novelxo Chapter 16 Crisis
As expected, as Antonio and Adelaide took their first step into the banquet hall, they got onlookers from all directions.
"Wow, beautiful."
"Oh my goodness, she's gorgeous!"
"No way, even the man beside her is so good-looking!"
"You don't know that? They are the Barons!"
The lively banquet became unusually quiet because of their arrival, several celebrities giving them a way out timely, and whispers were occasionally heard when they walked through the crowd.
Antonio felt comfortable about it. He felt more proud and satisfied with the praise for Adelaide than for himself.
However, just when he was feeling good he saw two men smoking cigar behind were staring at Adelaide with their lewd eyes.
He controlled himself not to bite them, but he gave them a murderous look. He gritted his teeth and took off his coat, putting it on Adelaide, "You must feel cold. Put it on."
When Adelaide was about to reject, she saw there seemed to be fire in his eyes, and then she swallowed and said, "Thank you, my darling!"
He felt pleased that she can listen to him in proper occasions. A secret smile flashed across his face. He finally relieved when finding the two men were out of sight.
"Good evening, Mr Antonio. My boss heard a lot about you but he has been suffering from a lack of opportunity to meet you. This time, he would like to talk to you."
Subconsciously, he didn't want to step away from Adelaide, because he knew few of these so called celebrities were gentlemen. He can't bear it when thinking that these men would stare at Adelaide in an obscene way.
Adelaide at this moment was holding his arm, acting as if they were deeply in love, and she also wanted to take this opportunity to ease the tension between them, "You could go, Antonio. I'll wait here for you." After telling her to take care of herself, he left unwillingly.
Adelaide looked more dazzling under the gorgeous light in the lobby. However, Clarissa was standing in a corner, glaring at her maliciously, as if going to kill her with eyes.
And the man standing beside Clarissa was surprisingly Channing Darnell!
They whispered a while, and then Channing walked towards Adelaide but he returned back, seemingly unsure of something, and said, "Clarissa, only for once, and after this you go your way and I'll go mine. Never pester me again, you hear that?!"
Clarissa smiled obsequiously and patted his chest, saying, "You can trust me, Channing." He clapped her hand away in disgust. But Clarissa didn't mind at all. She smiled again and took out some papers in a bag, waving in her hand, "Channing, I sincerely mean it. You see, I have brought the thing you want."
"You'd better."
Then he walked towards Adelaide after saying this.
Adelaide worried that Antonio can't find her if she moved around, but when stood alone under the brilliant light, those single men kept staying around her.
Even though she had made it clear that she was married, there were still a plenty of shameless men inviting her to a drink. Helplessly, she had to hide herself in a corner, but her sight didn't move away from the place where she had stayed before in case Antonio would come back to find her.
Meanwhile, Channing found her in the corner, and he made himself prepared.
Three!
Two!
One!
"Adelaide! Adelaide!"
He cried out her name in a loud voice that resounded through the hall, successfully drawing everyone's attention in the hall.
Channing's cries waked her up from her concentrative waiting for Antonio. She shuddered at the sound and thought it was Channing again?
She turned around, finding Channing standing near her and people around her gathering over. She blushed instantly.
"Adelaide, I'm your Channing!" he cried with tears welling up in his eyes. People around all sympathized with him.
He stepped nearer to Adelaide, but Adelaide stepped back against the wall hurriedly with fear, furrowing, "Channing, what do you want?"
Channing suddenly hugged her and she was scared to scream out.
Then he loosened her and looked at her pitifully, "Adelaide, I came back!"
"I know. We met last time. What do you want from me?" Adelaide tried to calm herself down. His purpose was to humiliate her and Antonio, so she must calm down. She can't let that scumbag make it. Channing immediately changed his face and suddenly knelt on his knees, with tears streaming down his face, "Adelaide, I've got money. I've really got money. Don't abandon me!"
His words instantly initiated discussions among people around.
"I can't believe that I thought she was a good woman just now."
"Yes, you're right. I'm surprised she dumped her boyfriend for being Mrs Baron."
"Hear, hear. How shameless she is. Master Antonio must be blind to marry her."
They soon made up a triangle story about Adelaide, Channing and Antonio with their simple brain.
Seeing his words worked, Channing wiped his tears and acted again, "I can't allow you say anything bad about her. It's my fault. I was so useless before, which gave Antonio chances. But now I've got money. can take her and our child back."
"Their child?"
"She got pregnant?"
"Heavens, but Master Antonio announced nothing about that!"
The crowd was in a uproar at the big news.
They totally ignored the moral principle that people had no duty to report their family affairs to others, all pointing fingers at Adelaide in disgust.
"No, no. it's not true."
Her explanation was so weak and that was all her explanation.
But looking at Channing, as if an Oscar actor, he held Adelaide's leg and cried, "Adelaide, don't abandon me. You're having our baby. How can I watch my beloved run into the arm of others?" "Channing, I'm having Antonio's child. You are talking nonsense." she didn't expect that Channing would play the game again, "Channing, have you forgotten how you behaved in front of Antonio last time?" "No. I admit I was coward last time because I had nothing. But now I'm rich. Can you let me take care of you and child?"
And she finally understood that Channing was determined to humiliate her, and her anxiety and helplessness were nothing to others.
She was looking for that familiar figure in the crowd and she also didn't know how to explain when she saw Antonio. But now the discussions among people and Channing's libelous words made her feel she was going to break down. She could hardly face it alone, and she extremely wished Antonio could take her away.
"Adelaide, I won't allow him take away a thing from me. I love you and our baby!" his remarks were more and more horrible.
"No, nonsense."
She could do nothing but give her weak explanation and wait for Antonio's coming.00000