Chapter 17

How could this be?! That was the only question everyone at the ballroom was wondering about. What on earth gave Matthew and Sasha as well as her family the right to go to the ninth floor of the hotel?

“President Carlson, have you made a mistake?” Lily asked anxiously. “Matthew is just a useless kept man. Also, my grandfather, Eric Cunningham, is the president of Cunningham Group while Matthew and Sasha are just some nobody. So, what gives them the right to head upstairs?”

Meanwhile, Eric was smoothing out the creases on his shirt, thinking that he was supposed to be the one Billy Newman wanted to invite because he was the master of the Cunningham Family. At the same time, he was thrilled. If he was really invited to the ninth floor, the experience would be a great source of pride for him. Those old friends of his who had only visited the seventh floor of the hotel had been constantly boasting to him about their experiences. If he could really make it to the ninth floor and in addition to that, to attend a function held by Billy, he could brag about this privilege for the rest of his life. Furthermore, the Cunningham Family would then rise to become one of the most respectable families in Eastcliff!

“That’s very rude of you!” Stanley lifted one hand and slapped Lily, who was stunned in a fit of panic and uttered, “H-How dare you slap me?”

“What’s wrong with that? Don’t you think you deserve it?” Stanley countered in an icy voice.

Lily’s mouth was left agape but she dared not speak. As the Young Lady of the Cunninghams, she could be cocky and presumptuous all she wished in front of Matthew and Sasha. However, in front of Stanley Carlson, it was a totally different story. She could act wilfully in front of anyone else but in the presence of Stanley Carlson, she would get herself killed by acting so.

Stanley demanded in a frosty voice, “Apologize to Mr. Larson and Miss Cunningham right now, or I’ll beat you up till you lose all your teeth!”

“A-Apologize to him?” Lily grew restless. As she had only ever hurled insults at Matthew before, asking her to apologize to him was the same as taking her own life. “Grandpa!” Lily looked at Eric, hoping he could back her up.

“Cough, cough…” Eric took a step forward and gave Stanley a fist and palm salute. “President Carlson, I’m the president of Cunningham Group…”

“I don’t give a damn who you are!” Stanley cut him off directly and yelled, “Do you have the right to offer your opinion while I’m talking to her? Do you want to get beaten up too?!”

Eric looked deeply rattled. As a seventy-year-old man, it was embarrassing for him to be reprimanded so rudely by Stanley, who was decades his junior. However, he dared not have a cow in front of Stanley in the end.

“Matthew, we’re a family and there’s no point in turning things so stiff!” In a cold voice, Eric said, “Tell President Carlson that you don’t need Lily’s apology because she just had a quick tongue and didn’t mean what she said just now!”

“Yes, Matthew, it’s just a small matter. Do you really need to do that? Just apologize to Lily and let the matter go!” James quickly chided in.

Helen nodded her head vigorously, seeing it as the best timing to ease up the tension in their relationship with Eric. As for Matthew, how he felt was not important at all.

Lily cast an oblique glance at Matthew, looking triumphant. See, even your father-in-law is asking you to apologize to me! Are you seeking an apology from me?Dream on!

However, Matthew put on a poker-faced expression. You guys are only claiming to be my family at this juncture. Did you guys consider me as your family when Lily humiliated me and when you all urged my wife to spend the night with Mr. Sampson?

Suddenly, Sasha spoke, “Grandpa, don’t you think you’re somewhat forgetful? My family and I had long been ousted from the Cunninghams. So, I don’t see why we’re suddenly a family.”

A surge of warmth seized Matthew’s heart, seeing that Sasha was willing to take his side at that crucial moment. However, by doing so she had totally offended the Cunninghams.

“Sasha, watch your words!” James huffed anxiously.

“Sasha!” Eric let out a low hiss through gritted teeth. “Do you really want to sever your ties with the Cunningham Family for good? Very well, you’re no longer one of the Cunningham Group from now on.

