Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Why Should | Apologize?

At that moment, Anastasia was busy toasting with the other men who were approaching shortly before she bumped into Hayley the moment she turned around.

“Let's have a toast, Anastasia. I’d like to apologize for what | did to you in the office back then.” Hayley apologized, but in response, Anastasia chuckled coldly, knowing clearly that Hayley was putting on a show under the guise of her hypocrisy.

Therefore, she decided to ignore her and walk away, but Hayley suddenly seized her hand, which was holding the glass of red wine, and poured it all over her own dress before Anastasia could react.

“Ah!” Hayley screamed in horror.

As Elliot quickly came closer to investigate the commotion, Hayley took two steps back and fell into his embrace. “How could you do this to me, Anastasia?” she questioned Anastasia and blamed her for ruining her banquet dress with the red wine.

On the other hand, Anastasia was left standing in a trance while watching Hayley feign innocence. This b*tch really deserves an Oscar award for her acting.

“Anastasia, | know it’s my fault that | wanted to complain about you, but you can’t do this to me either...” Hayley tearfully and bitterly said, trying to make herself look as pitiful as possible. At the same time, every other socialite from the upper-class society in the banquet instantly looked at Hayley with sympathy before they gave Anastasia a contemptuous look for her despicable actions.

“Apologize, Miss Tillman.” Elliot’s voice was cold, and his glacial look suggested that he was exasperated.

Anastasia gawked at Elliot unhappily, thinking he was jumping to conclusions without understanding what the situation was. After all, it was Hayley who caught her hand and made her pour the red wine on her dress. Therefore, Anastasia found it unacceptable for her to apologize when she didn’t do anything wrong. “Why should | apologize?” She jutted her chin stubbornly, looking at the man with her firm gaze.

“It's alright, Elliot. I’m fine. | can just get changed.” Hayley shook her head, seemingly trying to endure her bitterness while pretending to take the moral high ground. “I'll forgive her.”

Anastasia clenched her fists. “l don’t need your forgiveness.”

“Anastasia, apologize to her at once!” Elliot spoke angrily, his eyes filled with coldness as his forehead was covered in veins.

Anastasia gazed at Elliot with her beautiful eyes and chuckled coldly. “I could apologize, but only if she is willing to hear it on her knees.”

On the other hand, Hayley felt especially gleeful on the inside that her plan had successfully worked, thanks to her understanding of Anastasia’s character ever since they were in primary school. Knowing that Anastasia was headstrong and unyielding, Hayley was trying to piss her off in front of Elliot, in order to make her look like someone who was unreasonable.

“You...” Elliot's eyes were filled with rage when they fell upon Anastasia.

“Please don’t blame her, Elliot. It was my fault. | was just too clumsy, so don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Please don’t come down hard on Anastasia.” Hayley bit her lip, seizing Elliot's sleeve while acting like she was swallowing her grievance.

Upon hearing what Hayley said, Anastasia felt a strong urge to raise her hand to the former. Soon, the female manager came closer and said, “Miss Seymour, we have prepared a new dress for you. Please come with me.” Hayley nodded and followed behind the manager.

Meanwhile, Anastasia was able to sense the unpleasant attention around her but decided to bite her lip and put up with it. After all, she still hadn’t gotten to see her favorite jewelry and had no plans to leave the place yet.

“Come with me.” The next second, Anastasia felt her wrist clamped by Elliot’s firm grip, whereupon she was forcefully taken to a private lounge.

“Let me go, Elliot.” Anastasia wanted to free herself but was no match for the man’s superior physical strength.

As soon as they entered the lounge room, Elliot immediately let go of Anastasia, who folded her arms and glared at him.

“What're you doing?!”

Nonetheless, Anastasia only glared at the man angrily, standing her ground firmly without showing any signs of backing down.

“What're you going to do if | don’t apologize?” Thinking Hayley was Elliot's girlfriend, Anastasia believed he would do everything he must to protect her. Thus, she reckoned it was pointless for her to explain herself.

“Anastasia, | know your mom passed away when you were young, but can’t you just behave yourself and treat people nicely?

Why must you always be so mean and unreasonable?” Elliot was somehow annoyed, wondering why Anastasia couldn’t just stay away from trouble.