The scene caught Fred off guard. He slowly raised his head and squinted. His smile was skeptical. “Mr. Hamerton,
you’re so young. How did you…”
“Ahem, ahem!” Zuko coughed heavily.
Lina tightened her hand that was holding his arm and desperately gave him a look.
“Uh, yes.” Zuko managed to squeeze out a few words with difficulty. “I… can’t eat sugary foods.”
He comforted himself inwardly. Yes, he never liked sweet things anyway! After speaking, he looked at Lina. The
young woman was smiling brightly. She was really asking for a beating!
That was right! He must teach her a lesson when they got home while Melissa could not see them!
“So that’s how it is.” Fred, astute as he was, immediately understood the reason, but he played along. “Shall I
change a few dishes for you then?”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“No need to trouble yourself!” Zuko replied calmly. “My wife and I didn’t come here today for this meal. Mr. Grist,
just say what you want to say. My wife and I have other matters to attend to.”
Fred paused, his eyes flickering.
Zuko exuded a chilling sense of oppression, with sharp features and deep eyes that made it difficult to guess or
understand him. He was unlike anyone Fred had met before. As for Lina beside Zuko, she was cute and beautiful,
like a docile little bird. She did not seem to match this cold and rough man at all.
For some reason, Fred felt a bit uncomfortable. A girl like Lina should have a better man to love and care for her. If
it were not for his niece’s bullying, she would not have married Zuko. With these thoughts in mind, Fred smiled
faintly at Lina with a slightly apologetic gaze.
“Alright, I won’t beat around the bush with you two,” he said softly. “I invited you here today because of my niece,
Violet. Her situation’s recently caused quite a stir on the Internet, so I thought…”
“Hah!” Zuko sneered. “Do you think that we played a role in Violet’s downfall?”
“I—”
“Do you think my wife and I have the spare money to hire paid posters?” Zuko asked, pulling Lina’s hand and
holding it tightly.
Lina was taken aback for a moment before she lowered her head and smiled, discreetly placing her other hand on
top of his.
Zuko’s smile was ambiguous. “Mr. Grist, your niece brought her own misfortune upon herself. She’s in this situation
entirely due to her own actions. So there’s really no need for you to come to us!”
“I understand!” Fred hurriedly said, “But it started because of Ms. Jenner, after all. Violet wouldn’t have copied it if
Ms. Jenner hadn’t drawn it.”
“What kind of logic is this?” Lina scoffed. “Had I drawn something original, does that mean I deserve my work being
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmplagiarized?”
“I don’t mean it that way…”
“Then what do you mean?” Zuko raised his voice.
Fred said nothing, silently looking at the couple. They were right. The Grists were in the wrong in this. However, it
would be fine if Violet was the only one affected. She had dragged the whole company down! The Grist Group’s
shares had been plummeting, and busybody netizens had dug out the issue of the company’s problematic
beverage from the last time too.
Fred was completely occupied, having a lot to do himself, yet he had to clean this mess up for Violet. He was
annoyed as well.
Fred forced a smile. “Mr. Hamerton, Ms. Jenner, I just hope to play this matter down. If you could come forward and
clarify that the painting was actually a copy of a famous artwork you’ve been practicing with and explain for Violet,
Ms. Jenner, then—”
“That’s impossible!” Zuko coldly interrupted him.