Chapter 170 Luna Takes Action
"Gregory, what do you think those people meant just now? Weren't they totally looking down on us?"
"They say businessmen are vulgar and calculating, and I think that's absolutely right," Luca said indignantly. Sitting in the car, he was practically ready to curse them out. He hadn't dared speak up in front of them earlier, and the anger had his insides all twisted up.
"If this were in the capital, who would dare treat you like this?"
"Emerald City is much more interesting than the capital," Gregory said. Those sarcastic remarks from everyone just now were only made because of William's influence. A man who could make all the powerful people in Emerald City fall over themselves to please him... how interesting.
Gregory held a cigar in his hand, gently rolling it between his fingers, his gaze thoughtful.
"I've heard some gossip recently that Ms. Smith and Mr. Brown were together before. Back then, Ms. Smith chased after Mr. Brown so hard that everyone in Emerald City's high society knew about it."
Gregory's interest was piqued. He shifted his body to face Luca: "Tell me more."
Luca poured out everything he'd heard. Gregory listened, fell silent for a moment, then dropped a comment: "Thalia really is at the center of everything."
The black van drove all the way to a hotel under the Smith Group. With William there, even if people had other matters to attend to, they would still go.
After all, everyone in Emerald City knew how hard it was to get on William's schedule.
"At first I thought Thalia and William were really like what people said."
"I didn't expect William would take Thalia's case though."
"I heard they had a relationship when they were in school."
"Interesting. I actually hope they get together. With William's capabilities, I'd be worried if he became in-laws with any family in Emerald City."
They said "worried," but really, they meant he'd be too dangerous for them.
Cars pulled up one after another at the hotel entrance. The private room wasn't large, with forty or fifty people. When everyone arrived, servers were bringing out dishes.
People stood in the private room, expecting the Smith family to arrange seating, but to their surprise, Thalia just waved her hand and said "sit anywhere," dismissing them just like that.
Everyone could see that Thalia didn't want to give anyone special treatment.
"You're really something, not giving anyone face," Evelyn said, pushing through the crowd to Thalia's side and pinching her arm.
Thalia lowered her eyes and said calmly: "Even if I did, they wouldn't necessarily remember my kindness."
"That person earlier, what are you planning to do about them?" Luna spoke up as soon as everyone sat down.
Grace had been mostly quiet today except for exchanging pleasantries with the elders, clearly wanting to let Thalia take the lead.
Hearing Luna speak now, Grace wanted to scold her but was stopped by Thalia pressing her palm.
"What do you want me to do to them?"
"What do you mean by that?" Luna was shocked by Thalia's counter-question.
Thalia's words seemed to imply, both directly and indirectly, that she had arranged for that person.
"What do I mean?" Thalia asked back. "Why are you so worked up? I was just asking for the elder's opinion. Why are you so agitated? Unless you arranged for that person?"
"Thalia, stop being so passive-aggressive. Hayden isn't just your father."
Thalia sighed: "What did I do? Does it warrant you getting this angry?"
Thalia was beautiful without even realizing it. Just sitting there with her chin propped up, blinking innocently and putting on an act, she could draw everyone's eyes in the room.
Especially now with Luna as an agitated point of comparison.
The contrast was like Snow White and the old witch.
Evelyn kicked her own father under the table. He withdrew his gaze and spoke up: "I don't think Thalia meant anything by it today. If she did, she would have made a scene at the cemetery. Ms. Bailey, why don't we eat first?"
"Let's eat! Sorry for the scene, everyone," Grace spoke up at the right moment to ease the atmosphere.
Thalia lowered her arm from under her chin and drank a few sips of the soup Grace handed her.
Throughout lunch, after Luna's opening act, everyone just wanted to finish eating and leave quickly. No one wanted to get involved in the Smith family's affairs.
After seeing off the last group of guests, Thalia went into the private room to get her bag and leave, but Luna cornered her at the door.
Luna stormed over and slapped Thalia across the face, pointing at her imperiously: "If I hadn't given up my position for your mother back then, you'd be just like those illegitimate daughters out there. I gave you respect, didn't I? How dare you embarrass me in front of all those people?"
"Thalia, who do you think you are?"
"Boss."
"Dare to hit my best friend," Evelyn hadn't even had time to rush over when Grace burst out of the private room and slapped Luna across the face.
"Hit my daughter? Who do you think you are? Want me to tear off the mask? You think others don't know, but I don't? Hayden divorced you back then because you cheated, because you were sleeping around."
"Grace—" Luna dropped her bag and was about to attack Grace, but Thalia kicked her away with a cold expression.
"Had enough? You believe I can make you walk in here standing and leave lying down?"
Luna wasn't prepared and was kicked to the ground, her back hitting the trash can in the hallway with a loud noise.
Evelyn had wanted to help, but seeing Thalia take action, she got interested. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, even tugging at William's sleeve: "Mr. Brown, do you think you'll be a victim of domestic violence?"
"That's illegal," William said stiffly.
"Take off your clothes and it's not illegal!" Evelyn said.
William finally understood where Thalia learned this from. His mouth twitched: "As long as you don't stand next to her stirring things up, the chances of me being domestically abused aren't high."
"That won't do. I resent the rich. Any good-looking, wealthy man who's unmarried at thirty, I think he's either psychologically twisted or has problems."
William frowned and brushed away Evelyn's hand tugging at his arm.
His gaze fell on Thalia. She walked toward Luna in her high heels, step by step, making Luna retreat repeatedly: "What do you want to do?"
"Dad's here, so for his sake I could still get along peacefully with you all. But Dad's gone now. If you want respect, I have to be willing to give it."
"Want to make a scene? I'll go start a live streaming show and invite all those women Chase has outside, one by one, to my stream to teach viewers how to seduce men."
"Want to lose face? Let's all lose face together."
"Thalia, what are you doing?" From the end of the hallway, Chase, who had just seen off guests, was coming back.
Getting off the elevator and seeing this scene, he spoke up in alarm. Thalia turned her head slightly, her cold eyes falling on Chase: "Can't you tell? I'm beating your mother."
"Bitch," Chase rushed at Thalia in a rage, about to strike, when a large hand reached out from behind him and gripped his throat.