Landon, upon hearing Emily's words, couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her sarcastically. "You cause trouble at my birthday party, and you ask why I can't kick you out?!"
As he spoke, his gaze swept over to Raphael, who stood by indifferently, and Landon felt a deep disdain in his heart. He then turned sharply to Raphael, his tone aggressive. "Mr. Howard, your wife is causing trouble for my honored guests at my birthday party. Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
Hearing this, Raphael knew he could no longer stay out of the matter. He stepped forward from the crowd, his eyes involuntarily drifting towards Deanna, who seemed even more radiant than usual next to Lance, stirring a complex mix of emotions and reluctance within him.
Deanna noticed his gaze but remained undisturbed, pretending not to see it. Lance, however, frowned slightly and stepped forward to shield Deanna, effectively blocking Raphael's view.
Raphael's expression darkened at Lance's action. He wasn't ready to confront Lance and regretfully withdrew his gaze. Unbeknownst to him, Emily had observed every detail.
If the situation had allowed, Emily would have loved to rush forward and drag Deanna away from behind Lance to disfigure her. This woman had seduced Lance and now seemed intent on seducing her husband too!
Despite the intense jealousy and anger inside her, Emily managed to maintain a calm facade. When she looked at Raphael, she couldn't help but put on an aggrieved expression. "Raphael, I wasn't making a scene. I merely spoke some truths, and Mr. Landon wants to throw me out."
"Ha, Emily, your habit of blaming others hasn't changed over the years. Do you think everyone here is a fool?" Landon retorted sarcastically.
He then chuckled maliciously as if something had just occurred to him. "Oh, I forgot to mention, Mr. Howard has been standing right there watching since you started causing trouble, so don't bother trying to twist the truth."
Emily was momentarily choked by these words and looked anxiously at Raphael. "You were really here?"
"Since you mentioned what happened five years ago with Deanna, I've been here," Raphael replied, his gaze heavy and inscrutable.
That look alone made Emily feel incredibly guilty. Before she could say anything more, Landon, running out of patience, issued another eviction order. "Since everything that needed to be said has been said, please Mr. Howard, take your wife and leave my birthday party."
Raphael, caring about his dignity, was not going to stay after being asked to leave a second time. The drama thus concluded swiftly.
Landon approached Deanna apologetically. "I'm sorry; I didn't expect Emily to be so bold as to trouble you directly at the party."
"It's okay. It's rather me who should apologize for causing a flaw in your otherwise perfect party," Deanna responded with slight regret.
Julia watched them apologizing back and forth and wrinkled her nose in annoyance. "Can you two stop being so polite? It feels weird."
"What's so weird about it?" Landon asked rhetorically before he couldn't help but lecture her. "Speaking of which, where were you just now? How could you let Deanna face Emily alone?"
At this accusation, Julia couldn't help but defend herself. "How was I supposed to know that Emily would act as if she's taken the wrong medicine and come after Deanna? Besides, Deanna wasn't alone; where do you think Mr. Mercer was?"
Landon was left speechless.
Just as he decided not to argue with Julia any further, she wasn't ready to let him off the hook yet. She noticed Mr. and Mrs. Jones approaching from the corner of her eye and muttered discontentedly: "I mean, you had such a good opportunity just now; why didn't you drive out Emily along with the Jones family? Aren't you worried they might come after Deanna later?"
She then gave Landon a meaningful look.
Following her gaze, Landon also noticed Mr. and Mrs. Jones a few steps away and said exasperatedly: "You think I didn't want to? But they haven't provoked us directly; what reason would I have to expel them? I actually wish they would cause trouble; with Mr. Mercer here, they won't get anywhere with Deanna, and I'd have a good reason to send them away."
Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who had intended to bridge their relationship, had no choice but to halt their approach reluctantly.
At the moment, they still hadn't secured a financing partner and couldn't afford to leave.
With that thought, they turned around to seek other conversations.
Julia and Landon watched them go with undisguised disappointment in their eyes.
"Why won't they come over? They're not even as bold as Emily."
"At least being a company chairman means having more sense than someone brainless like Emily," Landon remarked dryly.
Deanna felt somewhat regretful too.
Like Landon, she had hoped the Jones family would come over so she would have an excuse to drive them away and avoid having to constantly guard against them.