The Clutches Of Hell Novel

Chapter 123

The waiters immediately agreed with Bella’s suggestion before both of them meticulously wiped the table and chairs clean for Scarlett, who was said to be prioritizing hygiene.

Moving around in her wheelchair, Bella came over to Victoria’s table and curled her lips. “Christian, do you mind if we add another table here?”

He didn’t respond and only cast a glance at Matthew.

“Forgive me, Miss Spritz.” Matthew pushed his glasses up as he shot her a smile and explained, “Today’s dinner is my treat, but I don’t feel like eating with strangers.”

Bella didn’t get mad at his answer and instead, she spoke with a soft tone. “I apologize for my rudeness. If you don’t feel like eating with strangers, I shouldn’t impose the idea on you. However, since I have the occasion to meet you, may I have the pleasure to make Mr. Buckley’s acquaintance?”

“Matthew Buckley.” Matthew stretched a hand out to her, the implication in his words obvious. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss Spritz.”

She chuckled as she held his hand. “The name’s Bella Spritz. Your name precedes you, Mr. Buckley. It’s too bad we’re only meeting each other until today.”

Watching the holding of hands with an intense gaze, Janice allowed her expression to fall and she harrumphed before she lowered her gaze and forcefully flipped the pages of the menu.

Meanwhile, Lucas was sitting at another table and his gaze fixed on Victoria.

Pretending not to notice him, she waited in anticipation for the waiter to serve her the order of twelve creamy garlic scallops. Then, she stood and “thoughtfully” distributed two scallops on each plate before

Christian, Matthew, and Janice.

Victoria took a bite before turning to Christian and said, “The scallop tastes good, especially the garlic paste on it, which makes it taste even better. Mr. Thatcher, are you not trying it?”

Janice swallowed hard at the comment. After that, she took one of the scallops in front of her and tasted it. She nodded vigorously in agreement as the taste burst on her taste bud, and her eyes shone with excitement.

Christian threw a glance at the scallop before he grabbed one and took a bite. His expression remained neutral the whole time. “It’s not bad.”

He finished the first one on his plate both elegantly and quickly. Soon, he took another one to eat with a natural look.

As Victoria looked at him eating with ease, something flashed through her eyes and she found her portion unappetizing.

Lucas was watching her all the time. When he saw her eagerly courting Christian, he pressed his thin lips into a line while his amber eyes seemed darker as they burned with anger.

“You’ll never have her to yourself.” Scarlett was displeased to see him in such a condition. “You’ve been pursuing her for so long in the past, but she never fell for you. Are you dreaming she’ll reciprocate your feelings all of a sudden?”

Her voice wasn’t loud nor low, but enough for the people at the table next to them to hear.

Victoria was pretending not to hear that as she finished the scallops. Christian’s eyes darkened in thought as he darted a glance at Lucas without the latter noticing him, his motion slowing down.

Scarlett hit a nerve, and Lucas drew his gaze back with a livid look.

“Scarlett, do you agree with these dishes?” Bella turned to Scarlett and asked softly, “Do you want to add anything?”

Scarlett didn’t get off with the opportunity even when Bella tried to ease the atmosphere. A half smile was hanging on her face as she remarked, “No need for that. I’m tired of his nonsense. I don’t have the appetite.”

“Wow! Victoria, the baked honey chicken wings are super delicious! You should try them.” Janice took a bite of the chicken wing, and her eyes were sparkling in amusement. She handed over one of them to Victoria, as if showing her greatest treasure.

Victoria did as told. The chicken wing was indeed sweet but not overly sweet, and the meat was tender, indicating it was nicely baked. “You’re right. It’s very good.”

Christian noticed her glistened lips due to the oil from the chicken wing and swallowed hard before he served himself one.

“How does she summon the authority to show up in public after she failed to seduce a man and ended up being thrown out of the room? Does she have no shame?” Scarlett was furious and lost her appetite, but she was even more furious seeing Victoria enjoying the food. Besides, the fiancé she was engaged to recently was also thinking about Victoria, and it upset her.

Victoria’s expression sank at the remark. Clenching her fists, she put the food down and tried her best to contain her anger without retorting.

“Shut up. Now isn’t the time for this.” Lucas frowned as he scolded Scarlett.

She sneered before she mocked him, “Are you mad because I talk bad about your crush? You should already give up on your dream. Don’t you know she will choose a man who broke her leg and threw her out when she had no clothes on over you?”

He used some force and squashed the menu. He hung his head low without a word, but he was clenching his fists tightly while the prominent arteries on his neck were pulsing, making him look enraged.

Scarlett’s comments of “broke her leg” and “threw her out when she had no clothes” were repeating themselves in Victoria’s mind uncontrollably. She pursed her lips as she felt her body shake.

“Victoria, what’s wrong?” Janice stared at her in confusion.

Victoria didn’t deign to answer the question as she quickly rose to her feet as she held onto a plate. Her expression was more gloomy than ever.

She couldn’t care less if she offended a member of the Palmer Family as her situation wouldn’t be worse. After all, she wasn’t even afraid of death.

She couldn’t care less if she offended a member of the Palmer Family as her situation wouldn’t be worse. After all, she wasn’t even afraid of death.

Before Victoria could flip the plate over Scarlett’s head, Christian stood and pressed a hand on her shoulder to force her to fall back on her seat. “Is this how the Palmer Family educated you? To speak ill about someone in public?”

Scarlett wasn’t expecting Christian to stand up for Victoria. She furrowed her brows as her expression changed. “I spoke hastily, so I didn’t mind my language. Please forgive me if I offended you, Mr. Thatcher.”

“What if I don’t want to forgive you?” He chuckled, but there wasn’t a hint of amusement in his eyes.novelxo.com fast update

She was taken aback by his reaction before her expression sank deeper. Usually, a person would save another’s face in public, as most of them were meeting regularly.

Lucas frowned and stood next to Scarlett, barely containing the boiling anger in his eyes. “Mr. Thatcher, you’re a grown man. You don’t have to make the situation more difficult for a woman.”

“Well, I apologize for not being macho like Mr. Spritz.” Christian watched the pair before him, his gaze was unreadable. “Men and women are the same in my standard. I treat them equally.”

Janice poked Victoria in secret to gain her attention and whispered, “Is the Ice Man standing up for you? He looks more handsome and less insufferable right now. ”

Victoria didn’t want to answer her. She perked her head up and watched him for a moment before she put the plate aside and continued to enjoy the chicken wing.

Bella sighed in resignation before she chimed in as she directed the conversation at Scarlett. “Scarlett, Christian only broke Victoria’s leg because she broke mine in an accident first.”

She cast a sympathetic look at Victoria as her story went on. “Even when he threw Victoria out when she wasn’t wearing anything, it was because Vincent drugged him and she tried to seduce him. He had to do that as he wasn’t given a choice. Your statement was putting him in the position of victimizer instead of the victim he is supposed to be. How could he not be angry with you?”

Lucas fell back to his seat, and his expression kept changing. Various feelings such as furious, impulsiveness, distress, and guilt were building inside his heart. None of them were willing to back off as if the feelings were trying to burst his chest open in the end.

As their two tables had the most people and all of them looked like they came from wealthy families, the assistant manager had assigned a few waiters to attend to their needs at any time.This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

As the waiters heard Bella’s side of the story, their eyes all darted to Victoria and they did not hide their detest.