“Yes, Lady Joshua,” Helen answered with a smile. “I’m so glad to be able to meet you here. I actually came here to check out the clothes with my cousin, but I heard what you said about Ms. Vivian. I was just wondering if I could interview you and Ms. Vivian.”
Emily glanced at the disgruntled Margaret before turning back to Helen with a solemn expression.
“Sure, but we might have to do this another time. I’m also here to look at the clothes, and I don’t have time to spare today.”
Nevertheless, Helen was satisfied with her response. “That’s great, Lady Joshua. I’ll make an appointment with you as soon as possible.”
Winnie was dumbfounded by the turn of events.
She never expected Emily to have such a reckless side.
“Grandma, Helen is not an ordinary journalist. She once exposed a scandal of the royal family. Because of that, the royal family’s international reputation plummeted back then. You can’t make such a decision so hastily,” she whispered in Emily’s ear.
“Winnie”—Emily looked at Winnie calmly. It didn’t seem that she had agreed to the interview out of impulse—“I know of Helen’s accomplishments, and I’ve also heard of her name. However, I didn’t know that your modesty would bring you such humiliation. Not only does this affect you, but it’s also a disgrace to the entire Speiser family. I’m sure Ms. Margaret is not the first person to treat you like this. If I just sit back and watch, I’m sure she won’t be the last one either. You didn’t escape from that horrible couple from Chanaea and return to the Speiser family to receive this kind of treatment. I have to stand up for you.”
“But Grandma—” The truth was, Winnie had tons of ways to get back at Margaret. They would not be as conspicuous, and they wouldn’t affect the Speiser family’s reputation either.
Before Winnie could say anything more, the staff members hurried over to them.
They had run over after hearing that there was a conflict in the showroom.
“Lady Joshua, Ms. Margaret, how can we help you?”
“This is none of your business. It’s a private matter between me and Ms. Margaret, so we don’t need any help for now,” Emily told the two staff members with a serious expression.
Since she had put it that way, the staff members had no choice but to stay quiet.
Meanwhile, Margaret felt somehow apprehensive. She looked at Emily nervously and questioned, “What else do you want to do? Haven’t you finished what you wanted to say?”
“Yes,” said Emily indifferently, “I’ve finished what I wanted to say, but you still owe Vivian an apology. You humiliated her, so you must take responsibility for your behavior and apologize.”
“Why should I?” Margaret was unwilling to back down. “Just a moment ago, no one knew whether she was really related to the Speiser family by blood. I didn’t spread any false rumors. I was merely telling the truth! Am I not allowed to do that? No matter what, I will not apologize today since there is no need to! I don’t think I said anything inappropriate. Lady Joshua, I won’t apologize even though you’re the one who asked me to do it!”
“Ms. Margaret!”
“Grandma…” Winnie could not bear to make an elder get all riled up for her sake, and neither could she tolerate a young woman yelling at her grandmother.
Winnie stared at Margaret coldly with her intimidating dark eyes. “Margaret Grayson, listen up. First of all, you weren’t telling the truth. You were clearly spreading rumors. Just because you didn’t know my blood relation to the Speiser family doesn’t mean you could slander them. Who are you to say that I’m the hidden adopted daughter of the Speiser family? You think they mistreated me? Moreover, you kept repeating that statement loudly in public. Isn’t that considered slander?”
She went on, “If you can’t apologize to me because of your pride, then I won’t force you. I don’t care anyway. However, you must apologize to the entire Speiser family. And if you refuse to do so, I will have no choice but to visit your family and ask for an explanation. I’m sure at least someone from your huge family will come forward and apologize.”
“What?” Margaret glared at Winnie incredulously. “You’re going to drag my family into such a trivial matter? Are you trying to embarrass me on purpose? You want me to be punished by my family, don’t you?”
Winnie raised her brows and continued her speech from earlier. “Second, you yelled at my grandmother. I don’t think that’s very polite. Please apologize to her.”
Margaret argued, “I didn’t yell at her. This is just the way I talk. I was born with a loud voice. You can’t even tolerate that? What a petty woman you are.”
Her excuses were so terrible that even Helen found them a bit unacceptable.
As the older cousin, Helen believed she had the obligation to persuade the arrogant Margaret.
After she coaxed Margaret for a while, the latter finally gave in.
“Fine!” Margaret took a deep breath. “It’s just an apology. I’ll do it.”
“Okay.” Winnie took a step back and stood beside Emily. “Please give my grandmother a sincere apology right now.”
Margaret lowered her head and began, “I’m sorry, Lady Joshua. I misspoke earlier, and my attitude wasn’t exactly nice. I hope you can forgive me. Aside from that, I’d like to apologize to the entire Speiser family. I shouldn’t have made those claims without even knowing the truth. Please forgive me.”
Not wanting to make things difficult for someone younger than her, Emily patted Margaret’s shoulder and said, “It’s inevitable for you young people to be prideful. I accept your apology.”
With that, Emily linked arms with Winnie. “Let’s head to the third floor.”
The VIP lounge of Champes was located there. Emily could not wait to see the gown, for she was certain that Winnie would look gorgeous in it.
Just then, Margaret called out to them from behind, “Wait, I have one more question!”
Winnie knitted her brows, feeling impatient.
On the other hand, Emily looked calm without any trace of annoyance on her face.
Helen couldn’t help breaking out in cold sweat when she heard Margaret. She’s so fearless, huh? I can’t believe she dares to provoke the one and only duchess of Yartran.
“Margaret, what are you up to?” Helen asked in a low voice.
Margaret huffed and tightened her fists. “I have to clarify something with them in person.”
As she spoke, Winnie and Emily had turned back to them.
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