Chapter 296


    Holden ambled over to the couch and plonked himself down. Maria instantly beamed and brought him


    a cup of coffee. Holden took it and leisurely lifted the cup. When he spoke, his voice boomed.


    “Ms. Shepard, you must know thatn has married already, right? I gifted Rosewood Manor to Maja as


    their love nest. You hustling over here, didn’t the Shepard family teach you about shame and


    decency?”


    “Holden, I…”


    “Zip it!”


    Holden put down his coffee, his piercing gaze drilling into her.


    “Now, you’re going to ring your parents. I want them toe pick you up from Rosewood Manor


    themselves. If they didn’t teach you not to y the mistress, I’ll school you on it tonight.”


    Carlene’s eyes instantly welled up, tears spilling down her cheeks.


    “You shut up as well!” Holden mmed his hand on the table, his eyes narrowing. n, if you utter one


    more word, I won’t cooperate with any more hospital treatments.”


    Holden turned back to Carlene, smirking. “What’s the matter, can’t remember your parents‘ number?”


    Carlene fumbled for her phone. If she was picked up from Rosewood Manor, the news would spread


    like wildfire in Greenfield the next day. She’d lose all dignity.


    Meanwhile, Holden was using his own health to threatenn, who clearly couldn’t do anything. If


    Holden fell ill, no one could shoulder that responsibility.


    Carlene’s face was burning with humiliation, her grip tightening on her phone.


    Her face was smeared with tears. “Holden, can’t you…”


    promise you that I’ll never do it again. And I’ll personally apologize to Maja, all right?”


    He didn’t want to embarrass Carlene any further; after all, she was a friend he’d known for many


    years.


    Holden got up, turned to Maria, and said, “Where’s Maja?”


    She’d called him earlier in the evening, but now she was missing. Had she been crying?


    Maria wanted to spill all about Selena’s doings, but after all, she was just a servant.


    “Ms. Pennyfeather had an errand to run, and she’s out.”


    Holden turned ton.


    “You call her. Go pick her up, and apologize. Ian, I’mpromising because of you, not because of the


    Shepard family. If the Shepard family pisses me off again, they can forget about doing business in


    Greenfield. Ms. Shepard, realize who you are. Maja


    isn’s wife. You’re here threatening her, so you’re just a woman disrupting others‘ marriages. Your


    mom acted this way. Are you going to follow in her footsteps?”


    Thest sentence was a low blow, leaving Carlene in tears.


    Instinctively, she wanted to lean onn, but remembering Holden’s words, she hesitated.


    Her lips were tightly pressed together, drawing blood.


    Over the years, once she becamen’s girlfriend, no one mentioned her mother’s past. So she felt at


    ease. But now the most powerful person in the Raymond family was brazenly airing this secret in front


    of her, she felt an unprecedented humiliation.


    “If the elders aren’t righteous, neither will the young ones be. No matter how muchn dislikes Maja,


    you have no right to humiliate her. Get lost.”


    “Holden!”


    Carlene, who had spent hours getting dolled up toe here, was now unsteady on her feet. She


    picked up her bag and still managed a polite goodbye to Holden. “Holden, I’ll take my leave now.”


    Hér face was streaked with tears, making her look frail.


    “Call Maja; go pick her up now. If she doesn’t forgive you, you’ll kneel outside Rosewood Manor all


    night!”


    After Holden finished speaking, he clutched his chest.


    “Chill out, I’ll call her.” Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.