Chapter 31

A Small World

There was a restroom in the private room, so when Michaela made an excuse to leave the place,
Jonathan immediately realized what she was trying to do. However, he did not call her out on the lie.

After a rough estimation of the time, he then slowly went down the stairs.

Nevertheless, just as he reached the corner of the stairs, he heard Zack’s harsh words. When those
words made his girl fume to the point her eyes turned red, his expression darkened.

How dare he say that no one will like my girl? He’s bloody gutsy!

A second ago, when Zack heard the familiar voice, he thought he was dreaming. However, the moment
he saw the figure that abruptly appeared in front of him, he went pale instantly.



The rules in the Xander family were strict, but he was not one to lord over others.

Nevertheless, the soft and sweet look Michaela usually had was twisted into a ferocious look. It made
him wonder how harsh Michaela would usually be to Lucille. No wonder Lucille would feel so scared to
the point she tried to end her life.



There was a kind of person in the world who would fantasize about himself being the white knight once
he encounter a scene that triggered his chauvinistic instinct. What that person never realized was that
they were not living in a fairytale.



When he saw his uncle ambling down the stairs, Zack held his breath as fear gripped him. It was only
when Jonathan stood in front of him did he stammer out, “Uncle Jonathan!”

“I’m old, and my ears aren’t working as well now. Would you like to repeat what you just said to me?”

Jonathan spoke in a clear voice, and the dark eyes on his face looked gloomy but calm.

However, Zack could sense an icy wave of hostility rushing toward him. His legs weakened, and he
stuttered, “U-Uncle Jonathan…”

When Lucille saw Zack’s fearful demeanor, she quietly commented in her mind about how cowardly Zack
was. Nevertheless, she soon calmed herself down and said to Jonathan, “Mr. Jonathan, don’t blame
Zack for this. I was the one who did the wrong thing, and it’s normal that Michaela is upset with me.
Moreover, she’s only ignoring me now. It’s fine even if she hits or curses at me because I deserve it.
Zack’s just trying to defend me. He doesn’t mean to do anything else.”

Somehow, she had managed to shift the blame onto Michaela, making Michaela seem like the petty one
who did not know how to read the room.

Successfully, she managed to flaunt her love and achieved the goal of her playing the pitiful role. At the
same time, she had also managed to make it seem like she had suffered humiliation and abuse from
Michaela in the Lingard family.

After all, only the weak were capable of getting sympathy and attention from others.

Michaela sneered in her heart. She had been living with her for seventeen years, but she had
underestimated the other woman the entire time.

If we knew about this earlier, we should’ve sent her to learn performing arts. Maybe she’ll end up as the
best actress of the century or something along the lines of that.



Lucille kept a docile look on her face, thinking that what she said was flawless. However, Jonathan only
glanced at her before uttering in a flat tone, “A Xander is teaching a junior in the family a lesson. May I
know what right you have to comment, Ms. Lingard?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

That was a sin too heavy for Lucille to bear, and the colors drained out of her face immediately.

She had long heard about Jonathan Xander’s reputation. The last time they met, his subordinates had
assumed that she was a robber and had beaten her up. This time, it was worse. The words that came
out of his mouth were ruthless.

Indeed, he was a merciless character.

Michaela, who had been furious and embarrassed earlier, widened her eyes at Jonathan’s speech. At
that moment, she felt that Jonathan seemed extremely attractive to her.

The feelings of dissatisfaction and anger dissipated, and all that was left was admiration and respect.

“I hope not.”

Seemingly satisfied with Lucille’s response, Jonathan nodded. “Also, I’m not close with you, Ms. Lingard,
so Mr. Jonathan seems a little too intimate. Therefore, Ms. Lingard, please don’t call me that.”

Lucille froze. Her pale face was then tinged red by embarrassment.

She looked like she was trying to smile but bawl at the same time. Even her voice sounded uncertain,
and it was as if she had suffered a miserable moment as she whispered, “Of course, Mr. Xander.”

This time, Jonathan ignored her. He turned to look at Zack again and said, “Zack, when have the Xander
family allowed you to be so arrogant despite your mistakes? What did Father teach you? How did you



treat Mich? I haven’t settled the score with you about the earlier incident, so did you think that matter is
over? Zack, tell me, who gave you the courage to do this?”

“Uncle Jonathan, I didn’t-”

There was no trace of arrogance left in Zack after getting confronted by the aggressive Jonathan.

“Apologize to her now,” came Jonathan’s order.

Instinctively, Zack wanted to reject him. However, he knew the consequences of disobeying his uncle.

Even if he were to put aside the fact that he was currently doing his internship in his uncle’s company,
there was this other matter about how his parents did not know about his involvement with Lucille.
Furthermore, Jonathan returned as a representative of his grandfather and grandmother. Thus, there
was no way Zack would dare to go against him.

After a moment of mulling over the matter, and despite the reluctance he felt, Zack turned to Michaela
and said, “I’m sorry.”

Michaela did not speak. She only stared at Jonathan. “Mr. Jonathan, I want to go home.”

“Okay,” came Jonathan’s reply. He then draped the coat on Michaela’s shoulders. “Wear this and don’t
catch a cold.”

The gentle way he treated her was completely unlike the way he interacted with Lucille.

Lucille slowly clenched her fist and glared at the two retreating figures. She wished she could glare holes
into Michaela as she stared at her with vicious, grim eyes.

Why? Why can Michaela stand proud like a princess while I have to bow before the others like a speck of
dust? Even Mr. Xander thinks of her differently, but I can’t even call him Mr. Jonathan. I should be the



lady in the Xander family. After doing all those things and even after using my body for the plan, I lost to
Michaela?

Lucille refused to accept that.

Meanwhile, Zack was frightened out of his wits. When he saw his uncle finally gone, he let out a sigh of
relief and relaxed his tense muscles. However, his legs were jelly, and he nearly fell to his knees.

“Zack!”

Lucille quickly helped Zack up. Something flashed in her eyes, and she pretended to nonchalantly say, “I
never thought that Michaela would be with Mr. Xander. Technically, Mr. Xander shouldn’t chide you in
front of others even if you’ve done wrong. After all, you’re still his nephew at the end of the day. It seems
like Michaela is really angry with me.”

Clearly, she was trying to imply that Michaela was with Jonathan to tattle tale on Zack. That was why that
scene had occurred.

Hearing that, Zack halted in his tracks.

His face was pale after the bout of embarrassment, but when he turned to look at Lucille, the look in his
eyes was a dangerous one.

Upon seeing that look in his eyes, Lucille quickly lowered her eyes as if she was frightened. “I was the
one who did something wrong. It’s normal for Michaela to blame me for it. But, Zack, please don’t defend
me like this next time. I don’t want to see you upset.”

“It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Lucille’s meek look reminded Zack of how she had defended him earlier, so the dark expression on his
face turned less tense. After pulling Lucille into his arms, he walked out of the restaurant.








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