I don’t think you can fork out the three million either. Charlie, call the police!”

Just as Charlie fished out his phone, he was slapped in the face by Stanley. “Did you mention three million?” Stanley waved his hand and shortly after that, some of his men standing nearby carried a leather case over.

Stanley tossed the leather case onto the floor and said, “That’s your three million. Take it!” When the leather case was opened, everyone could see that it was filled up to the brim with stacks after stacks of one-hundred-dollar bills, which definitely made up to three million, if not more!

“You…” Eric couldn’t help but be dumbfounded by the sight of the leather case and he was shocked to see how far Stanley had gone to help Sasha.

“President Carlson, our Cunningham Group has many business transactions with your Carlson Group.”

Eric muttered, “You see, Sasha is no longer one of us now. P-President Carlson, you really don’t have to affect the relationship between the two companies just because of an outsider…”

“Thanks for your reminder!” Stanley announced immediately, “From now on, all business contracts between my company and your company will be terminated!”

Eric was terror-stricken to hear that, thinking that the Cunningham Group would surely crumble into pieces after losing their contracts with Carlson Group.

“President Carlson, I-I didn’t mean it that way…” With anxiety written all over his face, Eric suddenly pointed at Lily and urged, “What are you waiting for? Offer your apology to Matthew now!”

“Grandpa…” Lily was on the verge of breaking into tears because she was really reluctant to yield to Matthew.

“Apologize now, or you’ll be ousted from the Cunningham Family!” Eric thundered.

Lily was so rattled by Eric’s threat that her whole body quivered. As the Young Lady of the Cunninghams, she was unlikely to be able to give up her comfortable life and social status she was now enjoying. “Matthew, I-I am sorry…” Lily’s voice was barely audible.

“I can’t hear you at all!” In a frosty tone, Stanley snapped, “I don’t want an insincere apology from you guys. Eric Cunningham, get ready to terminate the contracts!”

“President Carlson, please don’t be angry.” In a fit of panic, Eric lifted one hand and slapped Lily twice before he urged angrily, “Speak louder!”

Lily, whose face was reddened, spoke in a croaky voice, “Matthew, I’m sorry…”

Stanley looked at Matthew and said respectfully, “Mr. Larson, if you’re not happy with it, I can make her go on until you’re satisfied!”

Lily burst into tears immediately. How was she going to live with the embarrassment of having to apologize to Matthew under the watchful eyes of all the guests?

“Matthew, d-don’t you go too far…” Charlie couldn’t help but urge.

“In fact, I’ve planned to ask her to stop in the first place, but since you’ve said so, get her to continue then.” Matthew waved his hand dismissively and commented, “I’m not happy with her apology.

“Did you hear that? He’s not happy with your apology! Carry on!” Stanley raised his voice and urged, “Give yourself a slap along with each apology you make until Mr. Larson is satisfied!”

“Huh?” Lily widened her eyes in disbelief.

“What’s the problem? You don’t want to do it?” Looking sullen, Stanley snapped, “Eric Cunningham, just get all the contracts terminated!”

Eric went so livid with rage that he was on the verge of puking blood. “Didn’t you hear what President Carlson said? Slap yourself and offer your apology!” he urged quickly.

With tears streaming down her face, Lily slapped herself while she apologized to Matthew continuously.

At the same time, she glared at Charlie balefully. If he had not been so garrulous, she would not have gone through such humiliation.

“Mr. Larson, I’m so sorry that you have to undergo such an unpleasant experience. Shall we head upstairs now?” Stanley asked.

“I don’t think it’s the right timing yet,” Matthew said softly.

Sounding astonished, Stanley asked, “Why is that so?”

Glancing at Clayton who had hidden himself among the crowd, Matthew went on, “Mr. Sampson here had asked to bring my wife to a room to discuss business in private. Also, he said that no one was allowed to leave if the issue wasn’t resolved by today!”