Chapter 502
502
“Excuse me, Miss Harris,” Thomas said, setting down his wine glass. “I have to step away.”
Without another word, he turned and left the banquet hall with his assistant in tow.
Zora stared at the untouched glass, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Another plan gone to waste.
But fate had other ideas.
Moments later, Connor walked over looking for his own drink, mistakenly picked up Thomas’s glass, and downed it in one shot.
“Hey! Connor-”
Zora reached out to stop him, but she was too late.
“What?” Connor asked, blinking as he set down the glass.
“N–Nothing…” Zora forced a smile, quickly pulling her hand back. At this point, there was no use explaining. He’d just have to deal with the
consequences.
At first, nothing seemed wrong.
But soon, Connor, who had been dancing casually among the guests, began acting strangely.
He started peeling off his clothes.
Then, right in front of Yasmin, he lunged at Reese, grabbing her and pressing his lips against hers.
“Ah! Let go of me!” Reese screamed, shoving at him in panic. The women around them froze in shock.
“Connor, what the hell are you doing?” Yasmin shouted, rushing over to pull him off.
Freed from his grip, Reese immediately slapped him across the face. “You sick bastard!”
“I’m so sorry, Reese… he must’ve had too much to drink…”
But this was clearly more than just alcohol.
Connor stumbled, dazed and glassy–eyed, staggering from one woman to the next, trying to grope and kiss them as chaos broke out.
“Ah–get off me!”
Shrieks echoed throughout the room.
It wasn’t long before everyone realized the truth: Connor wasn’t just drunk–he was completely out of control. A total predator when intoxicated.
“Connor! Get over here!”
Yasmin stormed into the fray, dragging him away from the dance floor and forcing him onto a couch.
But Connor was far from settled. He looked up and saw Zora sitting nearby.
Without hesitation, he pounced.
“No! Get off!” Zora screamed, struggling as Connor clung to her, kissing and clawing, tearing at her clothes.
She had drugged that wine, yes–but never intended to be the one affected by it.
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Now it had come full circle, and she was the one paying the price.
* Connor!!!”
Yasmin’s voice cracked with fury. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her boyfriend, assaulting another woman, right in front of her.
Connor didn’t even seem aware of what he was doing. He was a beast now, acting purely on impulse.
With no other option, Yasmin grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it over the back of his head.
Connor finally collapsed, unconscious.
Zora pushed him off and scrambled to cover herself, her face pale and terrified.
She had never imagined that a scheme meant to trap someone else would backfire so spectacularly,
She had just set the trap for herself.
“I’m sorry!” Yasmin cried. “I had no idea he would act like this. That bastard!”
Fuming, she kicked Connor and called for his bodyguards to come collect him.
She couldn’t stay another moment. Humiliated and disgusted, Yasmin apologized quickly to Reese and left the party.
The atmosphere in Florence Hall was completely ruined.
Reese ordered someone to bring Zora fresh clothes. After changing, Zora made up an excuse and quietly slipped out.
Several other women also lost interest in staying after the scandal and left early.
One by one, the guests trickled out. Eventually, only family remained.
Reese stood alone by the untouched birthday cake. Her jaw clenched, she tore the tiara off her head and hurled it to the ground.
This had to be the worst birthday of her life.
And it wasn’t over yet.
Suddenly, the banquet doors opened and a bruised, bloodied man was shoved inside. He stumbled across the floor, crawling toward her.
“Help… someone help me…”
He collapsed at Reese’s feet, clutching her shoe.
She stared down in shock, barely recognizing the man through all the blood,
“Fatty? What happened to you?”
“It… it was Mr. Quick…” he whimpered, trembling.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed through the hall.
The Talon Quarters men entered first, forming a line on either side. Then Thomas walked in.
“Uncle, why did you beat him up?” Reese asked , confused.
Thomas stopped in front of her, towering and cold..
“Two hours ago, on Showhe Road, he led a group to ambush Caitlin’s car. Was that your doing? Hm?”
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So that was what this was about.
Reese flinched at his tone but lifted her chin. “Yeah. I told him to. So what?”
“ Why?”
“ She’s always trying to mess with me! I went to the salon, and she stole my stylist. Stuff like that happens all the time! I just wanted to teach her
lesson!”
Before she could finish her rant, Thomas slapped her.
Hard.
The sound rang out in the hall.
Reese staggered back, stunned, her cheek burning. “You hit me? You’ve never hit me! Why would you do that?!??
Tears welled in her eyes. She felt betrayed. “You’re the one who told me I could call Fatty if anyone bullied me! And now I get punished for defending myself?”
“Utter nonsense!” Thomas snapped.
“I investigated everything. At Queen11, you tried to scam Caitlin with fake designer pieces. At the salon, she had an appointment–you tried to cut in. When you couldn’t, you threw a tantrum and called my men to pick a fight. Isn’t that right?”
Reese couldn’t deny it.
Thomas pointed a finger at her nose.
“Our entire family has spoiled and protected you. But that doesn’t give you the right to act like a thug. Look at what you’ve done! You’re out of control ! ”
“But I was just mad…”
“ You keep going down this path, no one will be able to help you. You’ll destroy yourself.”
He took a deep breath.
“From now on, stay away from Caitlin. Don’t provoke her again. Do you understand me?”
Reese blinked. “What?”
“You heard me,” Thomas said firmly. “Now come with me. You’re going to apologize to Caitlin. In person.”