Chapter 396: Do I Need to Pick a Date Just to Beat You Up?
This was something both Vaughn and Victoria cared deeply about.
They couldn't just ignore it.
It's just that they weren't familiar with this kind of occasion and were afraid of causing trouble for Olivia, so they asked Rodolfo about it.
After Rodolfo found out, he personally brought them here.
However, not understanding the situation, they didn't plan to draw attention to themselves, so when they arrived tonight, the group stayed in a corner.
After all, they were ordinary people, and this kind of occasion made them uncomfortable.
But unfortunately, while waiting, they witnessed this scene.
Before their eyes, everyone was looking down on Olivia with contempt, speaking disdainful words, and showing all kinds of unprecedented malice.
Seeing this, Victoria's eyes turned red with heartache.
Vaughn too - he had already clenched his fists, his eyes full of anger.
Though they weren't from some wealthy family, they only had this one daughter, and Olivia was someone they had loved and protected since childhood!
How could these people bully her like this!
Vaughn felt terrible and wanted to rush forward, but Victoria held his hand tightly, stopping him from intervening directly.
Beside them, Rodolfo's face was dark as water, showing unprecedented displeasure.
However, he had learned earlier than Vaughn and Victoria about how the Harmony City circle treated Olivia, so he wasn't reacting as strongly as they were.
He preferred to believe that Olivia could handle things on her own now, that she could deal with this kind of situation.
Ever since he learned about her and Andrew, he hadn't seen any fear in her.
Now, watching her single-handedly withstand all that malice, Rodolfo chose to trust her and continue to hold back.
At this moment, outside the banquet hall.
Andrew arrived with Finnegan.
Patrick and Jessica were with them too.
The group had just arrived and saw everything happening inside.
Finnegan looked unhappy. Looking at Andrew, he said sarcastically, "See that? With this reputation, you still won't let go. What exactly do you see in her?
From now on, wherever you take her, people will curse you!"
Andrew's eyes swept coldly over those people, and he said calmly, "Grandpa, don't you think this scene is ugly?
Look at those mean faces - they want to destroy Olivia out of jealousy.
Their intention is so obvious, Grandpa, can't you see it?"
Finnegan bit his teeth and fell silent again.
Having lived this long, he wasn't stupid - of course he could see it.
He understood that these people's malice toward Olivia was pure.
It's just that he was already biased against Andrew and Olivia being together, so in front of Andrew, he instinctively took the opposing side!
He still believed Andrew should be with someone better!
Jessica looked at the situation inside, frowning, and said something fair: "So many people bullying one young girl - these so-called upper-class families, their behavior is really ugly!"
Patrick also shook his head, saying, "These people may come from good backgrounds and be a good match for our family.
But with this kind of character, they're not suitable to marry into the family either. If we let these people raise the Hamilton family's next generation, that would be a real disaster. What do you think, Dad?"
Finnegan didn't say anything.
Because deep down, he agreed with Patrick and Jessica.
At his age, he could certainly judge people - how could he not see the tension in the room?
It's just that knowing something is one thing, admitting it is another.
Andrew understood Finnegan well and could see his thoughts, so he said nothing more.
He never expected him to figure it out all at once anyway.
Jessica had a good impression of Olivia and had always liked her.
Seeing her face such malice now, she looked at Andrew and asked, "Should we go over there, Andrew?"
Andrew shook his head and reassured her, "No rush, she can handle this situation."
Jessica looked at him doubtfully, thinking: Can she really?
But seeing Andrew's calm expression and patience, she could only suppress her concerns and continue watching.
Olivia's attention was entirely on the people in front of her, so she naturally didn't notice who had arrived outside.
Compared to their intense emotional reactions, she was very calm, as if they weren't talking about her at all.
She seemed completely unaffected by those harsh words, as if she hadn't heard them.
She just looked at Zoey with sharp eyes, then, under everyone's gaze, walked toward Zoey step by step.
Seeing Olivia approach with such an imposing manner, Zoey couldn't help but feel nervous.
But thinking that with so many people watching, Olivia wouldn't dare do anything to her, she raised her chin again.
She wanted to see how Olivia would try to defend herself tonight!
However, she guessed wrong.
Olivia wasn't going to explain further.
Instead, she would clear her name through action.
She walked up to Zoey, stopped, then suddenly raised her hand and slapped Zoey hard across the face.
