"What do you think you're doing? Let go of my daughter!" Linda Quinn cried, running out from the crowd. Seeing her daughter being choked, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, fury surged within her.
Cecil Winters turned to Mr. Ashworth, his face as dark as ink. In a deep voice, he said, "Mr. Ashworth, don't you think you owe the Winters family an explanation?"
"An explanation? What explanation? This is definitely not my Seraphina's fault," Mr. Ashworth retorted lightly, raising an eyebrow.
Hearing Mr. Ashworth's words, everyone was left speechless. His granddaughter was choking the other girl, who had blood at the corner of her mouth, and several others were lying on the ground. It was completely obvious what had happened, yet he still insisted with such certainty that his granddaughter wasn't to blame. They truly had no idea where Mr. Ashworth found such confidence.
Upon hearing Mr. Ashworth, Cecil Winters felt himself seething with rage. However, he had to consider the bigger picture; now was not the time for a complete falling out with the Ashworth Family. He suppressed his anger and said, "Mr. Ashworth, aren't your words a bit unfair? Look at what your granddaughter has done to Elara."
"Exactly! My poor Elara! Mr. Ashworth, you must give us an explanation," Linda Quinn said, sobbing and looking utterly heartbroken. But the resentment in her eyes was almost impossible to contain.
"So young, yet so vicious and merciless."
"Heh. An explanation?" Seraphina Ashworth's cold voice suddenly cut in. She released her grip on Kiera Winters's neck, took a tissue, and wiped her hands. Her movements were unhurried, her posture utterly languid, as if nothing had just happened. "You want an explanation?"
Seraphina Ashworth's gaze sharpened, and she took a step forward. "Kiera Winters thought I was some sickly weakling and brought a group to gang up on me, but she never expected to lose. I had no intention of starting trouble; they came looking for it themselves. If this is the kind of upbringing the Winters Family provides, then it's been quite an eye-opener. You're asking the Ashworth Family for an explanation? Don't you think you owe *me* an explanation?"
'Thinking of using this as an excuse to denounce the Ashworth Family? Not a chance.'
"You're lying! That's not what happened! Grandpa, you have to believe me!" Kiera Winters shrieked, pointing a finger at Seraphina Ashworth as Linda Quinn helped her up from the floor.
"You're the one who's lying! You tried to bully Seraphina and ended up losing to her. Stop trying to blame the victim," Cecilia Ashworth said, walking over to stand beside Seraphina Ashworth and looking at Kiera Winters with scorn.
"You're one of the Ashworths, so of course you'd say that." Seeing her own daughter covered in injuries while Seraphina Ashworth was completely unscathed, Linda Quinn's resentment surged.
"There's no need to argue. I imagine a family as large as the Winters' must have security cameras, right? Let's just pull up the footage. Then we'll know immediately who's right and who's wrong," Paul Ashworth said with a cold expression, striding over to Seraphina Ashworth in a few long steps. Then he turned, his aura softening instantly as he crouched down, took Seraphina Ashworth's hand to examine it, and said in a gentle voice, "Does your hand hurt? I told you to let the bodyguards handle the hitting. What if you hurt your hand?"
The crowd felt their worldview take a critical hit. 'Seriously? Look at their daughter, beaten by yours until she looks like a beaten dog, and you're telling your own daughter not to do the hitting herself for fear of hurting her hand? That's spoiling a child beyond all reason!'
"I forgot. I'll remember next time." Seeing her family believe in her unconditionally without even asking for a reason, Seraphina Ashworth felt a warmth spread through her heart and gave her dad a sweet smile.
"Pfft—" Cecilia Ashworth couldn't help but laugh, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
This father-daughter duo was really too much. Was it really okay to say such things in front of everyone? The crowd held their breath, quietly watching the drama unfold as the expressions on the Winters Family's faces grew darker than thunder.
"What security footage? There isn't any! She's the one who bullied me!" Kiera Winters panicked the moment she heard about the footage. 'Crap,' she thought, 'I totally forgot about the security cameras at home! They absolutely can't see the footage, or I'm done for.'
