Chapter 143 Stripped Bare
The shredded gown slipped further off her body as they dragged her, leaving her almost completely exposed.
Kenneth stood frozen, watching it all unfold. His face was blank, but his eyes burned with conflict.
He wanted to stop them. He even took a step forward.
But Willow was there in an instant, clutching his arm. “Kenn, you can’t afford to offend the Brooker family. You came to this party to build a connection with them, didn’t you?”
Kenneth’s steps faltered.
Lauren was being dragged farther and farther away. The shame and violence made his chest tighten with unbearable guilt.
But Willow’s words threw him into turmoil. His feet wouldn’t move. He just stood there, watching Lauren get hauled off like a criminal, like something disposable.
Laurie, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. You brought this on yourself. You’re too stubborn. You pissed off Madam Casey. You refuse to brg. You’re only being humiliated because of your own pride.
He kept repeating it, over and over in his head.
Until finally, he believed it.
Until it really did feel like this was all Lauren’s fault–like she actually had tried to seduce a married man and deserved what was happening to her.
Andy watched Lauren being dragged away, her body bruised and exposed, and terror flooded his veins
He knew what Felix was capable of Everyone in Balewood did
He still remembered the stories. When Felix was five, Casey–Kyle’s current wife–had stormed into his house, screaming at his mother and sending her into cardiac arrest
Five–year–old Felix had pushed a pregnant Casey down a flight of stairs. She miscarried on the spot.
Then he’d had her uterus removed so she could never get pregnant again.
Felix might have learned to fake a gentler face as he got older, but Andy knew better.
That man was a monster in a railored suit
And if that monster saw what had happened to Lauren tonight, there’d be hell to pay.”
Andy didn’t want to be anywhere near that fallout.
Panic surged through him. He fought like hell to break free of the women scratching and clawing at him.
“You want to die? Fine! But don’t drag me down with you!” Andy roared and lunged after Lauren.
But Willow stuck her leg out at just the right moment.
Andy didn’t see it in time. He went down hard, smashing his chin into the marble floor.
Pain exploded in his mouth. He tasted blood. His teeth had split open his lip.
He lay there, stunned and half–conscious
Lauren’s body hit the banquet hall floor with a sickening thud.
The room went silent.
Chapter 143 Stripped Bare
Kyle’s face twisted into a frown. “Casey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
His voice held a note of warning. He clearly hadn’t expected her to go this far.
But Casey only laughed.
“What am I doing? I’m catching a whore red–handed.”
She pointed to Lauren, wild–eyed and triumphant. That slut seduced my husband! Everyone look closely! She’s the homewrecker!”
Kyle stepped in, tried to hush her. “This is my mother’s birthday, Casey. Enough of this.”
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Casey shook him off, shouting louder than ever, “She seduced my husband! She ruined my family! That little bitch deserves to be exposed!”
She didn’t stop yelling until a cold voice sliced through the air.
“So tell me, when did this party become the Madam Casey Show?”
The color drained from her face.
She turned slowly–and there was Felix.
He stood just behind her, eyes like a frozen blade.
Casey’s bravado shattered.
In her blind rage, she’d forgotten the one person she should never piss off.
Her brain scrambled for excuses, for something to explain away what she’d done. But her throat tightened until she could barely breathe.
Those ice–cold eyes pinned her in place.
“Mr. Brooker..” she croaked. Her lips curled into a shaky smile. “Of course this party’s for Madam Kate. I was just trying to.. lighten the mood.”
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