Katelyn was about to question Charlotte when Jamie and Melvin came this way, side by side.
Seeing the man that she thought she could seek protection from, Charlotte instantly pounced over, crying, "Melvin..."
Melvin took a glance at him and pursed his lips without saying anything.
In the dim light, his expression was somewhat dour.
Jamie saw Charlotte's ruined makeup and asked, "What's going on?"
The guests gathered around helped to explain the situation. Although they were biased towards Charlotte, they didn't say anything too harsh considering that they didn't dare mess with Cody, and that they were really amazed by Lyra's dance.
As Jamie listened, he basically understood what happened.
Putting on a smile on his face, he apologized to the guest and let them continue with their dinner; then he comforted Charlotte with a few words, and went back to the main banquet hall with the others.
Charlotte was still whimpering as she went to take Melvin's hand. She pouted like an innocent little girl, "Melvin, don't blame Lyra. She's probably in a bad mood because of our engagement."
Melvin was looking down at her, asking impassively, "What did you just say to her?"
She was stunned by the question and looked up to see that Melvin seemed to be upset, so she hurriedly explained, "We're about to get engaged, so I just wanted her to give us her blessing. I didn't expect her to get angry and that was why she splashed me."
"Really?" Melvin furrowed his brow, the look on his face growing grimmer.
Charlotte, pushing her sliver of luck, nodded, and her grip on his arm tightened.
Almost instantly, he drew back his arm, "Lottie, I'm really getting confused about you."
Charlotte choked.
It was the first time he talked to her in such an emotionless tone. Was it because he saw it?
She did not dare to continue to pretend. If Melvin did see something, her continuing to cover it up would only increase his disgust.
"Melvin, Lyra laughed at me with the ugly photo she took of my stage accident, so I was pissed off at that time and wanted to splash her... I haven't changed, Melvin. I'm still the same me."
Melvin didn't say anything and just let Charlotte chatter.
Charlotte didn't get a response from him, and thus got even more flustered, weeping uncontrollably.
"Melvin, I'm so scared when you're like this. You promised me before that you would marry me, that you would make up for what you've owed me years ago. Please believe me. I didn't do it on purpose."
Melvin couldn't help frowning at the mention of their history again.
He felt a trace of distaste. It seemed that since her return, Charlotte had often played the you-owe-me card with what happened years ago.
But her image had been deviating from the girl in his heart.
Could it be possible that her three years abroad had changed her so completely?
Katelyn aside overheard their conversation. As a woman, she was well aware of and disgusted by Charlotte's behavior. She secretly rolled her eyes, turned her head and planned to leave.
But she was stopped by Melvin, "Mrs. Matthews, Lottie is not in a good mood tonight. Please take her back for an early rest."
Katelyn didn't dare to refuse, so she put on an amiable smile and went to pull Charlotte gently.
Only when Melvin was completely gone did she put away the smile. She took a pinch at Charlotte's arm, and muttered in a low voice, "The daughter of the homewrecker is really a bitch. He's long gone. Stop acting. Your performance made my toes curl."
She was given a vicious glare by Charlotte.
"What, you really think I'm afraid of you?" said Katelyn in hatred. She let go of Charlotte and went back to the main banquet hall.
...
After coming out of the Matthews House, Lyra parted with Cody and went back to Keith's villa alone.
She took a shower, then put on a beauty mask and ate some fresh fruit, very relaxed and pleased.
The phone rang suddenly.
She looked at the name on the screen and answered without hesitation, "Thanks for tonight. If it wasn't for you, it could have been me who made a fool of myself on the spot."
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