Vania's POV
I looked around, but I didn't see Theodore's figure.
Perhaps Theodore chose to give up after seeing the message I sent.
It would have been better to give up, as it would have saved a lot of trouble.
At that moment, the corner of my eye caught sight of a familiar figure outside the gate.
Melinda was wearing a white evening gown, and by her side, with a flattering expression on his face, was Hunter, the manager of the Todd family enterprise.
The hunter said to Melinda, "Miss Coleman, today Mr. Alpha Cliff couldn't come due to some matters, so let me show you around and familiarize you with the environment here. This Alpha Cliff property is highly regarded and valuable in the industry, and it's a great opportunity for you to learn and make new connections."
Melinda nodded.
This luxury hotel in New York is not the kind that goes to the extreme in terms of luxury style, and the decoration is relatively low-key.
Melinda clearly felt very pleased with Hunter's deliberate efforts to please her.
Just at that moment, Melinda also saw me and Grace not far away.
When Melinda saw Grace, her face instantly turned pale. It seemed that she clearly remembered that Grace was together with Derek and Theodore.
Grace also saw Melinda, she frowned and asked, "Who invited her? Does she deserve to appear at my Gilbert family's event?"
"It should have been Cliff who brought her," I said calmly.
After all, Cliff loved Melinda very much. Melinda had offended Grace last time, so Cliff probably wanted to find an opportunity for Melinda to apologize to Grace.
I didn't expect Cliff to consider Melinda so thoroughly.
"Does the lover dare to appear so brazenly? Does she have no shame?" Grace immediately said to the security guard, "Someone, kick her out!"
Melinda, seeing the situation, immediately walked up and said, "Miss Gilbert, I was wrong about what happened last time, and I would like to apologize to you."
Melinda's voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for everyone around to hear.
I knew very well that Melinda had a set of tricks in this regard, pretending to be weak and seeking sympathy. I had already witnessed it before.
But Grace didn't buy it. She said coldly, "No need to apologize. Our Gilbert family doesn't welcome someone like you, who knowingly interferes as a third party. Security! Kick her out!"
Upon hearing this, Melinda immediately looked at me with a look of grievance, appearing pitiful and innocent. "Luna Vania, you know very well that I am not that kind of person. I have a clean and clear relationship with Alpha Cliff. Why did you talk bad about me to Miss Gilbert behind my back?"
Melinda, at this moment, was like a victim, tearfully and passionately accusing the person who had bullied her behind her back.
If it were in school, Melinda's move might have elicited sympathy from the people around her.
But this is not a school here, the people who can appear here are all old hands in the mall, and everyone is very shrewd.
Melinda's little tricks didn't work at all, and everyone just saw it as a good show.
Only Melinda still believed that these people would easily believe her one-sided words.
"What a shameless person," Grace sneered, probably the first time in her life she had ever seen such a shameless woman.
Melinda's tears welled up in her eyes as Grace spoke. She said, "Miss Gilbert, I know you don't like me, but I'm really not the person you imagine me to be. I mistook someone that day and offended you. I have felt very guilty about it. Please forgive me, I really just want to seek your forgiveness."
Melinda held a low posture.
On the side, Hunter, who always tried to please Melinda, tactfully stepped forward and said to Grace, "Miss Gilbert, Miss Coleman is a student highly regarded by Alpha Cliff. Her character is absolutely impeccable. You can't just listen to one side of the story. For the sake of Alpha Cliff's reputation, please forgive Miss Coleman."
After speaking, Hunter gave me a meaningful look as I stood across from him.
Obviously, he didn't know my identity.
"What are you? What is Cliff? Why should I give him face?" Grace glared at Hunter fiercely.
Hunter's face instantly became very ugly.
Grace said coldly, "Even if it was the Moon Goddess herself who came today, I would still drive this woman out! The territory of my Gilbert family is not a place where any Tom, Dick, or Harry can step foot in!"
Melinda's face turned pale and then red as she was scolded. When had she ever been treated this way before, when she was by Cliff's side?
"Security! Get this person out!" Grace shouted, and the security immediately stepped forward.
Melinda shouted, "Miss Gilbert! This time I am here on behalf of Alpha Cliff. If you drive me away, it's like driving away Alpha Cliff! I am doing all this for your own good. Don't you want to lose the opportunity to cooperate with the Todd family in the future?"
Melinda intentionally raised her voice, afraid that the people around her wouldn't hear.
Grace was extremely angry, and no one had ever dared to threaten her like this before.
"Representing Cliff? You too? In what capacity do you represent Cliff? Have you held any position in the Todd family? Or are you representing Cliff today as a third party?"