Cliff's POV
In the hospital corridor, Elliot hurried back to the ward after receiving a phone call.
He said to me, "Alpha Cliff, there seems to be some trouble at the Hammond family's event."
I made a shushing gesture and glanced at Melinda, who was still unconscious in the hospital bed.
I whispered to Elliot, "Let's talk outside."
"……Yes, Alpha Cliff," Elliot hesitated but went out to wait first.
After I closed the ward door, I said, "Go ahead."
"It's about Luna..."
Before he could finish, I frowned and asked, "What trouble has she caused now?"
"It seems two of Miss Coleman's classmates were slandering Luna Vanya, calling her a call girl and saying some very unpleasant things. They were kicked out by Mr. Hammond."
"Slandering Vanya as a call girl?" I furrowed my brows even more. "Would she just stand there and let herself be slandered?"
"Luna Vanya didn't say a word the whole time. It was Grace who got very angry," Elliot paused, then added, "Our people on the scene said it started because the two women were standing up for Miss Coleman, claiming that Luna was trying to seduce Miss Coleman's boyfriend."
I pursed my lips and remained silent. Melinda didn't have many contacts at school, and I had never heard of her having a boyfriend.
"Find out the details and check with the school as well."
I usually didn't interfere much with Vanya's affairs at Wolfe. She had always been low-key and hadn't caused any trouble that reached Veronica's ears. However, being slandered as a call girl didn't seem baseless.
Moreover, this involved Melinda.
"Yes, Alpha Cliff," Elliot quickly left.
I opened the ward door and saw that Melinda had woken up.
She looked haggard and said to me, "Alpha Cliff, I'm sorry... I've caused you trouble."
"The doctor said you have low blood sugar. Rest well," I said.
Melinda pursed her lips and asked, "I just heard Elliot outside. Something happened at the banquet, right?"
"It's not a big deal," I replied, my tone carrying a hint of detachment.
Melinda didn't say anything more.
She must have noticed my inconsistent attitude towards her these past few days.
"Melinda, Elliot will take you out of the hospital tomorrow. I have things to do. I'll leave now," I said.
Vanya's POV
The Hammond family's gala had reached the late hours of the night. Everyone was a bit tipsy after several rounds of drinks.
I wanted to go to the second-floor terrace alone to get some fresh air, but instead, I saw Edwin sitting alone in his wheelchair.
Under the moonlight, his silhouette exuded a sense of coldness and loneliness.
I stared at Edwin's back for a while. His frail figure had been supporting the Hammond family for years, which was truly awe-inspiring.
"Sir, she is here," a black-clad bodyguard said, bringing a flamboyant woman over.
I decided to watch the scene unfold and hid nearby, pretending to drink.
I recognized this woman. Earlier downstairs, she had tried to get close to Wilmot, but he had pushed her away.
Now, seeing Edwin, she looked coy, her eyes full of seduction.
"Mr. Hammond, you called me up here for something?" The woman deliberately lowered her voice, which was sickly sweet.
I couldn't help but steal a few glances. She almost pressed herself against Edwin, but he remained unfazed, even with a faint smile on his face, though it was cold.
"Ah! What are you doing? Let go! Let go of me!"
Suddenly, the woman's arms were tightly restrained, and she was pinned to the ground, her face drained of color, all traces of her earlier charm gone.
"I told the person behind you, if you think you can get information about my Hammond family by using a woman, you've got it all wrong," Edwin's voice was icy and devoid of warmth, his faint smile now cold and sinister.
He paused, then added with a smile, "Never mind. I'll have my people talk to him."
The woman, who had been struggling, turned pale at his words.
Edwin simply gestured with his hand, and the black-clad bodyguard grabbed the woman's hair and threw her off the second floor.
A scream pierced the air, and my heart jolted.
It was only the second floor. She wouldn't die from the fall, but her life would likely be ruined.
Edwin... he was truly ruthless. But thinking about it, if he didn't have some means, how could he control such a vast Hammond family?
No wonder everyone in this circle was terrified of Edwin. He was truly an inscrutable man.
"Miss Dalton, have you seen enough of the show?"
Edwin suddenly turned his wheelchair around, his gaze colliding with mine.
I instinctively averted my eyes, annoyed with myself for not being able to control my curiosity. I deserved to be caught.
"Mr. Hammond, that woman..."
"Was just a call girl, a plaything," Edwin spoke lightly, as if what had just been thrown off the balcony was not a person, but an insignificant piece of trash.
He paused, then added with a hint of amusement in his voice, "I've heard Wilmot mention you several times. It seems you and Wilmot have a good relationship."