Chapter 111 Her Protector
The room fell into an eerie, suffocating silence.
Every pair of eyes was suddenly fixed on Corrine.
Who would have thought that the woman, once cornered by the entire Ashton family, was actually the owner of Timeless Treasures?
No wonder Donnelly had shown her such unusual respect. No wonder the pen holder, worth a staggering 9.54 million, seemed so insignificant in her eyes.
Reflecting on the Ashton family’s earlier attack on her now felt like a cruel joke.
Nate, lounging casually against the doorframe, raised an eyebrow, his surprise at Donnelly’s words evident.
His gaze swept across the room before landing on the slender figure seated with unnerving calm, sipping her coffee. His lips curved into a playful smirk, his eyes narrowing with a hint of admiration.
In the crowd, Leah’s eyes widened, her breath catching as she stared at Corrine in disbelief.
Corrine was the owner of Timeless Treasures? But Bruce had always told her that Corrine came from nothing–a simple country girl who’d changed her fate through education. How could she possibly be the owner of such a prestigious establishment?
Had Bruce lied to her?
Leah shot a sharp glance at Bruce, only to find him standing frozen, staring at Corrine, as stunned as everyone else in the room.
Gloria’s voice trembled with disbelief as she stammered, “You’ve got to be kidding. How could she possibly be the owner of Timeless Treasures?”
“Exactly,” another voice chimed in. “Even if you two are in cahoots, you could’ve at least come up with a better story.”
“We know her background, every detail. Do you really think you can pull the wool over our eyes with a few lies?”
Their words were laced with skepticism, their disbelief clear as they eyed Donnelly.
“Enough!” Farris snapped, his voice like a whip, his eyes blazing with anger. His gaze swept over the crowd, silencing them in an instant. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?”
He spoke sharply, his voice laced with authority. “You all need to apologize to Corrine, right now!”
“Farris, what are you talking about?” Gloria was the first to protest, her voice rising in disbelief.
After all, Corrine was nothing but a woman from a poor village. Even if she now owned Timeless Treasures, Gloria would never lower herself to apologize to her.
If word of this got out, she’d be a laughingstock.
Donnelly, with a casual air, twirled the bracelet in his fingers, his voice as cool as ice. “The Ashton family’s behavior today has truly shocked me. Just moments ago, a group of you ganged up on Corrine, forcing her to kneel and apologize. Now that the truth is out, none of you can even offer a simple apology? Is this how the Ashton family uses its influence–to oppress others?”
His words cut through the room like a blade, dragging the entire Ashton family through the mud, painting them as tyrants.
“They’ve been ungrateful, so of course, they think they can use their power to oppress others.” A low, cold voice suddenly shattered the tension, its frigid tone freezing the very air and sending a chill down everyone’s spine.
At the sound of the familiar voice, Corrine’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned around, her gaze meeting that of Nate, standing just a few steps away. Panic flashed in her eyes.
When had he arrived? Had he seen everything that had transpired?
Women, more than anyone, wanted to appear at their best in front of those they loved, and Corrine was no exception.
She dreaded Nate seeing her harsh, unyielding side.
Noticing her distress, Nate’s lips curled into a soft, reassuring smile. He mouthed the words, “I’m here for you; don’t be scared.”
Those simple, comforting words left Corrine momentarily breathless.
“Who are you?” Gloria snapped, her eyes narrowed in suspicion and hostility.
Nate’s expression hardened, his lips pressed into a thin line as he responded, his tone as frigid as the winter air, “Her protector.”
