The Return Of the Invincible Heiress
Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Andrew was clearly uneasy seeing Alexander standing up for Avery like that and couldn’t help but ask, "So, Mr. Moran, are you saying you’re the only one worthy of Avery? What exactly is your relationship with her?"

The crowd fell silent, thinking,

’The newly acknowledged young master of the Murphy family is gutsy! He actually dares to openly question Mr. Moran! Great, with someone like him around, we don’t have to risk stepping up ourselves to hear Mr. Moran’s response.’

Alexander remained calm as he replied, "There’s no connection between me and you, and likewise, there’s no connection between Miss Carter and you. So whatever my relationship with Miss Carter is, it’s none of your concern."

Andrew’s face flushed with embarrassment. "But... but my family has done a lot for Avery..."

"Mr. Murphy, don’t overstate your family’s contributions," Alexander cut him off coldly. "Whether the Murphy family has done much for Miss Carter, I can’t say. But you’ve been living abroad all these years and only returned to the Murphy family a few days ago. It’s clear you’ve done nothing for her." He then turned to Avery and asked, "Miss Carter, isn’t that right?"

"You’re absolutely right." Avery nodded firmly. "He hasn’t done anything for me, so he has no place to say anything about me."

Andrew was left speechless. He glanced over at his parents, hoping they’d back him up. Isaac and Regina looked furious and unwilling to swallow their pride, but they stayed silent, clearly not wanting to cross Alexander. Frustrated, Andrew grabbed a glass of red wine and angrily downed it in one go.

The crowd quietly exchanged glances, astonished, thinking, Isn’t Mr. Moran supposed to be the cold, unapproachable type? Why is he so sharp-tongued tonight? Is it all for Avery? Good thing we haven’t had a chance to target her!

The more Alexander defended Avery, the more unsettled Lucas became, thinking, How could the woman I discarded end up with a man who’s even better than me? Forcing a smile, he said in a falsely earnest tone, "Mr. Moran, you don’t really know Avery, but I’ve known her for three years..."

"As a man, you should at least have basic manners and decency," Alexander cut in icily. "Dragging your ex-fiancée’s name through the mud in public is something no decent man would do."

Lucas’s face turned bright red. "I-I’m just telling the truth..."

Before he could finish, Jodie blinked her teary eyes and chimed in with a soft, sweet voice, "Mr. Moran, my brother isn’t slandering Avery. He’s just stating the facts. I was in the same school and grade as Avery. Even though she had good grades, she often skipped classes and rarely participated in extracurriculars. Everyone at school said she was mingling with shady crowds and constantly hanging out at nightclubs."

Her voice was delicate and innocent, like a child speaking her mind without guile, completely unaware of the malice her words carried. She continued, "Just a few days ago, she was seen cozying up to that notorious playboy Harry, all lovey-dovey. My brother couldn’t tolerate it anymore, so he broke up with her..."

"So you’re Miss Moran," Alexander interrupted coldly. "I’ve heard the Harper family is the most prestigious in Rosemont City. I expected better upbringing. But it turns out your family’s tradition is gossiping, spreading baseless rumors, and destroying people’s reputations."

His icy gaze swept over the Harper family’s table, laced with sarcasm. "The Harper family and the Murphy family truly are a perfect match. It’s no wonder you’re in-laws; you share the same disgraceful habits."

The Murphy family’s faces turned crimson with shame. Gia felt especially humiliated, unable to even lift her head.

The crowd couldn’t help but cringe for Jodie, thinking, Why would a young girl who knows nothing about adult matters jump into this mess? And what kind of family teaches her to speak so carelessly, completely unaware of the situation? They thought, Jodie’s reaction is a textbook case of that saying: if she doesn’t feel embarrassed, then the awkwardness belongs to everyone else.

Completely oblivious to how others were looking at her, she blinked her tearful eyes and pouted in a soft, pitiful voice, "Mr. Moran, why are you saying that about me? I’m just worried you’re being fooled by Avery, so I was kindly trying to warn you..."

At this point, even Lucas wanted to cover his face and pretend he didn’t know Jodie, unable to stand her clueless act.

"Shut up!" Avery couldn’t hold back any longer. She unlocked her phone and pulled up a recording. "Lucas, Jodie, since you’re so determined to throw dirt on me, I think it’s time I set the record straight."

She hit play, and Lucas’s voice came through clearly, backed by the unmistakable sound of a bar’s ambient noise.

"This is the breakup agreement..."

"This is the property transfer contract..."

"And the brand-new Maserati is parked downstairs..."

The crowd buzzed with murmurs, and the looks they shot at Lucas were full of disdain.

"He was trying to play both sides? Keeping his ex-fiancée as a mistress while showing off his new relationship? How shameless can you get?"

"The Harper family’s values are seriously messed up—backstabbing, greedy, and without a shred of integrity."

Some took a different angle. "Seriously? A single apartment and a sports car to keep someone for five years? That’s so cheap. Is the Harper family going bankrupt? Can’t even afford to properly fund a mistress?"

The Carter family’s eyes burned with fury as they glared at Lucas. If it weren’t for Avery signaling them to stay calm, Wesley and Arthur would have probably jumped up and given Lucas a thorough beating.

When the recording reached the part about the car, Avery quickly fast-forwarded through the section where Lucas sneered at her family’s financial status and skipped to the next damning portion. This part was even more scandalous.

"Avery, I genuinely care about you. If you’re willing, I’ll take care of you for life. If you want a child, I’ll accept it, but it can’t be recognized by the Harper family."

And then came the string of insults and threats he hurled after Avery rejected him.

The crowd erupted.

"Oh my god, he really said that? Avery has nerves of steel. If it were me, I would’ve slapped him right then and there."

"Imagine not even being married yet and already planning to keep a side piece and have an illegitimate child..."

"No wonder Avery thanked Gia for taking out the trash. No amount of money or good looks is worth dealing with a guy like that."

Everyone’s eyes shifted to Gia, some with mocking expressions, others with sympathy, but mostly with a sense of satisfaction at her misfortune. Gia kept her head low, her hands clenched into fists under the table as she fought the urge to storm out.

She thought, Lucas is such a scumbag! And the worst part is, he had the nerve to claim he genuinely loved Avery and wanted to take care of her for life—how humiliating! He’s dragging my dignity through the mud in front of everyone. There’s no way I can stay with him now. If I do, people will use this to ridicule me forever.

Arthur glared at Lucas and said coldly, "People like you, all decked out in designer clothes, acting all high and mighty, but you’re rotten to the core—absolutely disgusting!"

Wesley took a deep breath and shouted, "You’re the perfect example of all that glitters is not gold—pure garbage!"

Meanwhile, the reporters were in a frenzy. They couldn’t snap photos or record videos fast enough. Coming here tonight turned out to be a goldmine. Scandal after scandal was unfolding right before their eyes—they could barely keep up. In one night, they’d hit their monthly quota and then some.

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