The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the banquet hall.
Instantly, the entire room was silent, everyone looking at Olivia in disbelief.
Zoey was stunned by the slap, covering her face with an expression full of shock and disbelief.
Olivia actually dared to hit her?
Olivia said coldly, "Zoey, did you really think I wouldn't lay a hand on you?
Usually at the research institute, I let it go when you targeted me repeatedly.
As long as you didn't interfere with work, I couldn't be bothered to say anything.
But that's not a reason for you to make baseless accusations and slander me.
You're useless yourself and can't win Oscar's heart, so you make up rumors.
Saying I seduced him over and over - tell me, when did I ever seduce Oscar?
At the research institute, apart from necessary work communication, Oscar and I have always kept proper distance, never crossing any lines.
Everyone at the research institute can testify to this.
As for Daniel and me, we've known each other for years. We're business partners and good friends, even as close as siblings.
Our relationship is pure - how dare you slander it so casually?
Even Andrew has never had any objections. Who do you think you are to speak so wildly here?"
Zoey stared blankly at Olivia's imposing presence.
She hadn't expected that even now, Olivia would still be so strong.
But what followed was anger.
Because Olivia had hit a sore spot.
And because Olivia called her useless and said she couldn't win Oscar's heart.
This was a truth Zoey didn't want to admit.
She roared furiously, "Olivia, you dare hit me?"
A mocking laugh came from Evelyn, "Hit you? Do we need to pick a special day for that?
I haven't heard such a funny joke in ages.
If you'd said anything else, fine, but you actually said our Olivia seduced Oscar.
Please, her boyfriend is Mr. Hamilton!
With his credentials, not just in Harmony City but in the whole world, there are few who can compare.
With Mr. Hamilton as her boyfriend, would she seduce other men?
Even if you're going to slander Olivia, you should at least make up something convincing, right?
As for Daniel, his credentials are good, yes, but he's too noble to do something like breaking up someone's relationship.
Otherwise, he wouldn't still be single!"
Seeing this, Liam was also speechless. He chimed in, "What kind of people are these? So obviously jealous.
No brains either, so easily influenced.
This kind of obvious slander - anyone with a brain can see through it at a glance, yet they pretend to be blind and join in the fuss. How ridiculous and shameful!
No wonder Mr. Hamilton doesn't think much of you all!"
His words basically insulted everyone present.
The faces of the wealthy young ladies who had spoken up earlier all darkened.
Some people also came to their senses.
"Right, Olivia is already with Mr. Hamilton, how could she possibly be interested in other men?"
"What they said just now was really slander, and very unreasonable too!"
"Exactly, if I had a boyfriend like Mr. Hamilton, I wouldn't have eyes for any other man."
"Don't forget, the person targeting Olivia tonight is Charlotte!
Charlotte's grudge against Olivia is because she lost the engagement with the Morgan family, right?
So if she's angry and uses this kind of excuse to smear Olivia, stirring up hatred between Olivia and other people who want to marry Andrew, that makes perfect sense."
"Is she using us?"
"She must be! She saw that we're jealous of Olivia being with Mr. Hamilton, so she wanted to use us to put Olivia down together!"
"Charlotte is so calculating!"
"Good thing we didn't fall for her trick!"
...
The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.
The subtle looks also shifted from Olivia to Charlotte and her group.
Both Zoey and Charlotte felt it. The former looked at Charlotte somewhat at a loss, wanting to ask what to do, but Charlotte, ignoring everything, angrily attacked: "You're just talking big without any proof too! She's innocent? Where's the evidence?
Mr. Hamilton is a busy man - how could he have time to revolve around her every day?
Who knows if Olivia can't stand the loneliness, or if she's just not picky at all?
Besides, bad character is bad character. Even if Olivia isn't promiscuous and seducing people, she makes mistakes at work and refuses to admit them - that can't be fake!"
Seeing Charlotte take the lead, Zoey seemed to regain her confidence and immediately backed her up: "That's right, Olivia, you're simply a disgrace to the medical and research fields!
Even if you're with Mr. Hamilton, you'll only embarrass him!"
After saying this, she even showed a contemptuous expression.
However, just as her words fell, Olivia slapped her again.
This time, she showed even less mercy and used all her strength.
Zoey was knocked sideways, hit a nearby chair, and almost fell to the ground.