Corey came to his senses at this moment. Hastily throwing on his clothes, he pushed Louise aside and rushed to Mollie.
"Sorry, Mollie, I... I mistook that woman for you, just like Mrs. Hays. I've clearly lost my mind. Can you forgive me just once?"
As he reached out his hand towards Mollie, Jonathon kicked him away.
He wouldn't allow any man except himself to touch Mollie, especially not this despicable man who dared to defile his girl.
At this moment, a woman's seductive voice sounded from the room.
"You meanie. You're ignoring me now that you've had your fun, huh?"
Everyone was shocked when her face emerged from the thin blanket.
Everly? Her crimson face made her look as if she was in a trance. Not only that, it was near impossible to hide the red marks that covered her entire body.
Seeing this, Lawrence looked away before furiously instructing the security to have her removed.
"How did this person manage to get in? Investigate it!
"To think someone of such low quality could get in here! What are you people doing?"
His anger at such disgraceful behaviour during his banquet was so close to triggering a relapse of his illness.
Mollie, worried about Lawrence's well-being, quickly helped him to a nearby sofa.
"Quickly! Check the surveillance footage!"
Stefanie's legs went weak when she heard the words "surveillance footage."
Her eyes were filled with anxiety and fear. Tearfully, she explained that she was the one who brought Corey in, but she had only done so considering Corey's deep affection for Mollie as she intended to pair them up.
"You fool!"
Lawrence raised his cane and struck Stefanie.
"You want to pair Mollie up with a random random man? You are clearly leading your sister into a pit of fire!"
Surprisingly, Theo also agreed.
"Indeed, Stefanie. You have failed to think this matter through!" Corey was nothing when Jonathon was around.
Seeing her beloved daughter facing one accusation after another, Louise grew displeased.
"What's wrong with what Stefanie did? It's true that she brought the person in, but the one messing around with him is that bumpkin. Didn't you hear her saying she's not satisfied yet?"
The packet of Mirage Dust made the usually obstinate Louise firmly accuse Mollie of doing something indecent.
The guests were all talking about it.
They silently acknowledged that she was acting like a stereotypical stepmother. Not only were her words full of disdain for her stepdaughter, but she also tried to twist the facts to protect her biological daughter.
Hearing the discussions surrounding him and seeing Louise still pointing and criticising "Mollie," Theo could bear it no longer. He slapped her square across the face.
"Shut up!" The onlookers gulped nervously.
Louise, who had been slapped, suddenly snapped back to her senses.
She cast her gaze around before looking at Everly, who was barely clothed in the rest area. Her face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Before she could utter a word of inquiry, Theo commanded, "Go back and reflect!"
There was nothing more embarrassing than this.
The most awkward person was Corey, who had been kicked to the ground. Held down by security guards, he resembled a guilty thief, looking as miserable as one could imagine.
"Mollie, I know that no one else believes me, but can't you believe me? I came today just to take you away."
Mollie quickly hid behind Jonathon. "Mr. Hudson, I'm scared!"
Upon hearing this, Jonathon waved the surrounding security guards away, crouched down, and mercilessly pummeled Corey with a series of punches. The same hands that usually signed million-dollar contracts left Corey's face disfigured.
"Remember this, if you ever bother Mollie again, you will either disappear from Norbury or meet the King of Hell!"
If not for the inauspiciousness of shedding blood during a birthday banquet, Jonathon might have finished Corey on the spot.
Corey finally felt fear as he was dragged out like a dead dog.
As the farce came to an end, Lawrence bore a weary expression.
"Mr. Hays." Jonathon nodded respectfully towards Lawrence.
"I'd like to take Mollie to my place. What do you think?"
Just as Lawrence was about to reply, a composed male voice sounded from the doorway, "Thank you for your kind offer, Mr.
Hudson, but Mollie has her own home. She's safe here. We can protect her."
Jonathon had never encountered someone who dared to stop him.
His eyes narrowed, and he growled, "May I ask who you are?"
"Mollie's oldest brother, Josh."
A man walked into the grand banquet hall with a slow stride, a wicked smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes were deep like distant stars as he confidently met Jonathon's gaze.
Mollie's eyes involuntarily reddened when she saw her brother.
She hadn't expected that even after being separated for many years, her brother remained so close to her heart upon their reunion.
Memories of the previous life flooded back. After the incident at the last banquet where she had been cast out by Theo, Josh was the one who extended a helping hand, doing everything he could to help her.
Whenever he returned from his business trips, he would bring her various gifts and treat her like a princess.
And yet, she couldn't resist Stefanie's instigation and ended up keeping a distant relationship with her brothers.
What she regretted most was when Josh was swallowed up alive by cement when he attempted to rescue her after thinking that she was trapped in a cement factory.
"Josh." Her voice trembled slightly.
"You must have been afraid." Josh affectionately patted her head.
"Don't be, Mollie. I've arranged for someone to guard your room. No one will disturb you anymore."
"Mhm!" She clung to her brother's sleeve, seeking reassurance.
Jonathon, standing nearby, dared not speak his mind even though he was furious. After all, Josh was his brother-in-law. He wasn't someone Jonathon could afford to embarrass.
"Mr. Hudson, you should head home for now."
Mollie turned to him, her voice softening playfully.