Melinda's POV
Cliff's gaze fell on the third set of tableware, his eyes growing colder and his voice deep and icy as he asked, "Where is Vanya?"
"Vanya?" Derrick looked at Cliff with confusion, "Alpha Cliff, why are you asking us where your wife is?"
"Don't play dumb. Melinda just saw Vanya here. Where did she go?" Cliff's tone was filled with obvious annoyance.
"Melinda? Who?" Derrick looked at me.
Then, as if suddenly realizing, a look of enlightenment appeared on his face, "So it's you. Why would you make up rumors about us for no reason?"
"I'm not making things up. I saw it with my own eyes!" I raised my voice, trying to defend myself.
But inside, I felt a bit guilty. After all, my words were half true and half false.
I glanced at Cliff. His eyes held a hint of doubt, but more anger.
He would be more inclined to believe me at this moment. After all, his trust in Vanya was never that solid.
And I could take advantage of this.
"Oh? What exactly did you see?" Theodore spoke up suddenly, his powerful aura pressing down on me instantly, making it hard for me to breathe.
I clutched Cliff beside me. Only by relying on him could I feel a sense of security.
As if only then did I have the courage to confront Theodore, so I emboldened myself and said, "I saw you all talking and laughing here, drinking, and you handed Vanya a napkin! The two of you were very close, and you were holding hands."
As I spoke, I observed Cliff's reaction.
His fists clenched, and his body trembled. I knew he was deeply angered by my words.
Theodore, hearing my words, only sneered. His laugh made me panic.
I looked at Cliff again, and his face was already covered with gloom. I could feel his anger about to erupt.
Cliff's voice grew even colder, and he asked again, "I'll ask you once more. Where is Vanya?"
Just then, a woman's clear and pleasant voice came from outside the door, "Excuse me."
A woman in a wine-red dress walked in.
She looked at the situation in the room with confusion and asked, "What's going on here?"
"You... are you..." I looked at this strange woman and was stunned.
A sense of foreboding welled up in my heart.
I hurriedly looked at Cliff and saw that he was also frowning, clearly not recognizing this woman.
I began to panic. The situation that I thought was in the bag seemed to become complicated because of this woman's appearance.
I was afraid my plan would fall through, and all my previous efforts would be in vain.
"Theodore, who are they?" The woman walked straight to Theodore's side and sat down, frowning and asking.
Theodore said, "This is the CEO of Todd Group, Cliff Todd, and... his companion."
"Alpha Cliff, you have to believe me. The woman sitting here definitely wasn't this one!" I said anxiously.
I couldn't let my plan fall through like this.
I clutched Cliff's arm tightly, looking at him with a pleading gaze, hoping he would continue to believe me and not be distracted by this suddenly appearing woman.
"Hey, watch your mouth. Do you even know who you're talking to?"
Derrick's voice was filled with anger, "This is Grace Gilbert. Don't use disrespectful words anymore! Alpha Cliff, control your people! Especially her mouth!"
Hearing this name, my heart became even darker.
The Gilbert family, to which Grace belonged, held a very high position in the business world. I never expected such an influential figure to appear here.
Now, things became complicated and difficult, and my heart was completely disoriented, not knowing how to deal with it.
I looked at Cliff, and his eyes also held a hint of hesitation, seemingly rethinking the authenticity of the whole matter.
I was afraid he would give up his suspicion of Vanya because of this woman's appearance, and then all my previous efforts would be in vain.
Who didn't know that the Gilbert family had only one daughter who studied abroad and had just returned to the States recently? Miss Gilbert held all the shares of the Gilbert family.
She owned multiple businesses and was also the granddaughter of Mr. Winston.
Mr. Winston doted on Miss Gilbert to the extreme.
"I'm sorry, Miss Gilbert. I didn't mean it! I..."
"Enough!"
Grace frowned, turning her words to Cliff, "Nice to meet you, Alpha Cliff. You'd better control your lover. She's just a rogue. How dare she talk nonsense in front of me?"