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I looked at Rossa with a faint smile.
“Miss Rossa, it’s time for you to bark like a dog.”
Rossa s face went pale, her shock palpable. Beside her, William clenched hist fists and glared at me furiously.
“That’s enough! Rossa was just joking. How can you take it seriously? Do you really expect her to bark in front of everyone?!”
I raised an eyebrow and glanced around the room.
“She said it herself–she‘ d bark if it was real. It wasn‘ t my idea. What’s the matter? Is the esteemed secretary of Walter Group going to treat her own promise as a joke?”
Tonight’s event wasn‘ t just a family affair. Among those gathered to celebrate.
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my mother–in–law‘ s birthday were Walter Group executives, business partners and influential figures from the political and business circles of Glasgow.
What’s more, Rossa was the one who provoked me out of jealousy. Given the circumstances–both as the Walter
Family s rightful matriarch and in my role as the face of Walter Family–I had every reason to assert my authority.
As soon as I spoke, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Fingers pointed toward Rossa as people exchanged opinions, none of them flattering.
“Well, that’s what you get! If you don‘ t know your stuff, why dabble in antiques? Does she even know her own limits?”
“She’s just a secretary who climbed into William’s bed on her looks. How could she possibly go up against Dana?”
“Miss Rossa, you said you‘ d bark like a dog yourself. Come on, we‘ re all
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waiting!”
The crowd‘ s jeering left Rossa on the verge of tears. She bit her lip and turned to William, silently pleading for him to save her.
However, I was still the Walter Family‘ s legitimate daughter–in–law in the eyes of everyone here and William couldn’t afford to appear too protective of his mistress. He reluctantly turned to my mother–in–law for help, hoping she‘ d intervene and smooth things over.
But my mother–in–law wasn’t about to play along. She calmly sipped her tea, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing.
Knowing her, she had likely already figured out the improper relationship between Rossa and William. As a woman who
despised mistresses and prided herself on her strength, there was no way she’d take Rossa seriously. Not tearing her apart on the spot was already giving William enough face.
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Just then, my younger brother Albert Ross, a talented pianist and notorious instigator, raised an eyebrow and set his slender fingers on the piano keys in the living
room.
“Come on, bark already. I’ll even
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accompany you on the piano–for free! Do
you prefer a sentimental tune or something lively?”
Albert Ross’s comment reignited the crowd. Over a hundred guests joined in, chanting in unison:
“Bark! Bark! Bark!”
Backed into a corner, Rossa had no choice. She cast me a venomous glare before. dropping to her knees in front of me.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
“Nice! That’s the sentimental style. How about switching it up? Let’s hear another version!”
That mischievous Albert Ross deliberately
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struck a cheerful melody on the piano, fanning the flames. Furious, Rossa barked again, this time more frantic and incoherent, as if she were ready to bite
someone.
“Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!
Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!”
Albert Ross‘ s fingers flew over the keys, matching her pace with a playful, bouncy tune. The absurdity of the scene sent the entire room into peals of laughter. Even my mother–in–law couldn’t hold back,
covering her mouth as she chuckled.
“Hahaha! You‘ re all too much! Look, you‘ ve riled up the poor little puppy. Keep it up and she might just start biting!”
“Enough! That‘ s enough already!”
The crowd’s laughter and jeers continued until William couldn’t stand it anymore. He rushed to Rossa‘ s side, helping her off the floor and offering her comfort.
“Honestly, William,” my mother–in–law
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finally spoke, setting her teacup down with a sharp clink, her expression icy, “you‘ re the head of the Walter Family and CEO of Walter Group. Why are you so concerned about a secretary? Do you have any regard for Dana at all?”
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