Chapter 206 Refutation
Stefan's grip on Dione's wrist suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning white, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
"Mom." His eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth.
"When did it become your place to insult someone I brought here with such words?"
"I..."
Dione was intimidated by the fierceness in Stefan's eyes, her throat catching.
I had never seen Stefan like this before.
For that damned bitch Amelia, Stefan was showing me undisguised hostility.
Stefan had completely lost his mind!
"I'm not just going to curse this damned whore you've taken a liking to—I'm going to hit her too!"
Dione's anger, fueled by Stefan's protection of her, completely exploded. Her other free hand swung up again.
But this slap also missed its mark.
Cecilia stepped back, dodging the attack. Those eyes that had remained calm finally showed a trace of cold mockery.
"Mrs. Hensley."
Cecilia looked at Dione, who was furious and had lost all composure, her voice clear and emotionless.
"Today, I've really learned something."
"I thought anyone who could become the lady of the Hensley family would at least have the sense to judge right from wrong, if not the grace to be tolerant."
"And the basic respect for other people."
Cecilia spoke slowly, her gaze moving from Dione to Anna's still-sobbing face.
"But you've disappointed me greatly."
"Without asking why or checking the facts, you convicted me based solely on a few tears from Ms. Clark and some accusations full of holes."
"You demanded I kneel and tried to hit me."
"Your behavior doesn't resemble that of a noble woman, but rather an ignorant woman with no manners."
"You!"
Dione's face instantly flushed red, her whole body trembling with rage.
The phrase "no manners" coming from Amelia, whom Dione looked down upon the most, was more humiliating than being slapped in public.
"And you all."
Cecilia's gaze turned to the ladies who had joined in.
"A group of pampered women, wearing millions of dollars in jewelry, dressed in hundred-thousand-dollar gowns, yet still living as if in the old society."
"The moment you see a new face beside a man, you rush to take sides, desperate to trample others into the dirt to show off your pitiful status and sense of superiority."
"You're all pathetic and pitiful."
Cecilia's words brought complete silence to the surroundings. The ladies' faces alternated between pale and flushed, embarrassed and humiliated.
Anna's expression also darkened to the extreme.
Anna hadn't expected Cecilia to say this!
In just a few words, she'd painted Anna as a useless person who only knew how to cry and seek help from elders, while mocking everyone who had helped Anna!
"Are you done?"
Stefan finally released Dione's wrist.
He didn't look at Dione again, but turned to Cecilia and took her hand directly.
Ice cold.
Stefan frowned and wrapped Cecilia's hand tightly in his palm.
"Let's go."
"Stop right there!"
Dione shouted sharply, pointing at Cecilia, her voice trembling with extreme anger.
"Stefan! If you dare walk out that door with this shameless woman today, you're no longer my son!"
Stefan didn't look back, pulling Cecilia straight toward the door.
"You..." Dione's vision went dark with rage, nearly collapsing, but Anna caught her.
Dione pushed Anna away and stared at Cecilia's retreating figure, the venom in her eyes almost tangible.
Dione suddenly shrieked, "Amelia, is it? You really think I don't know what you are?"
Cecilia's footsteps stopped.
Stefan also stopped, looking back at Dione with annoyance in his eyes.
Seeing this, Dione thought she'd found Cecilia's weakness, a cruel satisfaction appearing on her face.
"I had you investigated long ago! Your parents just run a small shop, ordinary circumstances, barely getting by!"
"And you? You went to some low-tier college, and after graduation, you barely found a job at a hospital!"
"Someone like you, scheming to get close to Stefan—if not for money, then what? Love?"
A sharp sound came from Dione's throat, her shoulders moving exaggeratedly, extremely contemptuous.
"Stop dreaming! A commoner is a commoner. Even if you step into high society, you'll always be a lowly commoner! Greed and baseness are carved into your bones!"
"I'm warning you, stay away from Stefan! A woman like you will never marry into the Hensley family!"
Facing such terrible insults, Cecilia's face showed not even a trace of extra emotion.
"Mrs. Hensley, thank you for investigating me so thoroughly." Cecilia simply turned around calmly, looking at the seemingly crazed Dione, her tone even gentle. "The information is accurate. I won't deny it."
Dione was stunned.
"However," Cecilia's tone shifted, the mockery in her eyes becoming crystal clear, "you've got one thing wrong."
"A person's value isn't determined by their background."
"It's determined by their character and principles."
Cecilia took a step forward, looking directly into Dione's eyes.
"Yes, my parents aren't wealthy. They only know how to use their own hands and earn money through hard work. They taught me what it means to be self-reliant, what real life is about. This groundedness is a treasure that someone like you, living in the clouds, could never understand."
"Yes, my college wasn't famous, my previous job wasn't impressive. So what? I didn't rely on anyone. I supported myself through my own efforts. Every step I've taken, I can face with a clear conscience."
"I didn't steal, didn't rob, and certainly didn't use self-staged dirty tricks to frame others like some people."
Cecilia's gaze lightly swept over Anna, who clenched her fists and guiltily avoided Cecilia's eyes.
"Mrs. Hensley, you're measuring me by your outdated standards, so naturally your conclusions are absurd."
"Because in your world, apart from family background, connections, and money, you can't see anything else."
"You call me greedy and base."
A cold smile curved Cecilia's lips.
"But who's really greedy? Someone who earns their living with their own hands, or someone who only measures others with money, trying to define everything with wealth?"
"Who's really base? Someone standing here honestly, or someone who doesn't ask right from wrong, publicly insults others' parents, and tries to make people submit through violence?"
"Your words and actions truly deserve those labels."
"Mrs. Hensley, the background you're so proud of hasn't brought you manners—instead, it's become a fig leaf for your arrogance and ignorance."
"It's made you blind, made you think you can freely insult anyone you look down on."
"I can't choose my background, but it's clean and clear, and it taught me humility and hard work."
"But your behavior tonight has made you filthy."
With that, she resolutely turned around, withdrew her hand from Stefan's grip, and walked straight toward the main door.
On the driveway outside the Hensley Mansion, the evening breeze carried the cold fragrance of roses, dispersing the stuffiness of the banquet hall.
Stefan caught up with Cecilia and opened the car door for her.
But Cecilia didn't get in. She just stood there, looking at him expressionlessly.
Stefan's hand on the car door froze.
He leaned against the door, his voice carrying a trace of weariness: "I'm sorry. I didn't think I'd drag you into something like this."
Cecilia looked at him, her cool voice revealing no emotion.
"Was this part of your plan?"
"To have me publicly humiliated by your family, to intensify the conflict between you and them?"
"I'm not that much of a bastard." A trace of helplessness crossed Stefan's face. "My mother's reaction was beyond my expectations. And Anna—I underestimated her stupidity and malice."
Cecilia looked toward the darkness at the end of the driveway, silent.
"I'm truly sorry about today." Stefan looked into her eyes, his expression serious as he continued.
"I promise there won't be a next time."