Chapter 110: Cali, Getting a Shot Doesn’t Hurt. Don’t Be Scared.
Margaret was so furious.
Her trembling finger pointed at Gemma.
“How dare you insult me!”
“Max, teach her a lesson!”
“Teach that bitch a lesson!”
Marcus’s face darkened.
In front of everyone, he’d already lowered himself and given Gemma plenty of grace.
Why couldn’t she think of him for once?
Why couldn’t she willingly return to his side?
Why make things escalate like this?
Didn’t she know his mother’s temper?
What good would come from provoking her?
In the end, wouldn’t she be the one to suffer?
Marcus didn’t want Gemma to kneel and apologize again, nor did he want to upset the recently recovered Margaret.
His heart was tangled with frustration and helplessness.
“Gemma, just be good and come home with me. I’ll handle the rest.”
He decided to go against his mother’s wishes.
He wanted to stand by Gemma.
No matter how angry his mother got afterward, he’d take the blame for Gemma.
Before Gemma could respond, Margaret couldn’t take it anymore.
This was her son-
The one who had obeyed her since childhood.
Even after he had a child with Gemma, he still listened to her every word.
No matter how she disciplined Gemma, Marcus had never protested.
But today, he was defying her!
She hissed through clenched teeth.
“Max, have you been bewitched by her? How dare you take her side!”
“I’m warning you, if you leave with her today, don’t bother calling me your mother!”
Mabel almost burst into laughter.
She thought Gemma might become a threat again.
But who knew Gemma would dig her own grave?
She had completely offended Margaret!
Everyone knew Marcus appeared strong and decisive, but he was a mama’s boy deep down.
To marry into the Wilson family, you had to win Margaret’s favor.
However….
Mabel glanced at Marcus.
He seemed hesitant.
After thinking for a moment, she spoke softly.
“Margaret, Max didn’t mean to disobey you. Maybe he just said the wrong thing in the heat of the moment. You’ve always been the most important person to him.”
Sure enough.
Margaret’s expression softened slightly at Mabel’s words.
“Max, are you leaving or not? Or do you want to give someone time to regret?”
Marcus sighed. “Mom, you and Mabel go to the private room first. I’ll join you shortly.”
Margaret’s authority was being challenged again.
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Chapter 110: Cali, Getting a Shot Doesn’t Hurt. Don’t Be Scared.
Her voice grew colder and sharper.
“Max, do I need to repeat myself?”
Marcus frowned deeply, visibly torn.
Margaret clenched her fists.
“I’ll count to three.”
Marcus’s brow furrowed even tighter.
His fists clenched unconsciously.
“Mom…”
“One!”
Margaret’s tone was icy, each syllable like a blade scraping skin.
“Two!”
The air felt thick with tension, an oppressive weight filling the room.
Everyone, not just Marcus, felt like they were reliving childhood nightmares.
The silence was suffocating.
Margaret hadn’t used this tactic in a long time, but she was confident it would work.
Yet, by the time she reached “two,” Marcus still hadn’t moved.
Grinding her teeth, she spat out the final number.
“Three!”
And with that, Marcus’s mental defenses crumbled entirely.
“Fine, let’s go!”
Without sparing Gemma another glance, he grabbed Margaret’s arm and stormed out.
Mabel quickly followed.
The once–tense private room became eerily empty in moments.
Brian snapped out of it, muttering, “I don’t know why, but in that moment, I felt so grateful you’re already divorced.”
Gemma smiled bitterly.
She couldn’t agree more.
The nightmare of being tormented by Margaret was finally over.
She could finally live a normal life.
“Brian, I’m sorry this dinner turned into such a mess. I’ll treat you another time to make it up to you.”
It was her drama with Marcus that ruined the mood for everyone.
She felt responsible.
Brian looked frustrated.
He’d planned this evening carefully, even bringing roses to confess to Gemma properly.
But thanks to Marcus’s interference, the atmosphere was ruined, and now wasn’t the time for such things.
“This isn’t your fault. Don’t feel guilty,” he said gently after a pause.
He finally offered.
“Let me drive you home.”
“No need, I can-”
“Actually, I wanted to discuss some ideas for my paper with you.”
Gemma couldn’t refuse a conversation about academics and nodded reluctantly.
As Brian had said, the ride back was filled with lively discussion about their papers. There wasn’t a single awkward moment.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at her apartment complex.
“Brian, I’ll think more about the questions you raised and debate them with you tomorrow.”
Brian smiled.
Under the streetlamp…
His eyes sparkled with affection.
“Deal. I’ll be waiting for you to dismantle my arguments.”
“It’s a promise,” Gemma replied with a smile, waving him goodbye.
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Setting
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Chapter 110: Cali, Getting a Shot Doesn’t Hurt. Don’t Be Scared.
Gemma’s rented apartment was across from Cali’s, so she didn’t go home immediately. She knocked on Cali’s door instead.
To her surprise, Noah answered.
“Gemma, you’re back!”
He hopped up and down excitedly, spinning in circles.
Gemma checked the time–it was just 8:00 PM. Didn’t they agree on 8:30?
Why was he here so early?
Peering inside, she spotted Cassius sitting on the couch, casually flipping through a design magazine.
Before she could ask why, Cali, surrounded by several doctors, was in full panic mode.
“Oh my gosh, you’re finally back! Please tell Mr. Cassius I’m fine!”
It was only then Gemma noticed the four or five doctors hovering around her friend, discussing treatment plans.
Cali’s ankle was wrapped in multiple ice packs that had clearly been there for a while.
Noah dashed to Cali’s side on his short legs.
“Cali, getting a shot doesn’t hurt. Don’t be scared.”
Cali, “…”
Cassius explained briefly, “She just had a painkiller injection.”
That seemed unnecessary.
“Cass…Mr. Cassius, did the doctors figure out what’s wrong?” she asked, using the formal title like everyone else.
Cassius replied calmly, “She just needs to rest.”
Gemma walked over and, under Cali’s pleading gaze, removed the ice packs. “These can go now. No need to overdo it.”
For some reason, Cassius’s cold demeanor softened at her words.
The room’s tension dissipated in an instant, replaced by a surprising warmth.
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Setting
This chapter is unlocked. Enjoy
