Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Noah Quincy wore a sleek, black dress shirt that fitted him like a glove. He had sharp features carved like a Greek god and a look that commanded attention wherever he went. The crowd of reporters could not help turning their heads to watch him as he walked in the ballroom like a king. As soon as they spotted him, speculation was rife with the reasons for his appearance.
“He must be here to support Ms. Grant, I’m sure!”
“Surely! Angie Grant had been silently suffering all this time. She even held a press conference to clear Noah’s reputation. What a good fiancée he’s found for himself!”
“Yes, she would make an excellent wife for Noah, being the sensible and elegant woman she is.”
Noah caught bits and pieces of the discussion among the reporters as he walked down the ballroom aisle toward the stage, his expression grave and stony. The color had drained from Angie’s face and heart almost stopped as soon as she noticed it was Noah who walked in the ballroom. She knew Noah would not be happy with her hosting this press conference, but she never expected him to turn up personally. She calmed herself down and hoped for the best as she took small steps toward Noah, approaching him tentatively.
“Noah, what brings you here? I can handle it on my own. Everyone knows the truth now. They won’t write slanderous untruths about you anymore,” she greeted Noah cautiously. She stood by his side gingerly, the picture of a modest, subservient wife.
Netizens had also noticed Noah’s sudden appearance through the livestream. The comments section was bursting with declarations of adoration for Noah. He’s here, Noah Quincy’s here to save his princess! How sweet! they commented fervently.Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
Noah took a hard look at Angie before speaking, realizing for the first time how truly unfamiliar he was with this woman that had been by his side for so many years. “Ms. Grant, do you mean to say you were not the person who started the rumors about me ‘sampling the goods?” his tone was clipped as he took a step away from Angie, maintaining a polite distance.
As soon as Noah spoke, the reporters felt as if they were witnessing a real-life soap opera. The ballroom became eerily silent as the room was stunned into silence and the reporters tried to make sense of what was happening. In the livestream chat rooms, the comments came flooding in once again.
“What? Did she organize all of this to paint herself in a better light?”
“What a shameless woman! People nowadays have absolutely no morals and integrity! Trash!”
“Like I said, once a Black Widow, always a Black Widow! Never trust her!”
Angie was stunned into silence too, as Noah’s cold words were like bullets to Angie’s heart. Finally, after a few moments, she managed to gather herself and speak up. “Noah, what are you talking about? Why would I slander you online?” she reasoned. “You’re the most important person to me. I’m trying to protect you here!” She tried her best to explain herself and salvage whatever that was left of her image. She tried to turn off the livestreaming equipment, but it was being guarded by Wayne. There was no way she could access it, so Angie could only look at Noah with a pitiful look in her eyes, hoping that Noah would not call her bluff any further.
However, Noah completely ignored Angie silent pleas and motioned for Wayne to play a video. Both the reporters who were physically present in the ballroom and the netizens watching the livestream waited with bated breath for this video to play on screen. A grainy surveillance video began to play, showing the entrance to the Quincy residence. Angie appeared at the entrance, but she was hugging
and making out with another man. Toward the end, the man had carried her on his shoulder and walked away.
As Angie watched the video play on screen, she felt a sudden wave of nausea overtaking her senses. That woman in the video could not possibly be her! How could she have left with another man?! Her head was spinning as she desperately tried to recall the events of last night. All of a sudden, she came to a terrifying realization…
“Wayne!!” Noah called out.
“Yes, sir!” Wayne responded as he turned the livestream camera toward himself.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” he greeted politely. “I’m sure everyone has seen the video recording. Next up, allow me to give everyone a proper explanation. Firstly, the Quincy family has already announced yesterday that the wedding between Mr. Noah Quincy and Ms. Angie Grant will not proceed. Secondly, the man that was seen to be fraternizing with Ms. Angie Grant in the surveillance video was not Mr. Noah, so there is absolutely no such thing as Mr. Noah ‘sampling the goods’. After a thorough investigation, we have also found out that Ms. Angie Grant was the perpetrator who leaked said articles about Mr. Noah cheating on her. This is absolutely untrue, and we will be taking legal action against Ms. Angie. Lastly, Madeline Grant is a good woman on all accounts and Mr. Noah is courting her respectfully. He hopes that the public will not listen to baseless rumors with regards to her virtue and he apologizes for the trouble he has caused her.” Wayne explained the situation succinctly.
As Angie listened to Wayne’s announcement, she could feel herself falling deeper and deeper into a dark pit of desolation. She still did not comprehend what had happened. Who was the man that she had left with that night? Her thoughts were spiraling into a jumbled mess as she felt her world crumble in front of her eyes.
Once Wayne had wrapped up his announcement, he arranged for some refreshments for the media team and emptied out the ballroom. The netizens gradually left the chat room as the broadcast came to an end. As the crowd exited, only Noah and Angie remained in the ballroom. Noah did not want to stay a second longer, but he still had some pressing questions.
“Angie, was Madeline really responsible for Grandpa’s death?” he asked as his eyes stared into her soul, searching for the truth.
For a brief moment, a shocked expression appeared on Angie’s face, but she quickly masked it.
“Of course it was! She caused Grandpa’s death, but that wasn’t enough for her, was it?” Angie yelled indignantly. “She had to make my life a living hell too! Why, Madeline, why?!” Angie used her anger to mask how scared and terrified she was.
Noah regarded her silently without saying a word. After a few seconds, he turned around, ready to leave the ballroom. Desperate, Angie chased after Noah, extending an arm to grab hold of his sleeve but failing to do so. “Noah!” she called out. “I’ve been nothing but loyal to you all these years. How could you treat me like this?” She looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.
Noah stopped in his tracks. “I told you five years ago that there will never be another Mrs. Quincy besides Madeline, but you never stopped trying to change my mind. I think I’ve afforded you enough leeway all these years. It’s unfortunate that you did not learn to be content with what you were given.” He spoke without turning to look at her.
“Noah……” Angie sobbed, tears running down her face. However, Noah was no longer susceptible to her emotional blackmail. He continued his hard line of questioning.
“Second question. Did Grandpa’s death have anything to do with you?” Noah asked frostily.
His voice was so cold that it sent a shiver down Angie’s spine. She knew now that it was no longer a matter of their romantic relationship. Rather, the implications of his question were much darker and opened a whole new can of worms. Angie came to her senses quickly.
“Noah, I don’t understand what you mean. It’s been so long ago. Why are you suddenly asking about Grandpa’s death?” her heart raced violently. Did Noah find out something?