Chapter 17
Robert took Oscar to toast around, and it looked like he wouldn't be free anytime soon. I turned to look at Gregory across from me, raised my glass toward him, and gave it a little shake.
Gregory walked straight over with his glass and sat down in front of me. His expression was gentle as he lowered his voice: "You shouldn't have said that about Sophia earlier. I know she might not be very friendly to you, and I can apologize on her behalf, but she absolutely has no bad intentions—she just speaks her mind."
I raised my eyebrows and smiled at him: "Sorry, but when you told me before that your wife ran away from home, I didn't understand why. But now, I think I'm starting to get it."
My words stumped Gregory and didn't know how to respond. He could only down his drink in one gulp: "I only see Sophia as a sister. If we were going to be something, it would have happened long ago."
Those words sounded all too familiar: "Well, I feel bad for your wife then. Anyway, I wouldn't want Oscar treating anyone as a 'sister.' And, if you don't mind me saying, after three years with no contact, can't you just report her missing and have her declared dead?"
Gregory's eyes suddenly reddened. He frowned and protested: "That's nonsense. She'll come back."
I said nothing more, just raised my glass and clinked it lightly against his before getting up to find Oscar. As a proper fiancée, when he's being pressured to drink, I should be able to help him out.
Finally, I rescued Oscar, he showed gentlemanly concern: "You look like you've had a bit too much to drink. Go upstairs and rest for a while. I'll be up soon."
I nodded, went over to tell Grace, and she arranged for a servant to take me to a guest room upstairs.
After closing the door, my tipsy look quickly cleared up. On my way upstairs, I had noticed that gaze. When we clinked glasses, I had slipped a bit of aphrodisiac into his drink. Right now, he should be feeling some sexual urges.
I gently pushed open the guest room door. This used to be my personal guest room. Standing at the doorway, I could still see our wedding photo hanging by the bed. Back then, I was foolish enough to want to leave marks of our love in every home.
Uneven footsteps came from the stairs. I knew he was coming. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the hallway surveillance camera and deliberately adjusted my position, turning my back to him. I let down my hair that had been tied up, waiting for Gregory to fall into the trap I'd set.
Sure enough, Gregory came up behind me, breathing heavily, and wrapped his arms around me completely. His voice carried surprise: "Emma, is that you? Did you come back? I knew you'd definitely come back. Emma, I was wrong. Don't leave me."
I pulled hard at his hands, no longer deliberately suppressing my voice: "Let go of me, let go."
Gregory's eyes were already glazed over. His burning lips kissed from behind my ear, moving down my neck with urgent breath: "I won't let go. I won't let you leave again. Emma, can we get back together? These three years, only after you left did I realize how important you are to me. Emma, I love you."
I pretended to be scared, trying hard to push him aside: "You're drunk. Let go of me."
He seemed unable to hear me anymore. His large hands moved up from my waist, touching my chest through the thin fabric: "Emma, Emma, I want you, right now. Once you completely belong to me, you can never leave again."
It seemed that a tiny dose was enough to make him lose control. I turned to face him, pushing against him with my hands while whispering in his ear: "Gregory, I bet even you believe the deep feelings you're putting on, don't you? I could never belong to you, and I never will."
Sure enough, those words made him lose almost all reason. He forcefully turned my shoulders, practically pinning my whole body in his arms, kissing my lips hard. His wet tongue clumsily forced open my lips and teeth, sucking eagerly as if trying to merge me entirely into his body.
I bit down hard on his lower lip without mercy. The pain finally gave me a chance to break free, but he tore my clothes.
He finally regained some consciousness. When he looked at me, his eyes still held confusion: "Emma?"
I was already covering my chest, crying as I ran downstairs. Seeing Oscar's figure in the crowd, I threw myself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Oscar quickly understood. He took off his jacket and put it on me, asking urgently: "Emily, what happened? What's wrong? Don't cry, tell me."
I didn't speak, just buried my head in his chest, crying nonstop.
Everyone's attention focused on us, their gossipy curiosity barely concealed.
Gregory came running down from upstairs, his clothes disheveled. He was mostly sober now, looking at me crying, somewhat at a loss: "I... I just now..."
I covered my face, holding Oscar tightly, my body trembling slightly as I cried even louder: "I don't want to stay here anymore. I want to go home, Oscar. I want to go home."
Oscar frowned at Gregory: "You bastard, what did you do to Emily?"
Gregory quickly explained: "Uncle Oscar, I'm sorry, I just... I mistook her for someone else. I thought... I didn't know it was Ms. Wilson."
The crowd erupted, with comments coming from all directions:
"A nephew trying to sleep his future aunt—what kind of mess is this?"
"No wonder I saw him deliberately go drink with Ms. Wilson earlier. Turns out he had bad intentions all along?"
"Mr. Lopez doesn't seem like that kind of person. How could he do something so stupid?"
"Think about how he's been involved with Sophia for years. I heard his wife didn't even hold the wedding because of this, and she still hasn't been seen."
Robert's voice boomed: "Gregory, you bastard! To do such a thing in public—get on your knees!"
Gregory was completely sober now. In front of everyone, he seemed incredulous: "Grandpa, I didn't mean to."
I cried with red eyes: "What do you mean, Gregory? Are you saying I did this on purpose? I don't want to live anymore. Oscar, don't hold me back. Just let me die."
Oscar slapped him directly, his eyes practically shooting fire: "Gregory, look clearly—she is my fiancée."
"Get down on your knees!" Seeing things escalate, Robert could no longer tolerate it and shouted angrily at William, "This is the son you've raised? Bring me the stick!"
Hearing this, Grace quickly stepped forward: "Dad, Gregory's not a child anymore. With so many people here, he drank too much and mistook her for someone else—that's normal."
Some perceptive guests, hearing this, quickly found excuses to leave. Even the Brown family members, afraid of losing face, hurried to say their goodbyes. Sophia wanted to stay but was forcibly dragged away by her parents.
In less than a minute, only the Lopez family members remained in the entire banquet hall.
"Precisely because he's not a child anymore, he should know what's appropriate and what's not. On Oscar's first day back, he does something so disgraceful—if word gets out, will the Lopez family have any dignity left?" Robert completely ignored Grace's pleas, his face red with anger.
Gregory dropped to his knees with a thud, finally lowering his head: "Grandpa, please calm down. I was wrong. Whatever punishment you give me, I have no complaints."
Robert struck Gregory's back with his cane, making him stumble: "You bastard! Today I'll beat you to death. A little alcohol and you forget who you are. Butler, what are you waiting for? Bring me the stick!"