The Coma Prince’s Fiancée novel Chapter 43

The room went quiet for what felt like forever.

Shirley, stuck right in the middle of the crowd, finally snapped out of it, realizing that Rebecca had just made a fool of her. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and anger, but she forced herself to hold it in. Instead, she put on her best sad, pitiful look and kept her eyes glued to the floor, not daring to meet Norris’s gaze.

“Mr. White, I… I really don’t know what happened. Just now, I suddenly…” she stammered, trying to sound helpless.

Rebecca didn’t give her a second to finish. “Suddenly your hand slipped, and you almost splashed hot tea on my face? Is that what you’re going with?” Her voice was sharp, every word hitting its mark.

Shirley’s head snapped up, eyes flashing with anger. “You—”

“Enough.”

Norris’s voice cut through the tension, cold and heavy. It felt like the entire room froze.

“Shirley, I told everyone. No one’s allowed to cause trouble at The Whites’ place, no matter who they are. Now you’ve admitted you did it on purpose. I think it’s best if you leave. Ableson, please show them out.”

Shirley’s face went white. This was her first time at The Whites’ home. If she got kicked out now, how would she ever show her face in Harrisburg again?

“Mr. White, it really wasn’t on purpose. It was just an accident. The cup was hot when I grabbed it, I got burned and the whole thing just—slipped…”

Rebecca spoke up, calm as ever, but every word was a jab. “So now it’s the servants’ fault for making tea too hot? Are you blaming The Whites for not teaching their staff properly?”

Shirley’s mouth snapped shut. Whatever excuse she was about to make died in her throat as her beautiful face twisted in anger.

“Rebecca, do you have to twist everything I say? We grew up together. Is that seriously what you think of me?”

Rebecca let out a cold laugh. “Want another slap to help jog your memory?”

Shirley flinched without even thinking. Her cheek still stung from before. She quickly turned back to Norris, her voice suddenly soft and weak.

“Mr. White, I was just scared. I thought I might be poisoned and I was worried about your safety too. What if someone was out to get you again? That’s why I lost it. You… you’re not really mad at me, are you?”

Nearby, Harriet’s heart clenched as she watched her daughter beg. She hated seeing Shirley like this, but she knew she couldn’t mess with Norris. For once, she forced herself to speak gently, even to Rebecca, whom she never liked.

“Rebecca, to be fair, Shirley went a bit too far, but you know she’s sensitive. She only spoke out of turn because she panicked. Besides, are you really going to just watch people misunderstand her? If word gets out, Jackson is going to be pretty disappointed in you.”

In Harriet’s mind, Rebecca was back in Harrisburg because she didn’t want anything to do with her birth parents, so she must still care about pleasing Jackson. After all, he did give Rebecca a whole hundred thousand when she left.

But Rebecca just rolled her eyes. “Mrs. James, if you’re going to pretend you didn’t see what happened, at least don’t insult everyone else’s eyes. Everyone here can see what your daughter’s really like. You can’t just smooth everything over with pretty words.”

Harriet looked at Norris with hope. Shirley stood at her side, biting her lip, her whole body screaming “innocent victim,” but the way she glared at Rebecca from behind those wide eyes made it obvious she was seething inside.

Norris just looked cold, like he was trying not to be completely disgusted with Shirley. Still, she had saved his life before… that had to count for something.

“This is the first and last time.”

Harriet and Shirley both relaxed, relief flooding their faces.

Shirley even managed a small smile. Of course Mr. White wouldn’t throw her out over something this minor. Rebecca was nothing. Just a maid. There was no way Mr. White would side with her.

Paulina let out a breath, shooting Rebecca a gentle smile.

“Rebecca, you’ve been wronged, I know you have. But you already slapped her, and anyway, the James family did raise you. Out of respect for Mr. White, you should let this go. We’re all guests here. No need to drag things out.”

She spoke like she’d thought of everything, balancing right and wrong so perfectly that of course Rebecca would agree.

But Rebecca just sat there, her eyes clear and icy, pure sarcasm in her gaze.