Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 108

"Who do you think you are, trying to boss me around? You're just a lowly lawyer," Clara sneered at Paula, looking down on her like she was some kind of joke.

The manager turned to Clara and said calmly, "Ma'am, this is a restaurant, not a place for drama. Please leave."

Paula raised an eyebrow and shot Clara a challenging look.

Clara felt humiliated and snapped, "Do you even know who I am? How dare you ask me to leave? I wasn't the only one arguing. Why are you only telling me to go?"

The manager glanced at Paula and replied, "Because Ms. Ellis has the authority to decide whether you stay or go."

I looked at Paula in surprise and winked at her, silently asking, "Is this your family's restaurant?"

Clara was incredulous. "What do you mean? She's just a lawyer. This place belongs to Paula?"

The manager clarified, "To be precise, Ms. Ellis is essentially the owner. This restaurant is part of the Ellis Group."

Clara's expression changed, and she looked at Paula in disbelief.

Paula whispered in my ear, "Watch me put her in her place."

I didn't stop Paula. Since she wasn't hiding her identity, I'd like to leverage her power for once.

Paula then ordered the manager, "From now on, be more selective about who you let in. We don't want people like her dirtying our establishment. If someone like her comes in, it will ruin the dining experience for everyone else. Oh, and put up signs at the front and back doors that say, 'Clara and dogs are not allowed.'"

"Paula, Melinda, you're going too far! I'll make you pay!" Clara, humiliated and furious, lunged at us, but Brianna quickly grabbed her waist, holding her back. 

She rationally reminded Clara, "Ms. Simpson, you can't win against them. Staying here will only make things worse for us. Besides, the Ellis family does have a daughter who was rumored to have gone abroad. It seems she might be the one."

Clara paused, her expression complex as she looked at Paula with a hint of fear. But when she turned to me, her gaze was as sharp as a knife.

"Manager, get this lunatic out of here," Paula said, adding fuel to the fire without care.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

Clara's suppressed anger nearly overwhelmed her again, but Brianna seemed to know her well and whispered in her ear, "Her grandmother and Mrs. Simpson are good friends. If Paula complains to her grandmother, and Mrs. Simpson finds out, you'll be in big trouble."

Mentioning Harper made Clara's eyes flash with coldness. But she stopped her outburst and didn't struggle anymore. She pushed Brianna away, her tone impatient, "Don't follow me. You're useless and just ruin my mood." Then she stormed off in a huff.

Brianna almost stumbled but showed no anger, only concern as she tried to follow Clara. Before leaving, she paused.

"Melinda, I know you're a good person. Clara can be extreme, but she's had a tough life. She's not inherently bad. Please, don't hold this against her. If her grandmother finds out, Clara will be in serious trouble. I'm begging you and Ms. Ellis, please don't tell her family."

Brianna's sincere plea made me look at her with a complicated expression. I had a good impression of her, but her request disappointed me. Paula stood up for me, and I wasn't about to back down.

"Sorry, I can't promise that. I don't know or care about Clara's hardships because they weren't caused by me. But she has caused me serious harm, and I can't just forgive that. Besides, your plea won't change anything. Every time we've met, Clara has been the one to provoke me. I'm not someone who can be easily bullied. If she messes with me, I won't hold back."

Brianna looked at me in disbelief, as if I had betrayed her. She seemed to realize that the person she thought I was and the person I actually was were completely different.

Paula spoke up, "We just came here to have a nice meal and ended up dealing with this lunatic. We didn't do anything wrong. You don't need to apologize to us, Brianna. We're not Clara's parents. Why should we tolerate her behavior?"

I wanted to applaud Paula. She voiced exactly what I was thinking.

I looked at Brianna and said, "We're all just people. No one is more important than anyone else. Why should I forgive someone who has hurt me?"

I felt disappointed in Brianna. "I thought you were a reasonable person. I don't understand how you can be friends with someone like Clara, who treats you poorly."

Brianna's eyes were firm as she replied, "Clara has a tough exterior but a soft heart. She has helped me when others bullied me. I think she's just lost her way temporarily. She's not as bad as you think."

I shook my head, exasperated. "But she hurt me, and that's bad enough. Your perspective doesn't change that. You have no right to ask me to let it go."

Brianna looked ashamed and didn't say anything more. She left to catch up with Clara.

My good mood was ruined by the encounter with Clara. Starlight City was big, but it seemed like fate kept bringing us together.

"Are we still eating?" Paula asked, noticing my expression.

I thought for a moment. I wouldn't let someone else's actions ruin my day. "Yes, let's eat. We'll enjoy our meal even more now."