Chapter 467: Chapter 467: Distinguishing Insiders from Outsiders
The onlookers all looked a bit awkward. They had all gossiped viciously about Rosalind Green behind her back, calling her a vixen who shamelessly tried to seduce men. But now that they thought about it, Rosalind really hadn’t done anything out of line. She would avoid men from a distance, not even sparing them a word. And whenever delinquents caused trouble, Adrian Hawthorne had always chased them off.
After they stopped having to go out for work this year, Rosalind Green simply stopped leaving her house altogether. You wouldn’t see a trace of her from morning till night; she was actually quite proper and kept to herself.
But who could blame them, when Rosalind Green had the face of a vixen? Men were bewitched at the sight of her, while other women were infuriated. No matter how proper she acted, no one truly believed she was a decent person.
This was the simplest principle of female rivalry. It’s difficult for a woman to like another woman of similar age who is significantly more beautiful than herself. This was especially true for a delicate beauty like Rosalind Green. While she might stir a man’s protective instincts, she also provoked an instinctive loathing in other women, who secretly wished she would suffer some terrible misfortune.
But now, seeing Rosalind Green cornered and fighting back with such ferocity, these same women felt a pang of sympathy. They started to wonder if they had been too harsh in the past. Human nature is just that complex; there are no absolute villains, nor are there purely good people. Most are just numb spectators, for whom sympathy is a rare and precious attribute.
"You’re spouting nonsense... trying to smear my name! I didn’t do anything wrong..."
Rosalind Green seemed to have lost her mind. Her eyes were bloodshot, her jaw clenched, and her hands were still wrapped tightly around Mandy York’s neck. In truth, she had little strength left; she was running on sheer willpower. The moment it gave out, she would collapse.
At first, Mandy York’s eyes were just rolling back in her head, but now, only the whites were showing. Her mouth gaped open, and her legs had stopped kicking. The other onlookers started to panic, worried that someone was actually about to die.
Fiona Rhodes was the first to rush forward. "Let go! You’re going to kill her! Let go!"
But Rosalind Green’s body was rigid, and they couldn’t pry her off. Her hands, in particular, were curled into rigid claws. Fiona Rhodes didn’t dare use too much force, afraid she might break Rosalind’s fingers, but Mandy York’s situation was becoming more dire. If they didn’t get them apart soon, it would be too late.
"What are you all gawking at? Get over here and help me pull them apart! What’s there to see?!"
Fiona Rhodes shouted in frustration at the crowd of gawkers who just loved a good spectacle. The others finally snapped out of it and came over to help. But Rosalind Green’s eyes were still glazed over, and she was muttering to herself. They couldn’t get her to stop; she was completely deranged.
Phoebe Huxley couldn’t get them apart either. ’I could do it with brute force, sure, even if it means breaking Rosalind’s hands,’ she thought. ’But injuring Rosalind for that old bitch Mandy York? Not worth it. I don’t like either of them, but you have to distinguish between insiders and outsiders. I’ve got to side with our own. You have to draw a clear line between us and them.’
"We have to use force, or Mandy’s really going to die," someone said.
"Don’t worry about it!" Phoebe Huxley bellowed, stopping the person who was about to pry Rosalind’s hands away. "They say the good die young. A tough old bitch like Mandy York won’t die that easily."
"She’s not breathing! If we don’t get them apart right now, something terrible will happen! Phoebe, stop fooling around!"
Phoebe Huxley’s eyes narrowed, and she looked ready to curse someone out, but just then, Juliana Rhodes arrived. She gave Rosalind Green a sharp jab on the elbow. A numbing sensation shot through Rosalind’s arms, and her hands involuntarily released their grip. All the strength drained from her body, and she collapsed to the ground.
Mandy York gasped for air, taking in huge, desperate gulps. ’Just now, I really felt like I’d touched death’s door. It was so grim and cold... I even heard the Judge of the Underworld call my name. I was just about to go plead my case to the King of Hell when I was suddenly pulled back.’
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