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Chapter_263
As soon as Eleanore spoke, the room fell into a tense silence. Darnell paused, feeling the weight of the situation. He thought to himself, If this gets out of hand, these ladies have connections. Jeremiah doesn’t care. But what about Clifford?
Jeremiah stood motionless, his face blank, his eyes as cold and emotionless as ever. Then, just as the tension was becoming unbearable, a stern voice rang out from the entrance of the dessert shop. “What wouldn’t I allow?”
The room snapped to attention. Eyes widened as they turned toward the doorway, and there, standing with an authoritative presence, was none other than Clifford Chavez, the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He had walked in without anyone noticing, his dark suit and stern expression making it clear that his arrival was not to be taken lightly.
Clifford was a figure of immense influence, often seen on TV news for his powerful speeches and debates. Unlike Jeremiah, he exuded a charisma and authority that made people listen, even without speaking a word. Eleanore had called his name with enthusiasm moments ago, but now, seeing him in person, she was struck silent. The sudden appearance of such a prominent figure left everyone, except for the Chavez family and Yvette, completely stunned. Eleanore, like the others, was taken aback. After all, this was a man who had expertly debated many at international conferences, leaving even the most seasoned politicians in awe.
Darnell, his body tense, couldn’t help but think, First Jeremiah, now Clifford. Do they even realize the impact they have?
Clifford’s gaze swept over the room, casual yet deliberate. His eyes lingered just a second longer on Jeremiah than on the others, but his thoughts were clearly elsewhere—focused on Aurora. He had been worried sick after her vague texts and the fake crying on the phone, yet seeing her here, unharmed, brought him some relief.
As he moved further into the room, Clifford glanced at the women standing nearby, their expressions a mix of fear and confusion. His frown deepened, and he instinctively made his way toward Aurora, who was sitting in a chair nearby. He took a moment to ensure she wasn’t physically harmed, his expression softening slightly when he saw she was fine. His attention then shifted to Yvette, who sat beside Aurora. He paused, his gaze lingering on Yvette for just a moment longer. He hadn’t missed the closeness between Yvette and Aurora, and it caught him off guard. Aurora, despite her outwardly easygoing nature, had always been selective with those she got close to. For her to be this comfortable with Yvette was something new.
Aurora, who had been casually playing a game moments before, stood up quickly as soon as Clifford approached. Her demeanor shifted instantly. Before anyone could react, she threw herself into his arms, crying dramatically.
The speed with which she switched from playful to fragile was astonishing.
“Oh, honey, they bullied me! I was so scared, all alone. Luckily, I know a bit of martial arts, or you might never have seen me again,” she sobbed, her voice filled with melodrama. She blinked rapidly, as though she were trying to squeeze out tears that wouldn’t come.
It was classic Aurora. The woman didn’t shed a single tear, but her performance was flawless. Clifford, however, recognized the act for what it was. Despite the exaggerated sobbing, Aurora still managed to appear adorably innocent in his arms. He knew it well—this was the familiar fake crying that she often used to manipulate situations.
Darnell, witnessing the scene, stiffened. Jesus! Her mood swings are faster than a tiger’s, he thought, unable to hide his disbelief.
Even Eleanore and the other women, who had just been victims of Aurora’s supposed bullying, were baffled by this sudden display of fragility. How could someone so aggressive moments ago suddenly collapse into tears? They had all thought of Aurora as nothing more than an actress, and now they were seeing just how convincing she could be.
Eleanore and the others wasted no time in protesting. “Mr. Clifford Chavez, you shouldn’t be deceived by Aurora! She was the one who started it!”
“Yes, we can all attest to that! Look at how badly she hurt us!”
“She started it, Mr. Clifford! She’s just putting on an act for you!”
Despite the barrage of accusations, Clifford only held Aurora tighter in his arms, showing no sign of hesitation or doubt.
Aurora, her face still buried in his chest, leaned up to whisper in Clifford’s ear. Her hand slid around his waist, hidden under his suit jacket, where no one could see except Yvette. She pinched his side a little too hard, causing Clifford to wince and hiss under his breath. He thought to himself, Nothing good ever comes from her throwing herself at me like this.
Her whisper was low, just for his ears, but her words were crystal clear. “Act well. I’m the poor, bullied woman, and you’re the good husband who’s going to stand up for me. If you don’t perform well tonight, forget about sleeping in bed. Humph.”
What Aurora thought was a private whisper was, of course, overheard by Yvette, who was sitting nearby. Yvette’s long lashes hid the smile tugging at her lips, and her eyes glimmered with amusement. She casually tapped her foot and glanced lazily at Jeremiah, then turned her attention back to Aurora and Clifford, who were practically putting on a show for everyone.
Jeremiah, watching the scene unfold, could only look on helplessly. He thought, Don’t these two have any restraint with Yvette so close? They’d better not lead her astray.
He gritted his teeth, knowing there was nothing he could do. It was clear that Aurora was fully indulging in her dramatic act. He could either play along or spend the night in the study again. “Aurora, keep acting. Let’s see what happens when we get home,” he muttered, his voice strained with frustration.
Aurora wasn’t fazed at all. She patted his shoulder sarcastically. “Put on a good show. I believe you can do it.” Then, without hesitation, she slipped out of Clifford’s arms, resuming her fake crying with impressive conviction. “Honey, you have to stand up for me,” she wailed.
Clifford, adjusting his suit with a cold expression, took a quick look at the anxious women still arguing in front of him. His voice cut through the tension. “I know exactly what kind of person Aurora is. If you didn’t provoke her, why would my gentle and kind wife, who’s scared of even killing a chicken, lay a hand on you? Her actions show that you must have said or done something to provoke her.”
Aurora gave him a sly thumbs-up from behind him, pleased by his performance. Clifford caught the gesture and playfully scratched her palm while holding her hand. “Be good,” he murmured, keeping his tone light.
Aurora nodded obediently, the picture of a doting wife. Of course, Jeremiah knew better. He had seen Aurora catch and slaughter chickens back on the farm, so it was hard for him to believe the “gentle and kind” narrative Clifford was painting.
Darnell’s eyes twitched in disbelief. He’s so thoroughly lovesick that he’s willing to make definitive statements without even asking what happened. Truly incredible.
Clifford turned to Darnell. “Darnell, can you tell me what happened?”
Caught off guard, Darnell quickly recapped everything, including Jeremiah’s plan to sue the women for slandering soldiers.
After listening intently, Clifford stared at Eleanore, Gloria, and the others, his tone serious. “Let me make one thing clear. My son’s choice of girlfriend is none of your business. Who dares say that my son is just fooling around? In the Chavez family, we don’t divorce. Only death separates us. We would never toy with anyone’s feelings. What’s it to you what kind of person my daughter-in-law is?”
Clifford’s words hit the women hard, leaving them speechless. His involvement, and his clear acknowledgment of Aurora’s status as Jeremiah’s girlfriend, shut them down completely. They could no longer argue, and the regret and fear that filled them were too late to reverse.
Eleanore, now realizing how deeply she had miscalculated, tried to stammer something, but Clifford didn’t give her the chance.
He turned to Jeremiah. “You did well. I’ll cover the seven million.” His words practically confirmed that Jeremiah’s intent to sue the women for slandering soldiers would move forward.
