Chapter 187: Forced to Attend the Banquet

Alfred snorted, "Well, I had no choice but to bring you here myself. You only have yourself to blame for being so stubborn."

Gabriella looked up into Alfred's eyes and couldn't help but find it amusing.

Did this guy even know what he was saying?

In the past, she was the one who had been toyed with, yet Alfred acted like he was the ultimate victim.

And now, the innocent and helpless Gabriella was being painted as the heartless one.

She was confused, "Alfred, do you have a persecution complex?"

No sooner had Gabriella spoken than Alfred, seemingly out of spite, slammed his foot on the gas pedal, sending the car speeding forward!

Gabriella's head smacked against the passenger seat. It didn't hurt much, but it certainly startled her. She clenched her fists tightly, her gaze icy as she tried to suppress her anger.

He was just as domineering as ever, never giving anyone a chance to explain or rebut!

It was as if he was doing it on purpose!

Gabriella's expression turned cold, but she had to keep her displeasure bottled up inside.

After driving for a while, Gabriella finally snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Alfred. "Where exactly are you taking me?"

His overbearing nature was infuriating, but there was nothing she could do about it. "To the Barnett Mansion, of course."

Alfred didn't feel anything wrong with his actions. "I sent you an invitation, didn't I? Since you refused to come on your own, I had to bring you myself."

Was Alfred out of his mind? Not only was he unreasonable, but...

Gabriella felt a surge of frustration but swallowed her words.

Seeing Alfred's determination, she knew there was no way out. She'd have to find a chance to slip away later. Suddenly, a chilling thought crossed her mind.

Since this was a Barnett family event, would Samuel be there too?

Just thinking about Samuel made Gabriella clench her fists, her heart pounding with unease.

She had experienced Samuel's terrifying nature firsthand.

He was a master manipulator, and the longer she was around him, the more dangerous it became. Who knew what he might do?

Gabriella remained unaware of Alfred observing the subtle shifts in her expression from the sidelines. Watching her visibly recoil at the mention of visiting the Barnett Mansion family, he felt perversely compelled to antagonize her further.

This was the woman who'd once played the field relentlessly, clutching every advantage like lifelines. 

Whether it was him, Justin, or even the troublesome Samuel, they'd all danced helplessly in her palm.

The old wound still throbbed beneath Alfred's ribs - that particular flavor of betrayal never fully scabs over. 

If she possessed no heart to break, he'd settle for making her watch. Let her trace with growing clarity how every man who'd ever fallen for her now gravitated toward others, while she remained eternally rooted in the hollowed ground of her own making.

Soon, they arrived at the venue.

Today was a big day for Ophelia and Justin. Reporters had flocked to the event, eager to get the scoop.

Some had prearranged with the Barnett family, while others had found their own ways in, all hoping to capture something newsworthy.

Regardless of their motives, they were all there for the same reason: to attend Justin and Ophelia's engagement party.

This engagement was different. By gathering the media, they could quickly prepare for the wedding and introduce future collaboration projects between the two families, generating buzz and momentum.

The Barnett and Fuller families were local powerhouses, so many people came to offer their congratulations.

Only the elite of high society could cross this threshold.

But the wealthy were often more curious and gossipy than ordinary people.

As soon as Alfred and Gabriella entered, a man in a light-colored suit approached with a smile. "Mr. Barnett, I didn't expect such good news from the Barnett family so soon. I remember you were engaged before, right? When can we attend your wedding?"

Alfred was initially displeased by the comment, but seeing Gabriella's downcast expression, he put on a composed facade. "I don't think it will be long. But today isn't about me. Let's focus on the Fuller family."

With a few words, Alfred managed to deflect the topic and avoid unnecessary entanglements.

Gabriella, meanwhile, was quietly observing the scene.

Thankfully, she hadn't seen Samuel yet. She wasn't sure if he hadn't arrived or if he wasn't coming at all.

Feeling a mix of emotions, Gabriella lowered her voice to remind Alfred. "Alfred, I don't want to cause a scene, but I'm really not interested in your family's events. If..."

Before Gabriella could finish, Alfred cut her off, his eyes sharp. "If you insist on leaving now, I won't hesitate to make things difficult for you."

"Miss Montague, you should know I don't like beating around the bush or being manipulated. I mean what I say, so don't make trouble for yourself." he snorted.

Gabriella's fists clenched tightly, her face growing colder.

It was as if he was here just to punish her!

With so many people around, Gabriella didn't want to cause a scene. If Samuel noticed her, it would be even worse.

She had no choice but to endure her displeasure and stay by Alfred's side.

She hoped the event would end soon so she could regain her freedom.

Meanwhile, in the dressing room, Ophelia looked at her reflection in the mirror and finally smiled with satisfaction. "Well done."