Not that Emline didn’t deserve it. But such an act of violence would have damned Alia’s efforts and gotten Carlo a one-way ticket to prison, and being the loving husband-to-be that he was, Matteo couldn’t sit by and watch it happen.
Now, he was glad he had shown up. The mont Emline registered his presence, it was as though a switch flipped inside her, and she was all genial smiles and sweetness. It was disgusting.
"Matteo, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect to see you here!" Emline chirped enthusiastically, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Alia is here, so where else would I be?" Matteo retorted flatly, hoping to deflate her enthusiasm. "I’m here to celebrate the work she has put in to make the charity a success. I know better than anyone how much effort she put in, especially since no one had bothered to help her."
Only a particularly obtuse person could have missed who he was referring to. Emline’s delicate cheeks flushed an ugly red. She could disparage Carlo with her words, but Matteo was another story.
Alia decided it was ti for her to rejoin the fray. With a heavy sigh, she said, "I’m sure Emline didn’t an to neglect Hope for Scholars. Perhaps she simply had too many charities in her hands that this one slipped under the radar. Or she thought that her efforts might be better spent elsewhere since she was netting no results before."
"It’s hard to net results when there’s zero effort put in, to begin with," Matteo pointed out. "The charity was nothing more than an empty husk when Alia took over. One has to wonder how on earth it got to that point. Only a fool would assu doing nothing would net any positive outco."
"Yeah, even I know that a hundred multiplied by zero is still zero," Carlo chid cheekily, and Alia’s eyes bulged out. Truly, the young had the courage of lions.
Matteo, instead of being upset, rely laughed indulgently. The very sight stunned Emline.
Matteo was laughing? After she got insulted by this brat who couldn’t even legally purchase alcohol yet?!
Unknown to her, Matteo slowly found himself more endeared by this teenager. He shared many facial similarities with Caleb Walton, but unlike his older half-brother, Matteo felt the fatherly instinct to parade him around so that everyone could know how accomplished Carlo was.
Perhaps this was due to Alia’s influence. She had not stopped talking about Carlo ever since his big break.
"Well, like what my cousin said, today is a day to celebrate the young scholars who will make a mark on our futures. Let’s not quibble over the details," Alia said with a beaming smile, echoing Emline’s earlier words.
"Everyone, I would like you to et Carlo. He has done the organization proud, and I hope you will continue to give him and his peers the support they need to realize their potential."
Carlo bowed lowly, "A pleasure to et all of you." He then turned to address Emline. "I humbly apologize if I offended you in any way. I’m just a parentless teenager, and I have much to learn."
Emline couldn’t stop herself from twitching in irritation.
Alia added cheerfully, "Carlo, don’t worry. Emline is benevolent. I’m sure she wouldn’t take your words to heart."
Now, Emline could only peel her lips with extre effort to form a gentle smile. "Of course. It’s not your fault that you grew up in such a broken environnt that lacked parental love and care."
"Yeah." Carlo nodded, not even offended in the slightest. "I’m glad you agree old man Walton isn’t a good dad."
Gasps filled the air, and Emline’s mouth fell open at her own mispeak. Then again, who would have thought this brat would air out his own dirty laundry!
"But now that I know that Miss Emline is so understanding, I have no worries!" Carlo continued, radiating gratefulness from every fiber of his being, as though he was truly a poor orphan in the dark ages who had gotten an extra helping of food in church.
Matteo and Alia exchanged a discreet glance; she knew he was already making plans for Carlo to go into theater if being a business analyst did not bring dividends.
"Yes, it’s good that Emline is understanding," Matteo added smoothly. "Now we must be off. There are more people I want to introduce you to. Alia?"
"I’ll see you later then," Alia said, leaning up to press a kiss to Matteo’s lips. Matteo smiled and returned it with a peck of his own. Carlo pretended to puke, and his tiny action caused a ripple of laughter to form within the group of won.
Only Emline’s face was wooden. Her hands were clenched into fists, pressed against her sides with herculean effort.
Eventually, Carlo and Matteo left, leaving Alia with Emline and the group of won.
"Wow... I did not expect such a blatant display of affection from Matteo Montgory," one woman whispered, and Emline whirled so quickly that her hair nearly caused a windstorm to form. However, it was as though a dam was broken, and even her displeased expression wasn’t enough to stem their comnts.
"He’s really in love!"
"I can’t believe my eyes..."
"Miss Alia is so lucky..."
After all, they could also tell where the tide was flowing. Not only was Alia a Hawthorne heiress just like Emline, but she had proven that she had the capabilities to be a proper socialite, and she already held Matteo Montgory’s icy heart in the palm of her hands.
It was a far cry compared to Emline, whose own fiancé had refused to accompany her to this event. It was well known, after all, that the Hawthorne heiresses were marrying the Montgory heirs. However, Aiden Montgory had made it very clear that his heart was anywhere but with Emline.
Emline was so enraged at the continuous mutters, she nearly bit her own tongue. Her eyes darted to the circle of won, who were once her loyal brethren who rose and fell with her every word. Now, they have turned their gazes to Alia, accepting her into their circle.
Preposterous! Traitors, all of them!
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