Seeing his granddaughter's reaction, how could Cecil Winters not understand? It was obvious she had started the fight. Now, they could only resolve this peacefully. His tone shifted completely. "Haha, it's just a minor squabble between the younger generation. Us elders shouldn't get involved. It would only harm the harmony between our families, don't you think? What do you say, Mr. Ashworth?"
"Hmm, what Elder Winters says isn't without reason. In that case..." Mr. Ashworth said with a faint, helpless expression, deliberately trailing off to keep the Winters Family in suspense.
Kiera Winters's father, Enzo Winters, saw the look his own father gave him and quickly picked up where Mr. Ashworth left off. "Then let's just drop it."
"Even if we are to drop it, Kiera Winters must apologize to our Seraphina. Otherwise, I'm afraid we can't just let this go," Mr. Blaine said forcefully, his expression hardening.
"My daughter is this injured, and you want an apology? Impossible!" Linda Quinn blurted out, instantly dissatisfied upon hearing that not only was the matter to be dropped, but her daughter also had to apologize.
"Impossible? Then this matter isn't over. If our Seraphina hadn't been able to defend herself today, who knows what kind of harm she would have suffered? Don't you think an apology is owed?" Mr. Reginald also stepped forward to chime in, his tone carrying an undeniable pressure directed straight at the Winters Family.
"Elara, apologize," Mr. Winters ordered, suppressing his fury and making a swift decision. If this blew up, his family would be the one to face humiliation, especially since they were in the wrong. Under the circumstances, they could only do as the Ashworths wished.
"Grandpa, I—" Kiera Winters began to protest, disgruntled, but when she saw the terrifying look in her grandfather's eyes, she immediately lowered her head and mumbled in a small, hoarse voice, "S-Sorry."
"Sorry, that was too quiet. I couldn't hear you." Seraphina Ashworth spread her hands, a slow smile playing on her lips, looking the very picture of innocence.
Kiera Winters, trembling with rage, looked up and yelled at Seraphina Ashworth, "I'm sorry! Happy now?"
"Hmm, barely passable, I suppose," Seraphina Ashworth said with a faint nod.
Hearing this, Kiera Winters became even more furious, her whole body shaking with anger.
"Let me say this once. My, Paul Ashworth's, daughter is the apple of my eye. If anyone dares to bully my precious daughter, I'll dig them out of their own grave. I will never let them go." Paul Ashworth stood up and faced the crowd, his aura fully unleashed as his cold, arrogant words exploded in everyone's ears.
"Everyone, let me be blunt as well. Seraphina is the bottom line for our three families. If anyone crosses that line, don't blame us for being merciless." Mr. Blaine raised his voice, his expression stern, adding his own warning. He was taking the opportunity to make an example of the Winters, lest some other fool try to provoke them again.
These two supremely confident statements sent a deep shock through everyone present. It was a clear warning not to provoke Seraphina Ashworth, and it also established the three families' bottom line. At the same time, it made everyone once again recognize the intimate relationship between the three great giants of Aethelburg.
Mr. Ashworth smiled warmly and looked at Cecil Winters to take his leave. "Elder Winters, since the matter is resolved, we'll be on our way."
"Alright, take care. Ethan, see Mr. Ashworth and his family out." Cecil Winters forced a smile, truly having to swallow a bitter pill.
"This way, please."
The crowd watched as the dramatic scene finally came to a close. The Winters Family had truly been forced to suffer in silence this time; they had picked a fight with the wrong people. 'Who was the damned fool who started the rumor that the Ashworths' fifth young miss was a sickly weakling? Look at all the injured people on the floor! She did all this by herself. If that's a sickly weakling, how is anyone else supposed to live? We have to warn the younger generation back home to give Seraphina Ashworth a wide berth. Offending her is the same as offending the three great giants.'
After the events of today spread, Seraphina Ashworth's reputation was thoroughly cemented in high society. When it came to the one person in Aethelburg you absolutely could not offend, the unrivaled answer was Seraphina Ashworth of the Ashworth Family.