Chapter 352
The commotion drew the attention of several pregnant women who were attending a class nearby.
Curious, a few stepped out to see what was happening.
Upon hearing someone mention that pregnant women shouldn’t soak in hot springs, the group quickly broke into discussion.
“I actually planned to visit a hot spring too. But my mother–in–law called our doctor, and he shut it down immediately. I didn’t get what the big deal was and argued with her for days. But she held firm. Turns out she was right.”
“It’s not that you can’t go. It’s just risky in the first trimester or near your due date. Some springs are too hot or full of minerals. It can mess with your body.”
“Saunas are off–limits too!”
Blair listened in silence, and with Audrey’s earlier warning still ringing in her ears, the truth slowly came into focus.
Still, none of that excused what Audrey had done. A slap in public wasn’t something she could overlook.
Drawing a long breath, Blair squared her shoulders. “Mrs. Winifred, I approached you politely. But you chose violence. That’s not okay.”
Audrey laughed coldly. “Oh, so that was you being calm? Accusing me out of nowhere, dodging responsibility, clinging on like a leech? Then I suppose this is me being warm and caring, isn’t it?”
“You’re impossible!” Mona interjected, her voice rising with frustration.
“I try to reason with you, and you twist my words. I hit you, and suddenly you want to talk about civility. What, are you the one writing the rules now? Do they just change whenever it suits you?”
Audrey cast a sidelong glance at Mona before turning her gaze back to Blair. “If none of you are capable of thinking for yourselves, maybe go get your heads checked. You keep humiliating yourselves, and I’m embarrassed on your behalf.”
With that, she grabbed Celeste’s hand and walked away.
Sylvie and the others who had accompanied them followed in silence.
Hugo, trailing just behind, slowed as he passed Blair and Mona. His eyes swept over them with an expression colder than stone, then he turned and walked off without a word.
Only after they stepped into the elevator did Blair come to her senses.
“What was she even talking about?”
“She said we’re brainless and being manipulated,” Mona replied, and Blair shot her a glare that shut her up at once.
Determined not to let the matter rest, Blair headed straight to the yoga instructor to demand a refund.
Sharon had claimed Celeste referred her, which was why she had paid a discounted rate. Now Blair insisted the refund should be based on the full, standard price.
They argued back and forth for some time. In the end, the instructor called the police and pulled up surveillance footage from that day as proof. Only then did Blair finally relent.
But she wasn’t done. She brought Mona with her and stormed over to the Price family residence.
What Audrey didn’t know was that her scathing words had given Blair just enough courage to cause an uproar there. It wasn’t until she and celeste! shopped themselves tired that they each went their separate ways.
Chapter 352
After the incident, Yann was informed almost immediately. He instructed Freya to look into whether the Hartwell family had any business ties with ti
If they did, those partnerships were to be terminated on the spot.
If not, he wanted the Hartwell family bankrupt.
Blair returned home from the Price family’s estate only to find her husband sitting on the couch, face dark, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers.
“Stop worrying. I’ve already stood up for Sharon,” she declared. “That two–faced old witch! She actually tried to trick me!”
She launched into the story, recounting everything that had happened with Audrey, including the incident with the ice cream from the other day.
Sharon’s father, Rex Hartwell, flicked the ash from his cigarette. “Mrs. Winifred?”
“Yeah. Celeste was there too.” Blair poured herself a glass of water and took a few slow sips before continuing. “Irene said Mrs. Winifred was being a bully, but honestly, that’s not how it went down at all.”
She gave him a detailed account, leaving nothing out.
She had already confirmed everything with Sharon. Audrey’s words had been harsh, but unfortunately, they had also been true.
“The Mrs. Winifred you’re talking about… she’s Yann’s wife?” A strange unease stirred in Rex’s chest.
Blair nodded, and a heavy weight settled in Rex’s gut.
Earlier that day, one of the companies that pulled out of their partnership had long–standing connections with Darkshell International. While their past collaborations were few, each transaction had been significant.
