even with who anymore?"
Even though they were whispering, the room was so quiet that James and Sophia could hear every word.
James ignored them and kept pressing on.
"What's going on? Don't you get what I'm saying? I'll ask one last time: who hurt Sophia?"
The room's atmosphere turned icy, and James's usually handsome face now looked menacing.
James furrowed his brows, his fierce gaze sweeping over everyone.
Just then, someone nearby spoke up timidly, pointing at Veda and Hazel.
"It was them. Ms. Brown was just having her pastries when they came over and started trouble, which led to the fight."
"Earlier, Hazel even slapped Ms. Brown, and during the scuffle between Ms. Brown and Veda, the wound started bleeding."
Veda's face went pale instantly, her legs shaking with nerves. She couldn't meet James's eyes, her gaze darting around anxiously.
"Mr. Smith, it's not like they said. Sophia and I weren't fighting. I just tripped, and when Sophia tried to help me, she might have accidentally pulled at her wound."
Hazel quickly nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, yeah, we really weren't fighting. When Veda fell, we didn't know Sophia was hurt. If we had known, I wouldn't have let her help Veda."
The people nearby were stunned.
"They're such good actors. Do they think we're blind? They were clearly about to fight, and they said so many nasty things. Now they're trying to pass it off as a misunderstanding."
"Exactly. And Hazel started it. If she hadn't, Ms. Brown wouldn't have had to defend herself."
James heard all of this, and his expression grew even colder.
"Do you really have to provoke her? What did she do to deserve this from you two?"
Hazel was terrified, feeling her blood run cold.
"Mr. Smith, please don't be mad. It's not our fault. Sophia has always been stubborn and headstrong. As her stepmother, I was just trying to correct her behavior so she could maintain her dignity in public. I didn't expect her to react so strongly."
"If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered and let her embarrass herself."
Sophia was so furious she almost laughed.
Hazel really knew how to twist the truth! She couldn't believe the situation was being explained this way.
"When did my woman need you to lecture her? Hazel, don't you think you're overstepping?"
Hazel's face turned white, and she looked at James with fear. Despite her terror, she had to find a way out of this situation in front of so many people.
"Mr. Smith, I don't understand. Isn't Sophia engaged to Chase? How is she now your woman?"
James knew Hazel was deliberately saying this to make the Smith family's private life seem chaotic and to paint Sophia as a promiscuous woman.
Just as James was about to lose his temper, Hayden squeezed through the crowd.
He had been discussing business with a CEO and only realized something was wrong when the commotion started.
"Mr. Smith, I'm sorry. I was caught up in work and didn't notice you."
Hayden had planned to stay at the entrance to greet James as soon as he arrived, but he turned around to find James already in the crowd.
Apologetically, he hurried over to James, but James didn't seem to hear him, completely ignoring Hayden.
"Hayden, perfect timing. Do you know what your wife and precious daughter have been up to?"
Hayden turned around, confused, and looked at Veda and Hazel.
"What happened? What did you two do now?"
Hazel's face was tense, and she quickly tried to explain.
"It's a misunderstanding, really!"
Veda also stepped forward to defend her mother.
"Yeah, Dad, it was just a misunderstanding. Sophia's overreacting. And her wound wasn't caused by us; she was already hurt. She just got too emotional and aggravated it."
Even with James present, Hazel and Veda continued to argue, completely ignoring Sophia and James.
One of the bystanders, who knew Hayden, stepped forward and whispered to him.
"Hayden, you should investigate this properly. Your wife and daughter bullied Sophia. If it were anyone else, it might not matter, but Sophia knows James. You don't want to offend him."
Hearing this, Hayden's face darkened. He didn't need to investigate; he already knew what had happened.
"Hazel, you and Veda are always up to no good. I didn't need a date for this event. Why are you here?"
Hazel was shocked and instinctively took a step back. She had hoped to deceive Hayden, but he was clearly afraid of James.
"Hayden, I was worried you'd drink too much at the event. Every time you attend one of these, you come home either with a stomachache or a headache. I was concerned about your health!"
Now that James was involved, Hayden was furious. He had hoped to use this event to talk to James, but Hazel and Veda had ruined it.
"Why don't you worry about yourself!"
With that, Hayden turned to James, his face full of sincere regret.