Chapter 416 - 419: Domineering Defense of the Daughter-in-law, Stunning the Entire Crowd

Wren Sutton was a weak, pathetic heap on the floor. No one stepped forward to help her; they were all just watching the spectacle.

At the height of the vicious rumors, just as the scene reached its most humiliating moment, a sharp, cold figure strode out of the banquet hall.

Claire Sterling’s face was stone-cold, and she radiated an oppressive aura. Her expression was frosty, her stride steady, her presence immense.

Her appearance stunned everyone present.

The bustling corridor fell silent in an instant, and a cold, dangerous tension filled the air.

Everyone shut their mouths. The gloating looks vanished from their faces, replaced by a flicker of fear.

Mrs. Flynn followed close behind her.

Mrs. Flynn was gentle by nature, known for being kind and righteous. She never participated in the high-society scheming or idle gossip.

Now, upon seeing the disheveled Wren Sutton collapsed on the floor, her expression immediately darkened, and she walked over, her heart aching for the young woman.

"Someone, help Mrs. Lancaster to the VIP lounge upstairs. No one is to disturb her."

The staff hurried to obey, carefully helping Wren Sutton to her feet.

Seeing her daughter-in-law being bullied, Claire Sterling’s heart was ready to break.

She gently tucked the messy strands of hair from Wren Sutton’s forehead behind her ear, then straightened the wrinkled, disheveled hem of her dress.

"Wren, I’m so sorry. I failed to protect you. I let you suffer."

"Listen to Mrs. Flynn. Go to the lounge and rest for now. I’ll be there soon."

"Don’t you worry. I won’t let a single person who bullied you get away with it."

Wren Sutton was in too much pain to do more than nod and then shake her head. Her mind was reeling, and she had no strength to speak.

Just then, Mrs. Flynn came over and squeezed Claire Sterling’s hand reassuringly.

"I’ll go with Wren to the lounge. I’ll take care of her."

Claire Sterling nodded, her heart full of gratitude. "I’m indebted to you. Thank you."

Mrs. Flynn smiled. "Don’t mention it. We’re family."

With that, she turned and, along with the staff, helped escort Wren Sutton toward the VIP lounge.

Claire Sterling let out a long breath, only looking away once Wren Sutton was out of sight.

Her eyes instantly turned cold and sharp again as her gaze swept over everyone present.

The faces that had just been filled with vitriol and schadenfreude were now frozen in fear, their owners standing awkwardly in place, not daring to make a sound.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

A few people tried to take the opportunity to slip away, but were stopped short by Claire Sterling’s sharp rebuke.

"Stop. Do you really think you’re getting out that door today?"

At her words, these wealthy wives and socialites were scared out of their wits, staring at each other in dismay.

Claire Sterling strode forward, the force of her presence washing over them.

"Weren’t you all quite lively just now? Why so quiet all of a sudden?"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but her fury was unmistakable.

"Wren Sutton is my, Claire Sterling’s, daughter-in-law. Bullying her is the same as bullying me, and bullying me is the same as showing disrespect to the Lancaster and Sterling families."

Everyone present understood the meaning behind Claire Sterling’s words.

And it was precisely because they understood that they were panicking.

They didn’t dare to imagine the consequences of offending both the Lancaster and the Sterling families at the same time.

"Mrs. Sterling, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not what you think. Please, let us explain."

"Claire, don’t be angry. We can talk this out calmly."

"Shut up!" Claire Sterling cut them off coldly.

"Who wants to hear your explanations?"

"And you. Do you think you’re worthy of calling me by my given name? Are we that close? Don’t flatter yourself."

The hall was deathly silent.

Claire Sterling’s sharp gaze locked onto the woman who had slandered Wren Sutton, calling her a homewrecker. Her aura was suffocating.

"You were running your mouth just now, fabricating lies out of thin air, maliciously slandering my daughter-in-law. Who gave you the nerve, huh?!"

The young socialite’s face went pale. Her body stiffened, and she fidgeted nervously, at a loss for what to do. Forcing herself to speak, she stammered, "I... I... I just heard other people saying it. It’s what everyone was talking about..."

Claire Sterling sneered and bluntly called her an idiot.

"So when other people spread rumors, you just jump on the bandwagon? Is your brain just for decoration? If someone told you shit smelled sweet, would you take a bite just to see how it tastes?"

"It’s true that Maya Marshall dated my son. But Wren Sutton was not the other woman. If I ever hear this rumor again, I’ll have someone shove dog shit in the mouth of whoever spreads it."

"And all of you. On any other day, when we meet at these parties, you’re all so polite and courteous, spouting pleasantries better than anyone. But today, you see my daughter-in-law feeling unwell, see her fall by accident, and not only do you not lift a finger to help, you swarm around her, mocking and jeering, just waiting to see the Lancaster family become a laughingstock."

"Have you no conscience? Do you have any idea how many projects the Lancaster and Sterling families have given your families? Your husbands made their fortunes, which is the only reason any of you have the chance to be part of this circle."

"And what’s the result? This is how you repay the Lancaster family! You don’t even have the most basic decency. What’s the difference between you and a bunch of common gossips from the gutter?"

The faces of these wives paled and flushed in turns. Ashamed and terrified, they lowered their heads even further, not daring to meet Claire Sterling’s gaze.

Claire Sterling played her trump card.

"Since you’re all so ungrateful, kicking someone when they’re down—you were the ones who were merciless first. So don’t blame me for being ruthless."

"From now on, the Lancaster and Sterling families will no longer have any business dealings with any of your families. You can go home and explain that to your husbands and your fathers yourselves."

The moment she finished speaking, the faces of the wives and socialites turned ashen. Their legs trembled so badly they could barely stand, and one of them, unable to handle the shock, fainted on the spot.

There wasn’t a trace of pity in Claire Sterling’s eyes, only a bone-deep chill and disgust.

She advanced on them step by step. The sharp, heavy CLACK of her high heels on the polished marble floor was like a hammer blow to everyone’s heart.

"Scared now?" A cold, mocking smile touched her lips. "When you were all crowded around my daughter-in-law, pointing fingers and spreading rumors, did it never occur to you that this day would come?"

The situation had completely blown up. Someone stepped forward, crying and begging for mercy, stopping just short of kneeling before Claire Sterling.

"Mrs. Sterling, I know I was wrong! You’re a magnanimous person, please, be merciful and spare me this once! I’ll never do it again!"

"Me too! I’ll never do it again!"

"And me."

"And me."

Claire Sterling was unmoved. Without a shred of compassion, she turned to head for the lounge.

Before she left, she uttered two cold words, laced with an absolute, ruthless finality that permitted no argument.

"Too late."