There had never been a dispute, so Rex was at a loss as to why, without warning, the relationship had suddenly collapsed.
Just as he opened his mouth to ask Blair something, his phone buzzed. It was his secretary. Another contract had been terminated. The client was willing to pay double the penalty just to break the deal.
A cold sweat broke across Rex’s brow.
This wasn’t just about breach–of–contract fees anymore. He had already invested heavily in the early stages. If this chain reaction continued, his cash flow would be in real jeopardy.
Worse still, this second company also had ties to Darkshell International.
He turned to Blair, his voice low but tight with urgency. “Did you have some kind of confrontation with Mrs. Winifred today?”
“No…” Blair said, turning her head slightly, the lie catching in her throat.
It hadn’t been a confrontation, more like a humiliation.
Audrey had slapped her clean across the face, and she hadn’t even fought back. It was the sort of indignity she couldn’t bring herself to admit, not even
to Rex.
“Are you absolutely sure?” he asked again.
“Of course I am!” she snapped, her voice louder than she meant it to be.
Rex didn’t press further. He still had no idea where the trouble had started, but he knew he had to find a way to solve it quickly. “I won’t be home for
dinner.”
As he left, Mona watched him go, then turned to Blair. “He didn’t look good. Everything alright?”
“It’s fine,” Blair said, wiping a hand across her face. “And keep what happened today to yourself. Don’t tell anyone. Especially not Dexter-
Chapter 352
“What happened?”
Blair shot her a glare sharp enough to draw blood, then absentmindedly touched her own cheek. Mona finally caught on and nodded hurriedly
Rex returned to the company in haste. To his surprise, he ran into his son, Dexter, who had just been preparing to leave.
“You’re back? I already sent someone to reach out to Kuinpul Group. We should hear something soon,”
“Hawdia Group just pulled out too,” Rex said, his voice low and hard.
“What?” Dexter’s smile dropped. “But all the money we’ve already sunk into that…” He stopped short. One look at his father’s expression made it dem the situation was far worse than he’d realized.
They both walked into the office without another word and began making phone calls, each reaching into their own networks.
Whoever they had offended, they had to know.
Ashbourne wasn’t the kind of place where power flaunted itself openly. The more influence someone had, the less you’d see it on the surface. A man you brushed past on the street might, for all you knew, have a titan behind him.
As they waited for replies, Dexter suddenly remembered something.
“Dad… I think I have a theory.”
“Go ahead.”
“Sharon’s miscarriage…” He hesitated, watching his father’s face carefully.
After the incident, Blair and Irene had demanded an explanation from someone. That confrontation might have ruffled the wrong feathers, possibly even provoked retaliation.
Rex, prompted by Dexter’s suggestion, considered the angle.
But his mind, always calculating, wandered further.
“Your mother ran into Mrs. Winifred today.”
“Who? Yann’s wife?” Dexter frowned, puzzled. “We’re not even in the same social sphere as the Winifred family. There’s no way we could’ve crossed paths in any serious way.”
Rex shook his head slowly. “When the idea of marrying into the Price family first came up, I wasn’t in favor. It was your mother who pushed for it. She felt sorry for Sharon.
“Don’t forget, back at the Smart Tech Expo, Talia and Mrs. Winifred ended up in court over that lawsuit.”
Dexter’s brow furrowed slightly.
Blair might be the one with the louder voice in the household, but it had always been Rex who made the final calls. Without his nod, nothing would have gone forward, no matter how much Blair sympathized with Sharon.
Now that the Winifred family might be involved, Rex clearly intended to shift the blame onto Blair.
Dexter didn’t agree with the way his father handled things, but he knew better than to challenge him directly. For now, he still needed Rex’s influence to keep climbing.
“So, what are you saying?”
“She’s lost the baby,” Rex said flatly. “There’s no longer any reason to keep that engagement on the table,”
