Chapter 154 Provoking Carol
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of Carol's private residence, casting warm patches of light across the polished teak floors.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of premium Ethiopian coffee beans, mingled with the fragrant scent of roses drifting in from the garden. Delicate bone china coffee cups gleamed softly on a small round table draped with snow-white lace.
Emily sat across from Carol in an impeccably tailored pearl-white suit, her posture graceful and elegant. Despite having just fought and won a tough battle, she showed no trace of fatigue; instead, her eyes were bright and alert.
The two women were exchanging opinions about the details of a haute couture collection.
Just then, the sharp click of high heels shattered the peaceful atmosphere. The partially closed door to the sitting room was rudely shoved open, and Clara's face, twisted with jealousy and hatred, appeared in the doorway.
"Well, well, Ms. Johnson certainly has time to relax, sipping coffee here?" Clara's voice dripped with jealousy, radiating an air of hostility.
Her gaze swept over Carol with no respect whatsoever, instead carrying a condescending, charitable air. "I suppose you must be Carol, the head of Glamour Gem Group?"
Carol's brow furrowed slightly, but her composure kept her from getting angry. She simply set down the delicate bone china cup in her hand and said calmly, "What do you want with me?"
Clara puffed out her chest and spoke, "I'm here on business, naturally. Carol, let me give you some advice—if you know what's good for you, you should cut all ties with Emily immediately!"
She pointed at Emily. "She's made an enemy of the Scott family! If you continue working with her, you're making an enemy of the Scott family and my Aunt Daphne! I'm sure you understand the consequences of crossing the Scott family, don't you?"
She had been worried that Charles had already revealed the whole truth to Emily, but a full day had passed, and Emily hadn't confronted the Scott family. Perhaps Charles hadn't found solid evidence and hadn't told Emily about the Campbell family's secrets.
This thought comforted Clara.
The air in the sitting room instantly turned frigid.
Emily's gaze turned cold, but she didn't speak immediately. Instead, she quietly looked toward Carol.
The serene expression on Carol's well-maintained face finally vanished. She slowly rose to her feet, radiating the displeasure of someone accustomed to commanding from on high who had just been challenged by an ant.
She didn't even glance at Clara again, instead addressing the butler standing by the door, "Bring me my phone."
She picked up the vintage, solid gold phone and dialed a number with composed elegance.
When the call connected, Carol dispensed with pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Daphne, you have ten minutes. Get over to my sitting room immediately and collect that arrogant little nobody who dared to have come here and threaten me on your behalf! Otherwise, I'll discipline her myself and make sure all of Emerald City knows exactly what kind of family values the Scott family teaches!"
Without waiting for a response, Carol hung up.
She picked up her coffee cup and took a delicate sip, as if she'd just handled a trivial matter. Her face resumed its composed tranquility as she said warmly to Emily, "Emily, try these new macarons. They're from Solstice's master pastry chef, perfect with this coffee."
Clara stood there like a statue, her arrogant demeanor instantly vanishing as if she had been slapped hard across the face!
Watching Carol's complete dismissal of her existence, a chill shot from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head!
Daphne's status commanded respect even from the Prime Minister of Eldoria.
How dare this Carol...?
In less than ten minutes, Daphne's figure appeared in the doorway. Her face was extremely grim, and when she looked at Clara, her gaze no longer held scrutiny but blazing fury and endless mortification!
The moment she stepped through the threshold, Carol's cool gaze swept over her, "Mrs. Scott, such excellent breeding. Has the Scott family set their standards so high now? Even a junior member dares to threaten me, to order me around?"
"Carol, I'm terribly sorry!" Daphne suppressed her churning rage and hurried forward, adopting a very humble posture. In Carol's presence, her arrogance had to be tucked away. "It's my failure in discipline that allowed this ill-mannered fool to offend you! I apologize to you on her behalf!"
Then Daphne whirled around, her eyes like poisoned ice picks, stabbing viciously at Clara, who was already trembling with fear. "You worthless fool! Who gave you the nerve to act wild in front of Carol? Apologize to her right now!"
Clara was scared out of her wits!
She had never seen Daphne this furious!
She could only stammer apologies to both Carol and Emily, her voice shaking uncontrollably, "I'm sorry, Carol! I'm sorry, I was wrong! I was presumptuous! Please, in your generosity, forgive me this once!"
Carol gave Clara a cold glance, her contempt and disgust completely undisguised.
She said coolly to Daphne, "Mrs. Scott, your family affairs don't interest me. But this is a place of peace—don't let irrelevant people disturb it again."
These words were an unvarnished order to leave.
Daphne's face turned pale. She forcibly suppressed her anger, grabbed Clara's arm, and practically dragged her from Carol's sitting room. "Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? Get out!"
As their car pulled away from Carol's estate, the pressure inside the vehicle was suffocating, like frozen ice.
"Aunt Daphne, I..." Clara started to sob out her grievances.
"Shut up!" Daphne spun around suddenly, her beautiful eyes now blazing with almost tangible flames. "Clara, listen to me carefully! Today is the last time you'll swagger around outside using the Scott family name and my name!"
Clara's whole body trembled. "Aunt Daphne?"
"Who's your Aunt Daphne?" Daphne cut her off harshly, her eyes filled with utter disgust. "From now on, you're not to call me Aunt in front of outsiders! And you're absolutely forbidden from claiming you're part of the Campbell family! At most, you're a distant relative of the Scott family! Do you understand?"
"No! Aunt Daphne! Please don't!" Clara felt like she'd been struck by lightning.
She'd already been kicked out by the Windsor family. If she lost her identity as Daphne's niece now, she'd be nothing!
"My mother never forgot you until the day she died! She said you were her dearest friend! She made me promise to find you and keep you company in her place. Aunt Daphne! Please, for my mother's sake..."
Clara could only play the emotional card.
"Enough!"
The mention of Scarlette caused a flash of incredibly complex pain in Daphne's eyes, which was then covered by even deeper anger.
Looking at Clara's tearful, sobbing state, those dying words still touched the softest and most painful chord in her heart.