Chapter 166
"Ms. Kennedy, reception says two women are asking to see you without an appointment," her assistant reported.
"Who are they?"
"One introduces herself as Mrs. Neville, the other as Ms. Barnes."
Margaret's coffee cup froze midair.
She knew her peace wouldn't last long. But she hadn't expected them to track down her company—and certainly not together.
"Send them up," Margaret set her cup down, her voice betraying nothing.
"But—"
"It's fine," Margaret smoothed her sleeve. "We're running a business—we don't turn away potential clients. Also, ask Baron from security to come by."
Minutes later, the glass doors of the office swung open.
Camila entered first, followed by Jennifer. Camila wore an impeccably tailored Chanel suit, every inch the aristocratic matriarch, though the malice in her eyes ruined the overall effect.
Behind her, Jennifer's face carried an unhealthy pallor, her gaze like poisoned daggers fixed on Margaret.
"Margaret!" Jennifer was the first to attack.
She rushed to Margaret's office doorway, her voice shrill. "You fraud! How dare you come back alive?"
Margaret leaned against her desk, arms crossed calmly, regarding Jennifer like an unruly stranger.
"Ms. Barnes, I believe my lawyer has already informed you that slander carries legal consequences."
"Legal consequences?" Jennifer laughed hysterically, as if she'd heard the joke of the century. "You faked your death certificate and deceived everyone, and you dare talk about the law? Mrs. Neville, do you see what we're dealing with?"
Camila stepped forward coldly, her gaze sweeping the office before settling on Margaret with contempt.
"Margaret, I don't care whether you were really dead these three years. Leave Richard's side immediately," she commanded rather than requested. "A woman with your questionable character is not worthy of the Neville family."
"Questionable character? Mrs. Neville, are you sure you want to discuss that term with me? The subject of your son's recent scandals is standing right behind you. Oh, and didn't she claim to be carrying a Neville heir? Or have you forgotten?"
Jennifer's face instantly flushed crimson.
Camila's expression soured dramatically, as if she'd been publicly slapped.
She despised when people brought up that incident, especially in public.
"You—!" Camila's chest heaved with anger. "Such a sharp tongue! Let me tell you, Richard is about to enter marriage negotiations with the Barnes family. Don't think you can come back and be an obstacle! You're nothing but bad luck—you brought death to your own parents, and now you want to curse our family too?"
"Faking your death for sympathy—how twisted can you be?"
"Mrs. Neville!" Jennifer interjected with feigned distress, clutching Camila's arm with tear-filled eyes. "Don't lower yourself to her level. She's just jealous of me..."
Their performance was so coordinated it almost seemed rehearsed.
Around the office, employees began whispering, some discreetly taking out their phones.
"Finished?" Margaret cut them off, her smile vanishing completely.
She turned to the security manager who had hurried over. "Baron."
"Ms. Kennedy." Baron, a former military man with an imposing build, stood at attention.
"This is a place of business, not a fish market," Margaret gestured toward the exit. "Please 'escort' these two women who are severely disrupting our operations outside. If they refuse to leave, call the police and report them for disorderly conduct."
"Yes, ma'am!" Baron motioned, and two security guards immediately approached.
"You wouldn't dare!" Camila was shocked that Margaret would treat her this way, her voice rising in pitch. "I am Richard Neville's mother! Just try to touch me!"
Margaret ignored her, speaking to her assistant instead, "Keep recording. Company property and employee safety are being threatened—we need evidence, which can also serve as a cautionary example in our security training."
Her words were just loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Several young employees couldn't suppress their snickers.
Camila and Jennifer's faces darkened instantly.
When had they ever suffered such humiliation? Being treated like circus animals and recorded as a "cautionary example"?
"You bitch!" Jennifer completely lost control, breaking free from the security guard and lunging forward.
Camila, equally enraged, pointed at Margaret's face and unleashed a torrent of abuse.
All the vulgarities she'd previously reserved for private settings now poured out publicly.
The entire scene had devolved into farce.
Just as the security guards prepared to physically remove them, the company doors were flung open again.
Richard burst in.
He immediately witnessed a scene he could never have imagined.
His mother, behaving like a common shrew, restrained by security guards while hurling obscenities at Margaret.
Jennifer was wrestling with a tall security guard, looking completely unhinged.
The entire company staff stood watching the spectacle like audience members.
And on the other side of this theatrical disaster, Margaret stood perfectly still, her expression cold as ice.
In that instant, Richard felt blood rush to his head before freezing solid.
Shame, fury, and an indescribable panic gripped his heart.
"ENOUGH!" he roared, his voice hoarse with rage.
The office fell instantly silent.
Camila's tirade stopped mid-sentence.
She turned stiffly, seeing her son's thunderous expression, momentarily stunned.
"Richard? How... why are you here?"
Richard didn't answer.
He strode over and seized Camila's wrist with such force that she cried out in pain.
"Mother," each word squeezed through his clenched teeth like ice, "what are you doing here? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"
He didn't even glance at the equally stunned Jennifer, his bloodshot eyes fixed on his mother.
"I... I came to defend you!" Though intimidated by her son's intensity, Camila remained defiant. "It's this shameless Margaret who—"
"SHUT UP!" Richard cut her off savagely, dragging her toward the exit with no gentleness. "You're coming with me!"
He couldn't bring himself to look at Margaret again.
All his attempts at making amends, his pathetic self-exile—in this moment, his mother's stupid, vicious behavior had shattered everything beyond repair.
She had torn away Margaret's last shred of dignity with her own hands.
As Richard pulled her to the door, Camila finally processed what was happening. "Richard, have you lost your mind?" she shrieked. "You'd treat me this way for this woman? I'm your mother!"
Only after Richard's figure disappeared behind the glass doors did the tension in the office finally break.
All the employees exhaled collectively, exchanging glances filled with shock, gossip, and a touch of vindication.
"My God..." a recent graduate whispered to her colleague, clutching her chest. "This was more dramatic than all the news I've ever watched combined."
"Our Ms. Kennedy was so cool," another male colleague murmured in admiration, keeping his voice low.
The assistant hurried to Margaret's side, face full of concern. "Ms. Kennedy, are you alright? Would you like some water?"
Margaret shook her head as she slowly straightened.
She suddenly found the situation oddly amusing.