Chapter 156
156 The Slap Heard Around the Estate
His heart nearly stopped. That girl–Aurora–was in a league far above Rebecca or Scarlett. He stared at her contact info on his phone, deep in thought. Eventually , he decided to send her a short apology
To his surprise, Aurora replied instantly with a cute emoji.
His heart practically floated away.
Encouraged, he wrote a longer message, saying he’d like to take her out to dinner after the banquet to apologize properly.
This time, though, Aurora didn’t reply.
His heart itched like it was being scratched by a cat. He tossed and turned in frustration.
Hudson had just finished exchanging pleasantries with a wealthy lady when she was suddenly shoved from behind. If she hadn’t trained regularly and kept up her combat skills, she might have fallen.
She spun around sharply, eyes instantly locking onto Martha.
Martha flinched.
What the hell?
This woman was dressed simply, yet the pressure she radiated was overwhelming–like standing in front of someone you instinctively knew not to provoke.
“It’s you?”
Hudson’s blood boiled at the sight of her. After learning what Scarlett had suffered in Trenwyn, she’d long wanted to tear the Joyner family apart. The killing intent in her eyes made Martha stagger back a step.
“I was just about to find you. Good of you to show yourself.”
Hudson clenched her fists, ready to drag Martha outside and settle things the hard way.
“Planning to throw a punch?” Oliver stepped in front of Martha, his face equally cold. “Do you even know where you are?”
“And don’t think I’ve forgotten how you attacked my mother. I haven’t settled that score yet! If this weren’t the Lane estate, you wouldn’t even be alive right now.”
Hudson’s fists tightened.
What a smug bastard . She was itching to beat the arrogance out of him.
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Before Oliver could react, her hand had already connected with his face. The sharp crack of the slap turned heads instantly.
Oliver, trained from a young/age in self–defense, had some martial arts skills. But he hadn’t even seen her move. All he felt was the burning pain on his cheek.
156 The Slap Heard Around the Estate
He instinctively covered the side of his face. Realizing that everyone had just witnessed his humiliation mi temper flared.
He reached out, about to strike back. “You bitch, I’ll”
Crack.
A sharp snap.echoed through the air, followed by Oliver’s howl of pain.
“Ahhhh! You–let go of me!”
His face turned pale. The pain made it impossible to keep up appearances . He jumped, flailed, and looked like a complete fool.
Hudson smiled faintly. “Sure.”
Just as Oliver jerked his hand back, she let go.
“Argh!”
He hadn’t braced himself and stumbled backward from the momentum. Thankfully, Eugene and Stanley moved quickly to catch him before he fell flat.
Franklin and Martha glared at Hudson with venom.
Martha’s teeth clenched. “Today is a big day for the Lane family. I was going to let the past go. But you- how dare you lay a hand on my son!”
“You clearly don’t respect the Lane family at all. So I’ll take it upon myself to teach you a lesson–for the sake of my son!”
She lunged forward, ready to strike.
Hudson stepped aside with ease and stuck out her leg.
Thud.
Martha lost her balance and landed face–first in the grass.
It had been ages since anyone in this circle had seen something this ridiculous. It was better than a circus. Laughter erupted all around.
Franklin was too humiliated to act. Stanley stepped forward to help Martha up.
She was sore all over and didn’t have the strength to fight back. Just as she opened her mouth to curse Hudson, a metallic taste filled her mouth.
She touched her lips–there was blood.
Her image–ruined.
She was so angry her ears felt like they were steaming. “Unbelievable!”
Franklin’s voice rose in pitch, trembling with fury. Eugene and Stanley flanked him, ready to retaliate.
His face was twisted with rage. “You dare assault the Joyner family at a Lane banquet? I’ll take this straight to
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156 The Slap Heard Around the Estate
the Lane patriarch! Guests or not, if you lay hands on one of ours , you’ll be thrown out and blacklined by the Lane family!”
Hudson snorted.
This old bastard had subjected Scarlett to years of emotional abuse. He was the one most deserving of a beating. Might as well collect some interest for her today.
“Blacklisted?” she echoed. “If the consequences are that serious, then I might as well make it worth my while.”
Before anyone could react, Hudson moved in a flash.
In three swift strikes, it was over.
When they looked again, Franklin’s face bore two fresh palm prints–and a shoe print now stained his once- pristine white shirt.
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