Chapter 57: Chapter 57: In the End, Love Is a Matter of Conscience
Mrs. Sheridan’s words struck like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present.
They all looked at Cecilia Croft with strange expressions, their eyes filled with scrutiny, as if searching for proof of Mrs. Sheridan’s claims.
"If you don’t believe me, I can release the video later for everyone to see just what a little slut she is when she’s under a man."
With things having escalated to this point, Mrs. Sheridan no longer felt the need to hold anything back.
"Jude, she released this information in front of all these guests because she wants a complete falling-out with you. If you let her get the upper hand today, she’ll be walking all over you from now on! She..."
Before Mrs. Sheridan could finish, Jude Sheridan suddenly spun around and grabbed Jessica Keller, who was hiding behind the Sheridan family relatives.
"Was it you who told my mom to contact Zane Keller?"
His eyes held a murderous look.
Jessica Keller frantically shook her head, denying it.
"I didn’t."
"Jude, let me go! I’m pregnant with your child! You can’t do this to me."
Jessica Keller kept trying to hide behind the Sheridan family members.
Not wanting Jude Sheridan to harm the baby, Mrs. Sheridan rushed over to shield her.
"Jude, have you lost your mind? Treating Jessica like this over a worn-out slut? She’s carrying the Sheridan family’s first grandson!"
With Mrs. Sheridan’s help, Jessica Keller was pulled away.
Just as she tried to run, a sharp pain shot through her scalp. Jude Sheridan had grabbed her by the hair, forcing her entire body to arch backward.
Mrs. Sheridan frantically tried to pry Jude Sheridan’s fingers away.
But she was no match for Jude Sheridan’s strength and was quickly thrown off.
A faint smile played on Cecilia Croft’s lips as she stood quietly to the side, watching the unfolding farce as if it were a play.
The members of the Sheridan family had benefited greatly from Jude Sheridan over the years.
A rising tide lifts all boats, after all, and none of them wanted to see Jude do something today that he couldn’t take back.
The eldest and most respected elder of the Sheridan Family walked up to Jude Sheridan and patted his shoulder.
"Jude, calm down. What’s done is done, for better or worse. Look, all these guests are watching. You still have to make a living in these circles. Don’t make things so ugly that you can’t find a way out."
"We’ll take your mother and this woman home first."
Jude Sheridan’s chest heaved violently, but he finally let go.
Jessica Keller collapsed to the floor as if all her strength had left her, only to be quickly helped up by the Sheridan family members.
Seeing them about to leave, Cecilia Croft let out a scornful laugh.
"The stage has just been set and the fight isn’t over. Why are you retreating already? Are you scared? Or is this the extent of your abilities?"
Provoked by Cecilia Croft, Mrs. Sheridan stopped in her tracks and glared viciously at her.
Seeing her daughter-in-law ruin all her plans, her fury reached its peak.
But this time, she had learned to be smarter.
Noticing the people around them whispering, she started to sling mud at Cecilia Croft.
"Don’t be fooled by her appearance, everyone! It’s true my Jude cheated, but this woman is no saint either! Just last night, she slept with several men! This isn’t the first time she’s been going out and hooking up with men. I have video proof!"
The murmuring in the crowd grew louder.
"In our circle, it’s not a big deal for couples to have their own fun on the side. But airing it all out in public like this is just ugly."
"Yeah, if she’s playing around on the side herself, how can she expect her husband to be completely faithful to her?"
"Didn’t you hear? The woman on the side is pregnant. It was likely the pregnancy was a power play to force her out, which made President Croft retaliate. But who would’ve thought Mrs. Sheridan actually has a video."
"If you ask me, none of them are innocent. It’s just dogs biting dogs, a messy affair."
"Aren’t you guys curious to see the video Mrs. Sheridan has? I hear the more quiet and elegant a woman is, the wilder she is in bed."
The man who spoke had a sleazy expression, his eyes fixed on Cecilia Croft, practically drooling.
Upstairs, Assistant Scott stood beside Sebastian Hawthorne and clicked his tongue.
"I bet Mrs. Sheridan is certain that Miss Croft can’t prove they were behind what happened last night, so she’s dead set on ruining her reputation."
"Anyone who saw this drama today is going to ruin Miss Croft’s reputation when they leave. Aren’t you going to go down and help her explain?"
The veins on Sebastian Hawthorne’s hand, which was resting casually on the railing, bulged, but his face remained a mask of indifference.
"I don’t have that kind of time."
Assistant Scott watched Sebastian Hawthorne’s legs already start to move toward the stairs and raised a playful eyebrow.
’He’s got to be the most stubborn man alive.’
Jude Sheridan didn’t stop Mrs. Sheridan, but stood to the side with a grim expression on his face.
Things escalating this far would definitely affect him, but if the blame was shared equally, then the impact and attacks on him would be lessened somewhat.
Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, he knew he had achieved his goal.
His expression was gloomy. He shot a look at his relatives, who then prepared to leave with Jessica Keller and Mrs. Sheridan.
They had just reached the door when they were blocked.
Boss Sawyer entered the hall.
"Miss Croft, I’ve come to deliver a congratulatory gift."
As soon as he finished speaking, he clapped his hands. His men dragged Zane Keller and the other men in and threw them onto the floor.
Zane Keller was wearing only a pair of shorts, and through his disheveled shirt, the marks of a whipping could be seen.
His hair was wet and seemed to be matted with some unknown substance, a sickening sight.
Seeing Zane Keller in this state, Mrs. Sheridan’s face changed drastically. She instinctively looked at Jessica Keller, only to see Jessica shrink back nervously.
The sudden turn of events made Jude Sheridan’s face darken. He shifted his gaze to the door, his eyes meeting Zane Keller’s. Zane immediately cried out for help.
"Jude! Jude, save me! I only hired these guys to sleep with Cecilia Croft to help you get leverage on her, to make Vantage yours alone! You can’t just leave me here to die!"
As Zane Keller’s words rang out, the surrounding guests stared, wide-eyed.
The rumors collapsed on their own.
No one had expected another twist.
Everyone in Silvercrest knew that Vantage was co-founded by Jude Sheridan and Cecilia Croft. To think that Jude Sheridan would hire people to cheat with his own wife just to make Vantage his personal property!
And after doing something like that, they still had the audacity to sling mud at Cecilia Croft.
Were they even human?
In the professional world, the shackles placed on women are already much heavier than those on men. If the Sheridan family’s plot had succeeded, Cecilia Croft would have been completely powerless to fight back.
The Sheridan family was just too vicious.
Sebastian Hawthorne, who was on his way down the stairs, stopped in the shadows. His expression was faint, betraying no emotion.
Assistant Scott, following beside him, said in a low voice.
"Cousin, it looks like Miss Croft doesn’t need your help to be her witness after all."
Sebastian Hawthorne: "I’m not blind."
