Chapter 42 You Are Really Confused
Sloane's POV
She knew my pride, and she saw through my stubbornness.
Just then, a jarring voice cut in, "Mother, are you going senile?"
I looked over to see a well-dressed middle-aged man with a rather mean-looking face approaching. The way he looked at me was like I was some cheap merchandise. "How can you let yourself be fooled by this kind of woman?"
I recognized him—Jared's uncle, Amos Montclair.
A notorious snob.
He walked up to Grandma, his face full of disapproval as he tried to persuade her, "Jared is our family's heir. His wife must be a well-matched lady from a good family, not some woman of unknown origin with just a bit of cunning! By elevating her like this, you're only going to harm Jared and make the entire Montclair family a laughingstock!"
His words were extremely harsh, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall, which had just started to ease, plunged to freezing point again.
I lowered my eyes, my fingertips ice-cold.
"Shut up."
A cool voice filled with overwhelming pressure came from beside me.
I looked up in surprise to see his tall figure completely shielding me from behind.
He looked at Amos, his dark eyes filled with undisguised warning and menace.
"My wife is not for you to judge." He spoke each word deliberately, his voice not loud but clearly carrying throughout the entire hall. "I know better than anyone what kind of person she is. From now on, anyone who dares to gossip about her casually is making an enemy of me."
He declared his claim so naturally, and that domineering possessiveness became, in this moment, the most solid shield, blocking all the malice directed at me.
I stared blankly at his broad back, my heartbeat completely out of control.
Amos's face flushed red with anger, and he was about to say something more when Grandma slammed her hand on the wheelchair armrest.
"You bastard! Get out!" Grandma pointed at Amos's nose, trembling with rage. "Sloane is the granddaughter-in-law I personally chose for Jared, the properly married lady of the Montclair family! Who the hell are you to comment here? When did our family affairs become your business? Get out!"
Grandma's authority was formidable. Her words left Amos's face alternating between green and white, and he could only slink away under the amused gazes of the crowd, "escorted" out by the butler.
"Grandma, don't be angry. Getting upset over someone like that isn't worth it." Seeing her chest heaving continuously, I quickly knelt down and gently patted her back to calm her, full of concern. "The doctor said you can't get emotionally worked up."
Grandma's breathing gradually calmed down. She grabbed my hand that was patting her back, then pulled over Jared's hand as he stood silently nearby, placing our hands together.
Her palm was warm and dry, carrying the strength that comes with the passage of time.
"Jared," Grandma looked at him, her eyes more serious than ever, "Sloane is a good girl. Don't let her down."
Jared lowered his eyes, looking at our clasped hands. His Adam's apple bobbed, and finally, he nodded and gripped my hand even tighter.
That warm touch was like an electric current, shooting from my fingertips to my heart, bringing an unfamiliar tingling sensation.
Just as the atmosphere was getting delicate, there was suddenly a commotion at the door.
"Jared!" A sickeningly sweet voice rang out.
I didn't need to look to know who had arrived.
Keira, wearing a pink off-shoulder cocktail dress and holding onto Isabelle's arm, was walking toward us with delight written all over her face.
She seemed oblivious to the heavy atmosphere around us and walked straight to Jared's side, trying to link her arm with his intimately.
But Jared calmly stepped back, avoiding her touch.
He looked at Keira, his eyes cold as ice. "What are you doing here?"
Keira's smile froze for a moment, her eyes instantly reddening as she bit her lip pitifully. "I... I just heard that Grandma wasn't feeling well, so I wanted to come see her..."
"Jared, is this how you're going to treat Miss Winslow?" A steady male voice spoke up, clearly displeased.
I looked up to see a middle-aged man who resembled Jared somewhat but appeared more authoritative approaching.
He was Jared's father, my father-in-law, Aeneas Montclair.
He didn't even glance at me, walking straight to Keira's side and comforting her gently, "Keira, don't mind this brat. That's just how he is. Don't take it to heart."
Then he turned cold, scolding Jared, "Is this how you treat guests? Keira is a guest, and she's like a sister who watched you grow up. Is this how you treat her?"
Aeneas's rebuke crashed down on them, instantly extinguishing the bit of warmth that had just risen in the banquet hall from Jared's protection.
Everyone's attention focused on the center of this sudden family storm.
Seeing this, Keira immediately dropped her tearful act and walked up to Jared understandingly, gently tugging at his sleeve. "Jared, don't be like this. Uncle Aeneas is just concerned about you. I'm sure Sloane didn't mean to make everyone unhappy. She probably... just isn't used to this kind of occasion."
Her words seemed to excuse me, but every sentence actually implied that I didn't know proper etiquette, that I had disrupted the banquet and caused the father and son to clash.
Aeneas naturally followed her lead and turned his criticism directly on me.
Those eyes, similar to Jared's but more cutting, looked me up and down without hiding his contempt and disdain.
"Not used to it? I'd say she's just not good enough!" He snorted coldly, his voice not loud but clear enough for everyone nearby to hear. "This kind of woman has completely embarrassed the Montclair family!"
My fingers tightened around my wine glass, the cold liquid unable to cool the stinging pain in my palm.
"Father." Jared's voice turned cold. He pulled me another half-step behind him, his tall frame forming an impenetrable wall. "She is my wife. Watch your words."
"Your wife?" Aeneas's face turned iron-blue at being contradicted, and he laughed in anger. "For some woman of unknown origin, you dare talk back to your own father now? Come to the study with me!"
With that, he turned with a cold face and headed toward the study.
"Aeneas." Just then, a cool, elegant voice stopped him.
Annette walked over gracefully, wine glass in hand. She still wore a proper smile, but her eyes were sharp as knives, shooting straight at Keira and Isabelle behind Aeneas. "I don't seem to recall Miss Winslow and her mother being on tonight's guest list."
Aeneas paused mid-step and turned back with a displeased frown. "They're my guests. Keira is like a daughter to me. What's wrong with her coming to see my mother?"
A mocking curve appeared on Annette's lips. "All I know is that I gave birth to a son, and tonight is the occasion for Jared to formally introduce his wife to everyone. You bring two unrelated people here to cause trouble—are you deliberately trying to embarrass your daughter-in-law?"
The atmosphere between them instantly became tense, ready to explode.
Watching this scene, I ultimately didn't want Annette to get dragged deeper into family conflict because of me.
I stepped forward and gently held Annette's arm, speaking calmly, "Mother, Father, let's not hurt our relationship over such a small matter. I'm sure Father just wanted to make the banquet livelier."
My words brought a slight easing to the tense atmosphere.
Jared looked down at me, his expression complicated. He squeezed my hand tighter and whispered in my ear, "Wait here for me. Don't worry."