Chapter207 Disliked by Clifton's Friend
Prescott Manor, living room.
Miranda had just returned from outside when she saw that in addition to Mr. Prescott, Celeste, and Isabella, there was an unfamiliar young man sitting on the spacious living room sofa.
The man appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, handsome, but with an air of pride that couldn't be concealed.
He sat next to Celeste, and the two seemed to be chatting quite congenially.
When Miranda entered, the conversation in the living room stopped abruptly.
Mr. Prescott was the first to wave her over. "Miranda, come here. Let me introduce you."
He gestured toward the young man, his tone friendly. "This is Isabella's brother, Arthur Martinez. He's also Clifton's childhood friend."
So he was Clifton's friend.
Understanding, Miranda walked forward and nodded politely at Arthur, a courteous smile on her lips.
"Hello, I'm Miranda."
Arthur lifted his eyelids. Those scrutinizing eyes examined her from head to toe with undisguised contempt and disdain, as if looking at something worthless.
"Mm."
He made a single sound through his nose, not even bothering to nod, then withdrew his gaze and picked up his cup, drinking on his own, his attitude supremely arrogant.
The smile on Miranda's face faded, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
She was certain this was the first time she'd met this man.
Yet his inexplicable hostility toward her... was it because of his sister Isabella?
Mr. Prescott, not noticing the tense atmosphere, stood up. He was getting on in years and rested early. "You young people chat. I'm going to rest."
As soon as Mr. Prescott left, the peaceful atmosphere shattered.
Arthur crossed his legs, leaning back on the sofa in a condescending posture as he looked at Miranda, a mocking smile on his lips.
"Miranda?" He spoke slowly, his contempt undisguised. "I'm curious what methods you used to get Clifton to agree to marry you."
Isabella, hearing this, looked at Miranda with schadenfreude, waiting to see her humiliated.
She knew that even though she'd come to the Prescott estate against her brother's wishes, her brother was definitely on her side!
Miranda's expression turned completely cold.
"Methods?" She laughed coldly, meeting Arthur's gaze without flinching. "I married Clifton with Mr. Prescott's approval and Clifton's agreement. As for you, what gives you the right to question me in that tone?"
Arthur scoffed.
"If Clifton's legs hadn't been injured in that accident, it would never have been your turn."
"You're a divorced woman. Even with Clifton's legs not working, you're still not worthy of him."
Celeste and Isabella both watched Miranda with satisfaction, their eyes full of gloating anticipation.
Anger rose from deep within. Miranda's gaze turned cold as ice.
This was Clifton's "good friend"?
"Are you finished?" she asked slowly.
Arthur was taken aback by her composed demeanor.
He'd expected his words to make this woman ashamed and embarrassed, but instead of panicking, her presence had only grown stronger.
Miranda's voice continued.
"First, I am Clifton's wife and the lady of the Prescott household. You are merely a guest sitting in my living room."
"Second, guests should behave like guests. You've spoken to me, the hostess, with such malice and insults. You're truly ill-mannered."
"You!" Arthur's face instantly turned the color of liver.
He'd grown up privileged, surrounded by flattery. When had anyone ever pointed at his nose and called him "ill-mannered"?
But Miranda gave him no chance to retort, her gaze growing sharper.
"Third, and most importantly, what happens between my husband and me is none of your business as an outsider. Even if you're Clifton's friend, you have no right to interfere!"
Arthur's chest heaved violently, his finger pointing at her, unable to speak for a long moment.
The triumphant smile on Isabella's face instantly froze. She'd never expected Miranda's tongue to be so sharp, reducing her proud brother to this state with just a few words.
Just then, a steady, rhythmic sound came from outside.
The sound of wheelchair wheels rolling across the floor.
Clifton had returned.
Seeing Clifton's figure, Arthur immediately remembered the two videos he'd sent that afternoon, both of which had been read.
He pointed at Miranda, complaining first.
"Clifton, you really need to control your wife properly. Someone who keeps getting entangled with her ex-husband still dares to think she's the lady of the Prescott household."
Celeste fanned the flames as well. "Yes, Clifton, Miranda is too much. Arthur is your best friend. How can she show such disrespect!"
Miranda stood her ground without the slightest panic, her expression unchanged.
She simply watched Clifton quietly as he maneuvered his wheelchair slowly to her side.
Clifton didn't look at Arthur. He raised his head, his gaze falling on Miranda's face, his voice low and steady.
"What happened?"
Miranda met his eyes, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly, her tone calm as she stated the facts.
"Your friend said I used methods to marry you, and that even with your legs disabled, I'm not worthy of you."
She paused, then added, "So I reminded him to recognize his position as a 'guest' and mind his manners."
As her words fell, the living room went completely silent.
After hearing Miranda's account, Clifton slowly turned his head. Those unfathomably deep eyes finally settled on Arthur.
"When did it become your place to lecture my wife?"
The icy voice made Arthur's expression freeze completely, leaving him stunned.
Clifton was actually reproaching his childhood friend for the sake of a divorced woman?
"Also," Clifton's voice continued, "you'd better behave yourself. She is my wife."
That last sentence was a naked warning.
Isabella beside him was so shocked her jaw nearly dropped.
She couldn't understand why Clifton would treat her brother this way for Miranda's sake!
Her brother was his best friend!
Jealousy and resentment instantly flooded Isabella's heart.
She glared daggers at Miranda, thinking she would make sure Miranda was driven out of the Prescott household eventually!