Chapter 95 Face The Music
“Please forgive us, Ms. Carter. I deeply regret this. It was nothing more than a misunderstanding,” Orlando insisted, his voice dripping with a conciliatory tone that contrasted sharply with his earlier aggression toward Ryland.
“A misunderstanding? I don’t think so,” Renee countered coldly, her eyes glinting with
a frosty resolve. “You assaulted my friend and now hide behind excuses? And you expect forgiveness?”
Her icy demeanor cut through the warm evening air, clearly unsettling Orlando’s wife, who snapped back, her voice rising in indignation, “Tell me, what do you really want? Just so you know, my husband is the Chief Inspector. Are you thinking of getting back
at us?”
Renee simply fixed her with a chilling stare.
Meanwhile, Orlando, intrigued by Renee’s composure and her now unclear connection to William, remained silent, letting the heated exchange unfold without interference.
Amid the tension, Renee’s lips curled into a sardonic smile, a soft chuckle escaping her.
The woman hadn’t yet grasped the reason behind Renee’s amusement when suddenly, the sound of a sharp slap cut through the conversation, leaving a stunned silence in its
wake.
She immediately felt a searing sting across her cheek, her hand flying up to cradle the throbbing skin. Her face was a chaotic mix of disbelief, shock, and mounting rage.
Renee, in stark contrast, was the picture of nonchalance, flicking imaginary dust from her hands with a dismissive shrug. “I’m perfectly fine with taking it out on you instead then,” she declared evenly.
The woman, her anger reaching a boiling point, jabbed a trembling finger towards Renee. “You’ll regret this, you fucking bitch!” she spat, her voice dripping with fury.
Fueled by fury, she charged at Renee, her arms flailing, eager to claw her adversary apart. But her assault was abruptly halted as her wrist was ensnared by an iron–strong grip, her body jerked back with startling force.
For a fleeting moment, as William’s large, warm hand encircled her wrist, the woman was struck by an unexpected sense of awe–up close, he was even more strikingly handsome than she had realized. His touch sent an unfamiliar warmth spreading through her, momentarily distracting her from her rage.
But that warmth vanished as quickly as it had appeared when she saw William shake his hand as though repulsed, a grimace contorting his features.
“Mr. Perez, is this your idea of an apology?” he demanded, his tone laced with disapproval.
Nearby, Orlando stood petrified, witnessing the intervention. A cold sweat soaked his back, his mind racing with dread at the unfolding scene.
With a swift motion, he advanced, his forehead slick with sweat. He bowed deeply, his apologies tumbling out in a hurried stream. “I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Mitchell. My wife has overstepped her bounds–truly, I am sorry.”
As he spoke, he firmly guided his wife forward, pressing her head down in a show of submission. His voice was sharp, tinged with anger as he rebuked her. “You reckless woman! Is this the way you taught our son? How could you dare raise your hand against Ms. Carter? You’d better apologize to Ms. Carter, and do it now!”
Under his stern gaze, any pretense of defiance melted away from the woman. Her voice, meek and subdued, barely rose above a whisper. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Carter. I didn’t mean for things to turn out this way. Please, accept my apology.”
With the tension reaching a crescendo, William decided it was time to ease the
confrontation. He approached Renee, carrying Felix, who reached out eagerly for a comforting hug. Renee cradled Felix, her voice soft but carrying a weighty decision.
“What do you think, Felix? Should we forgive these people for their mistakes?”
Orlando’s face shifted with disbelief. He was the Chief Inspector, yet his future now
rested in the hands of a toddler?
Felix, still visibly upset, had tears brimming in his eyes. When Renee posed the question, Felix turned his tear–streaked face towards Ryland.
Ryland, sensing Felix’s distress, offered a gentle, reassuring smile. “No need to worry, buddy. I’m just fine, I promise.”
Felix, his voice small and filled with the innocence of his tender years, replied, “Mommy, they hurt Uncle Ryland. He’s in pain…”
It was clear from Felix’s solemn words that forgiveness was not on his mind. The sting of Ryland’s pain lingered, and Felix was det
It was clear from Felix’s solemn words that forgiveness was not on his mind. The sting of Ryland’s pain lingered, and Felix was determined that the family responsible wouldn’t walk away unscathed.
