Chapter 217
The two continued walking forward, but as they rounded a display case, they found themselves in the same area as Lucinda.
Lucinda, however, hadn't noticed them at all. Her full attention was focused on the pieces inside the display case.
She leaned in slightly, carefully studying the glaze and patterns, then asked a staff member to take one of the items out.
Allegra recognized it immediately—sixteenth-century Italian hand-painted majolica, one of the most expensive pieces in the entire exhibition hall today.
Her eyes flickered. The next moment, she deliberately raised her voice. "Lucinda."
Lucinda's movements paused. She slowly lifted her gaze.
When she saw the two people in front of her, her expression showed no ripple of emotion, as if she were simply looking at strangers.
But Allegra put on a fake smile. "Lucinda, everything here is extremely valuable. Are you sure you're not in the wrong place?"
Lucinda didn't answer. She just looked at her calmly.
Allegra felt her chest tighten under that cold, clear gaze, but she forced herself to continue. "These are all high-end collectibles. A single piece costs millions, even tens of millions."
"Lucinda, you should really be more realistic about your means. After all…" She smiled meaningfully. "Living off someone else—you can't just spend money without restraint, can you? What if one day they don't like you anymore and won't keep paying for you? What will you do then?"
She adopted a tone of earnest concern. "I'm only saying this for your own good. A woman needs to leave herself a way out. Saving some money never hurts."
People around them had already started slowing down, and quite a few customers glanced in their direction.
Lucinda listened quietly, her face still expressionless, but her eyes grew colder bit by bit.
Allegra felt a chill run down her spine under that gaze, an inexplicable fear rising in her chest.
But remembering that Marshall was right beside her, she steeled herself and didn't back down.
"Lucinda, don't misunderstand. I really don't mean any harm. I'm just—"
Before she could finish her sentence—
A crisp slap suddenly rang out in the quiet exhibition hall.
Everyone froze.
Allegra's head snapped to the side from the force, and she staggered back two steps.
She clutched her burning cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.
Lucinda lowered her hand, rolled her wrist slightly, and looked down at her from above, her voice neither loud nor soft. "Are you done talking?"
Allegra's lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but facing those cold, sharp eyes, all her words stuck in her throat.
The corridor was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Marshall's eyes widened. It took him a moment to snap out of it. He stepped forward abruptly, positioning himself in front of Allegra, his brow furrowed tightly. "How can you just hit someone like that?"
"Can't you talk things out? You resort to violence—what does that look like? Apologize to her right now!"
Lucinda's gaze swept over his face. She didn't even bother looking at him again. Without a word, she took a step forward.
Marshall instinctively blocked Allegra, straightening his back. "You can't—"
Before he could finish, Lucinda's hand was already raised.
Her fingers landed on his chest—not heavy, but the force was precise as she pushed forward.
Just that light push, and Marshall stumbled backward two full steps. His heel hit the baseboard along the corridor wall, and his body swayed before he barely managed to steady himself.
He leaned against the wall, his expression shifting from anger to disbelief.
How is she that strong?
That barely felt like any force at all.
Yet he'd been pushed back several steps.
Allegra rushed over to support his arm, her voice trembling. "Marshall! Are you okay?"
She turned to look at Lucinda, her eyes brimming with perfectly timed grievance. "Lucinda! You hit me—I don't blame you. I know you're angry. But how can you take it out on Marshall? He was just speaking fairly… Marshall isn't someone you can afford to offend. Behind him is the Grayson family. The Grayson family has standing and influence all over Starlight City. He's not like those—"
Her voice paused, as if choosing her words carefully, then grew even more aggrieved. "Not like those sponsors of yours who'll indulge your unreasonable behavior. Lucinda, if you keep this up, you're really going to ruin yourself. Marshall is trying to help you. How can you push him like that?"
Murmurs began to ripple through the corridor like a rising tide as onlookers frowned and whispered among themselves.
Lucinda looked at Allegra's face, plastered with that "I'm doing this for your own good" expression, and the corner of her mouth curved slightly.
The arc was so faint it was almost invisible.
Then her hand lifted again.
The second slap landed on Allegra's other cheek. The sound was crisper than before, the force heavier.
Allegra was knocked to the side, her forehead nearly hitting the corridor wall.
She clutched both sides of her face, frozen in place, pupils dilated in shock.
"You—"
She opened her mouth, wanting to fight back, but with Marshall standing right there, she couldn't show her aggressive side.
She bit her lip, and tears finally spilled down her cheeks, landing in heavy drops on her collar as she tried to make herself look pitiful and wronged.
"Lucinda…" Her voice came out broken, choked with tears and trembling. "I know… I know you don't like me. You hate me. You resent me for taking your place. But I really… I've never wanted to hurt you…"
She let out a sob, lifting her tear-filled eyes to look at Lucinda. "Go ahead and hit me. I won't fight back. If it makes you feel better, you can hit me as many times as you want. I just hope you don't ruin your own reputation because of me. You only just came back to your family. If outsiders find out you hit someone, what will they think of you? I'll apologize for you. I'll apologize to Marshall for you…"
As she spoke, she actually bowed slightly toward Marshall. "Marshall, don't blame Lucinda… It's my fault. I said the wrong thing. Please don't hold it against her…"