novelraw Chapter 225: The Face-Slap Came a Bit Too Fast
Chapter 225: The Face-Slap Came a Bit Too Fast
Beside him, Tristan Sinclair snickered. "What’s wrong? Get into a fight with your little beauty?"
Jasper Lockwood snapped, "Just drink your wine!"
Tristan Sinclair’s lips curled into a smile. "Alright, it’s a deal then. Don’t you go anywhere. Stay here with me. We’re not leaving until we’re drunk tonight."
Jasper Lockwood’s long, slender fingers tightened around his glass. A moment later, he downed the wine in a single gulp, then stood up and said, "Put it on my tab for tonight."
Tristan Sinclair burst out laughing. "My good man, you ate your words a little too fast. I thought you’d at least last ten minutes."
Jasper Lockwood ignored him, turning to Henry Chamberlain. "Let’s go."
And with that, the two of them left.
Left all alone, Tristan Sinclair picked up his phone and made a call. "Come out for a drink. Someone’s paying."
The man on the other end of the line chuckled. "Mr. Sinclair, sorry, but it’s not a good night for me."
Tristan Sinclair asked, "What? Is it that time of the month for you too?"
The man replied, "Not exactly. It’s just, you know, I’m dating someone."
Tristan Sinclair scoffed. "Didn’t you just break up a few days ago?"
The man said, "Yeah, well, out with the old, in with the new."
Tristan Sinclair hung up without another word.
A moment later, Damian Rivers suddenly walked over and sat down beside him. "All by yourself?"
Tristan Sinclair didn’t mention that Jasper Lockwood had just been there. He said lazily, "It’s quieter alone."
Damian Rivers suddenly smiled. "Looking for quiet in a bar? I hope I’m not disturbing you, then."
Tristan Sinclair’s lips quirked. "Two is still manageable. Did you come alone?"
"Yes. For the quiet." With that, Damian Rivers ordered a drink from the bartender.
Tristan Sinclair took a sip of his drink and asked, "How’s the company been lately?"
"It’s stabilized for now. Not too terrible," Damian Rivers said.
"If you need me to do anything, just say the word."
"Mm." Damian Rivers took a sip of his drink, his deep gaze sweeping over the various people in the bar. He felt as if he were in another world.
’Ever since the Rivers Family’s troubles began, I haven’t been to a bar in a long time. I only came today because I had a meeting, but I was stood up. I’m no longer the high and mighty Heir of the Rivers, fawned over by all. People who once bowed and scraped before me now dare to stand me up so casually.’
’Of course, this is all temporary. It won’t be like this forever.’
’Since I’ve decided to take over, I will restore the Rivers Family to its former glory—and make it even more glorious than before.’
Tristan Sinclair glanced at him sideways and suddenly asked, "Were you supposed to meet someone?"
"No, I just wanted to get out for some air, experience a bit of the real world," Damian Rivers said lightly.
’He knew Damian didn’t want to talk about it, so Tristan didn’t press the issue. But that didn’t mean he would let it go. He understood the Rivers Family’s current situation; someone was bound to try and kick Damian while he was down. And since Damian would never tell him about such things, he’d have to investigate it himself and see which short-sighted piece of trash it was.’
The two men drank their wine, making small talk about things unrelated to their family businesses.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from a corner, drawing everyone’s attention.
Chloe Kensington, standing next to a man, looked at Jean Kensington and said with deliberate provocation, "Sister, shouldn’t you be at home with your child at this hour? Why would you be in a bar?"
"With your child?" The man stared at Jean Kensington in astonishment. "You have a child?"
Before Jean Kensington could speak, Chloe Kensington immediately added, "That’s right. My sister’s son is already three years old. You couldn’t tell, could you?"
The man’s expression shifted repeatedly, finally settling on an extremely ugly scowl.
Seeing this, Chloe Kensington smirked to herself and deliberately asked, "Sister, why did you come to a bar? The baby doesn’t have a father, so if you’re not there, who’s watching him?"
Hearing that the baby had no father, a fresh wave of murmurs went through the surrounding group.
