Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Faced with Harmony's aggressive questioning, Samantha had somewhat of a confused look in her eyes and said puzzledly, "Ms. Johnson, I don't understand why you're saying such a thing. After I returned to the country, Matthew was taken back by my husband and is with him right now."

After saying that, Samantha turned to look at Timothy and asked gently. "Isn't that right, Darling?"

Everyone immediately turned to look at Timothy.

His stance regarding the whole fiasco was key, but he had not said a word since everything happened.

He had the most say on whether Samantha cheated, whether her child belonged to Alan, and who the child was with.

Harmony looked at Timothy with a luminous gaze.

She knew how much Timothy hated Samantha. If Samantha had not coaxed Old Madam Barker for the shares, Timothy would have divorced Samantha long ago and Samantha would never be able to show up in front of him again.

This was their best chance yet of ending everything once and for all.

Samantha would be done for as long as he exposed Samantha's lies!

Timothy looked up and glanced at Samantha.

That woman was a surprise to him time and time again. He never expected her to turn the situation around so calmly at such a time.

From another perspective, everything that happened that night was probably within Samantha's predictions and she had probably been manipulating Harmony too.

Timothy's lips twitched coldly.

Everyone could not help but hold their breaths as they waited for his response.

Whose side would he stand on? Would it be his wife Samantha, or his lover Harmony?

Timothy took a step forward and stood beside Samantha, after which he took Samantha's hand under everyone's gazes.

His fingers interlocked with hers.

Timothy's thin lips parted lightly and his words resonated clearly throughout the entire venue as he spoke emphatically using the microphone. "Yes, we have a son."

"Everything my wife said is the truth. This reporter has not only maliciously slandered my wife's reputation, but also fabricated nonsense at our important banquet tonight. I'm deeply sorry for the confusion that was caused."

There was a hubbub in the audience as soon as he said that.

The plot twists were much more exciting than those in a television show.

Timothy's eyes glanced over to Ian and said coldly, "You'll pay the price for what you did today, Mr. Snell."

With a raise of his chin, two bodyguards hidden in the dark passed through the crowd and grabbed Ian, who was trying to make a quick escape.

He attempted to struggle but a bodyguard punched him and sent him falling to the ground.

Seconds later, he was immediately dragged out of the venue.

Meanwhile, Harmony froze in disbelief and was almost on the brink of collapse...

Was Matthew Timothy's son?

Did Timothy bring Matthew back?

He never told her about it and she was clueless regarding everything...

Even more unexpected was the fact that Timothy chose to stand on Samantha's side at such a time, especially when it was his best chance yet of eradicating her.

Could Samantha have influenced him again?

Impossible! It could not have happened!

Samantha looked straight at Harmony instead of looking at anyone else. She reveled in Harmony's crushed expression and curled her lips in a smirk.

Her smile was a smug and provocative one.

It was an exact copy of how Harmony used to smile at her.

Other people began pointing fingers at Harmony too. She screamed the loudest earlier and everyone was nearly deceived by her.

Sure enough, mistresses were all the same shameless women.

To think that she blatantly slandered Timothy's rightful wife under the public's watchful eyes in her attempt to climb her way up to legitimacy!

How shameless!

Many of the esteemed guests attended that night's dinner with their wives, many of whom had no tolerance for such mistresses after having suffered harassment by many annoying women.

That was one of the reasons why Harmony had never been acknowledged by the women in the circle even after so many years.

She was a mistress after all, and being around her would only degrade one's status. Secondly, she had never once done things the right way and was not the genuine Mrs. Barker!

This incident only elicited their despise towards her.

One of the ladies could not help but say, "Don't you think it's odd that she still has the decency to be standing around here? If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't have had the courage to even show up in public."

A second replied, "She would not have been harassing them in the past three days if she ever had any decency in the first place. Just look at how much Mr. Barker loves Mrs. Barker. Their son is already three years old! How could Ms. Larsson's rightful place as Mrs. Barker be shaken by any other woman."

"That's right," the third echoed. "Mrs. Barker's son is the future heir of the Barker Group, and I finally know why Old Madam Barker is so supportive of Ms. Larsson. She's a very promising young lady."

A fourth glanced at Harmony disdainfully and sneered, "Words aren't going to get her anywhere if she wants to get Mr. Barker. She failed against Mrs. Barker three years ago and now she's still fantasizing about snatching Mr. Barker when the Barkers' son is already three years old! I suppose the one person she could blame it on is herself for failing to live up to her own expectations."

Harmony could not be more embarrassed and it was made worse when those ladies' chastising went right to her heart. The son was already the final blow for her and she could no longer hold herself back from crying.

She covered her cheeks and turned around sharply to run away.

Timothy reassured the guests with a few remarks and that incident began something trivial that was immediately put past them.

The guests were all smart individuals who knew what to say and what not to say. It did not take long for the party's atmosphere to become more enthusiastic.

Timothy led Samantha off the stage.

When he held up a flute of champagne and handed it to Samantha, he lowered his voice slightly and pressed his thin lips against her ear to whisper, "What a show, Samantha!"

The icy breath brushed past her ears and was so cold that Samantha could not stop shivering.

She could feel the killing intent rumbling inside of Timothy.

Samantha looked up fearlessly at him. She did not take the champagne in his hand but pulled his hand instead so the champagne flute reached her red lips. She then took a light sip.

There were tiny hints of charm in her movements.

Timothy's expression sank slightly.

Samantha then pushed the champagne flute away, the rim of which had an additional lipstick stain.

She glanced up at the man and replied, "You flatter me."

After a pause, she continued, "Take good care of our son, alright Timothy. If he so much as loses half a strand of hair, I'll tell the whole world that you're a devil who doesn't even spare his own three-year-old son!"

That was why she forced him to admit in public that Matthew was in his hands.

She only dared to do that because of one aspect that she knew well about Timothy: he was a man who valued professionalism above all else and would not let anyone ruin that on such an important occasion.

If she could provide a reasonable explanation, he would definitely side with her!

Timothy sneered and asked. "Do you think I'd believe you?"

He did not believe a word of what she said because she was too crafty.

Samantha did not hate or disdain him like before and her expression became serious all of a sudden.

She looked into his eyes and said clearly, "Timothy, Matthew is our son, without a doubt. He's in your hands right now, so you can always verify your DNA with his at your convenience."

"And…"

She leaned closer to him, tiptoed slightly, then opened her red lips and completed the rest of the words in his ear, "…Dr. Sherwood and I are just good friends."

"You're the one…I've always loved."