Suddenly, a strong hand clamped down on Clarissa’s arm, yanking her backwards.
“Ah!!”
She let out a startled scream, whipping around in fury—only to find that it was Quentin who had grabbed her.
“That’s enough! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough already?!”
Quentin’s angry shout made Clarissa’s blood boil even more.
“How dare you look down on me?!”
Her face twisted with rage, but Quentin’s voice was low and urgent. “Stop making a scene! If you hit Daph, it won’t just be you facing trouble with the Vaughn family—Penelope and I will get dragged down with you!”
Clarissa was too furious to listen, but Quentin still had his wits about him.
He’d seen Harrison step in to protect Selene, blocking Clarissa’s way, and that told him everything: even if Selene was divorced from Harrison now, she wasn’t someone Clarissa could just walk all over.
Quentin knew all too well that Clarissa had been desperate to trample Selene underfoot for years. Like a wild animal let loose in a manicured garden, she was determined to drive out the “outsider.” Seven years of simmering resentment had finally reached its breaking point.
But Quentin realized that what Clarissa was doing was reckless. If he didn’t stop her now, he’d be dragged into the abyss right along with her.
He seized the back of Clarissa’s head, forcing her to face the audience and bow her head.
“I apologize on Clarissa’s behalf,” he announced. “She’s been under a lot of stress lately and her emotions have been unstable. I hope everyone can be understanding.”
Then, pressing her shoulder, he turned Clarissa to face Daph.
Still gripping the back of her head, he tried to push her into a bow.
Clarissa’s neck was stiff as steel, resisting with all her might.
Quentin forced out the apology: “Daph, I apologize for my cousin’s behavior on her behalf.”
He offered a strained smile, then turned to Selene. “You know how hot-tempered Clarissa can be. I promise, I’ll make sure she’s properly disciplined.”
“Mr. James, what about Penelope…?” Daph piped up quietly.
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