Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 257

When Quennel saved her from those three men last night, Stephanie had felt a surge of gratitude toward him.

Now, that gratitude had curdled into disappointment.

Even their years of history and shared affection were slowly crumbling away in her heart.

How was Quennel’s behavior any different from rubbing salt in her wounds?

He had witnessed with his own eyes how terrified she was last night. He was the one who had rescued her.

And yet, he was also the one who leaked the video of them leaving the hotel.

Quennel knew exactly how to use public opinion to his advantage. To put it bluntly, he cared more about himself than anyone else.

He treated her as an extension of himself, something to be won back, without any regard for her feelings or thoughts.

On stage, the host was sharp. “Mr. Vasquez, you were with your wife the entire night?”

She glanced at Quennel. “Mr. Gonzalez, do you have anything to add?”

The host tossed the question back to Quennel, the subtext clear: which one of you is lying?

Fight! Fight it out right here on camera!

[Don’t deify Jonathan! I think he’s just trying to save face by saying he was with his wife all night. I mean, the video clearly showed Quennel and his wife’s faces!]

[Exactly! No man would admit to being cheated on, especially a top-tier tycoon like him. Jonathan isn’t trying to protect the woman; he’s trying to protect his own ego.]

[He just can’t admit his wife is messing around with someone else! I'm waiting for Quennel to call him out!]

Jonathan sat calmly in his chair, his expression serene in the face of the accusations.

“Last night, my wife was out for a work meeting. She had too much to drink and was almost harassed by her ex-boyfriend on her way out of the hotel.”

Jonathan then turned his gaze directly to Quennel, as if just noticing the cut on his lip. “Mr. Gonzalez, how much ice did you use last night? That wound healed surprisingly fast.”

The entire venue erupted in an uproar.

Jonathan’s statement revealed two critical pieces of information.

One, the mark on Quennel’s lip wasn’t from a kiss; it was from Jonathan hitting him.

Two, Quennel was harassing Stephanie.

[WHOA WHOA WHOA!]

The venue fell silent.

The live chat exploded:

[OMG OMG OMG!]

[I told you so! She's totally playing both sides! She’s really mastered the art of having her cake and eating it too! Disgusting! Shameless witch!]

[Okay, but is Quennel getting desperate? Doesn’t anyone else think secretly recording a conversation is super creepy? It feels like a total backstab…]

[I suddenly feel so bad for Jonathan. Is he really just a pawn in their game? My poor god, come to me! Let me comfort you!]

Sitting in the audience, Stephanie’s hands were clenched into tight fists.

She couldn’t believe Quennel had secretly recorded their conversation.

Even worse, not only had he recorded it, but he had also deliberately had the audio edited.

What she had actually said was: “You seem to be overstepping. Whether I’m miserable or not, I will never love you again.”

But now, with the beginning and end cut off, it had been twisted into: “I’m miserable. I love you.”