Chapter 854

Chapter 854:
Hancock’s face darkened, his voice rising. “She told you? You don’t get it. It’s not what it looks like—she’s completely unreasonable!”
“How so?” Stella’s voice cut in, steady and calm. “No matter what you argued about, knowing she doesn’t speak the native language and it’s her first time abroad, you shouldn’t have walked out on her. And as a man, you definitely shouldn’t have gotten physical.”
Hancock recoiled, cornered, his voice spiking. “I didn’t mean to hurt her! It was an accident. We were arguing, I got mad, threw a glass. It grazed her face. That’s what she’s calling abuse?”
His eyes darted to William, as if desperate for support.
“So you admit you lost your temper, threw a glass, and she got hurt?” William said flatly.
Hancock let out a bitter laugh. “Hurt? You make it sound like I’ve got super strength or something!”
Stella didn’t flinch. “Intentional or not, she was injured. And why did you abandon her at the hotel afterward?”
Hancock raked a hand through his hair, agitation spilling out.
“She completely lost it—accused me of abuse, said she’d book another hotel and leave right then. It was the middle of the night! I tried to calm her down, but she wouldn’t listen, kept saying she didn’t want to see me. So I left. Isn’t that what she wanted?”
The more he spoke, the more self-righteous he sounded.
“It was six in the morning! I couldn’t check into another place until noon. I was stuck waiting around all night without sleep. Don’t I get to feel upset too?” His voice grew louder, indignant, as if he were the one who had been wronged.
Stella kept her expression neutral, weighing his words. Yes, it sounded like tempers flaring, miscommunication spiraling—but even so, Hancock had failed her.
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She chose her words carefully, tone firm. “Even if she made mistakes, you shouldn’t have told her to fend for herself, especially when she was broke and helpless. That’s more than stubbornness. It’s a complete lack of responsibility and empathy.”
Hancock bristled, his neck stiffening. “Why’s it always the guy’s fault? Isn’t everyone preaching equality these days? I’ve never been treated like this—kicked out in the middle of the night! Her temper’s awful!”
William finally spoke, his voice calm but commanding. “Equality doesn’t excuse irresponsibility.”
He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze cutting straight through Hancock.
“And the real issue here isn’t her temper. It’s money, isn’t it?”
Color drained from Hancock’s face. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
William gave a low, almost amused chuckle. “If you two had enough cash to burn on this trip—eating, drinking, enjoying yourselves—would some minor spat about the itinerary really have blown up to this point? I know your father, and he’s not stingy, so why are you pinching pennies over your girlfriend’s plane ticket?”
The words sliced straight through Hancock’s defenses. His face drained of color, humiliation flashing across his features. He clenched his fists, eyes burning with shame and anger.
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