"What’s going on? Jean Kensington has a child? And no father? Where did the kid come from?"
"I have no idea! Didn’t she go abroad to study? How did she come back with a son?"
"Must be from some affair. Look at her, with that vixen face. Who knows how many men she’s seduced."
The man looked at Jean Kensington, his face full of disappointment. "I can’t believe you’re this kind of woman. I guess I completely misjudged you."
Jean Kensington’s icy gaze swept over everyone before finally landing on Chloe Kensington’s face.
Chloe Kensington put on a frightened expression, then hid behind the man and said with false sincerity, "I’m sorry, sister. Everyone here today is an old friend. I just assumed you had already told them about the baby’s existence."
Jean Kensington scoffed. "Chloe Kensington, can you stop with your disgusting performance in front of me? It’s seriously making me want to vomit."
A woman sneered, "I wonder who’s really the disgusting one. Claiming to study abroad but coming back with a little bastard. Jean Kensington, you’re really something else, so young and already... Ah!"
Before the woman could finish, a glass of hard liquor was splashed in her face, leaving her completely drenched and humiliated. She shot to her feet, roaring, "How dare you throw a drink on me!" As she spoke, she raised her hand to slap Jean Kensington, but her wrist was caught before it could land.
Although Jean Kensington didn’t know martial arts, she exercised regularly and had some strength. Gripping the woman’s wrist, she said in a cold voice, "If you don’t want to die, then shut your filthy mouth!"
The woman sneered. "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can kill me? Jean Kensington, if you don’t get on your knees and apologize to me today, you’re not walking out of this bar!"
Chloe Kensington smirked to herself from the sidelines.
Another man, who appeared gentle and refined, stepped forward. "Sophia, stop making a scene. You were the one who insulted Jean first." He then turned to Jean Kensington and added, "Jean, I’m sorry. This is my fault. I didn’t know it would turn out like this. Let me take you home."
Jean Kensington’s beautiful eyes were glacial. "You really are as stupid as ever."
The man’s expression faltered. He quickly explained, "I didn’t mean to hide the fact that everyone was here. I just wanted you to get together with everyone. I thought if there were any misunderstandings, you could just talk them out. We’re all friends, after all."
"Friends? Who’s friends with you?" Jean Kensington shoved the woman back onto the sofa and said coldly, "You can try me and see if I can’t kill you. Oh, right. Don’t forget how I’ve threatened you in the past."
Hearing this, the woman’s face turned ashen. She said in a low voice, "You think I still can’t deal with you like before!"
Jean Kensington sneered. "You’re more than welcome to try."
With that, she turned to the man beside her and said coldly, "Don’t contact me again. And don’t let me see you ever again."
’Every pitiful person has their detestable side.’ That saying was absolutely right.
The man froze. "Jean..."
Jean Kensington paid him no more mind and turned to leave.
"Wait!" The man standing with Chloe Kensington suddenly spoke up, taking a few quick steps to block her path.
Seeing this, Chloe Kensington frowned. ’Does he still want her even after knowing she has a child?’ But then she heard the man say, "You splashed a drink all over my cousin’s face. You think you can just walk away?"
At his words, Chloe Kensington breathed a sigh of relief. ’Oh, he’s just going to cause trouble for Jean Kensington. That’s a relief.’
Jean Kensington said coldly, "She deserved it."
The man’s eyes narrowed. After a moment, he suddenly smiled. "That face, that temper... you’re really my type. How about this? You take good care of me tonight, and I’ll consider letting you off the hook."
Jean Kensington’s beautiful eyes were utterly frigid. "You get on your knees and apologize to me right now, and I’ll consider letting you die a quick death."
The man’s face instantly darkened.
Jean Kensington raised her hand, about to use the Enchanting Fragrance, when a familiar voice sounded in her ear.
"Jean Kensington, come here."
Everyone had been watching the confrontation between Jean Kensington and the man. At the sound of the voice, they all turned in its direction. When they saw it was Tristan Sinclair, they were not only shocked but their faces also filled with fear.