They said, "Who hasn't been fooled by a few scumbags when they were young? As long as you realize it, it's fine."
"Now that Miss Walter and Mr. Murray are deeply in love, she's just taken a detour and finally found true love."
"You have to know how bad a scumbag is to appreciate how good true love feels. So in a way, that experience wasn't totally useless." These people ridiculed me without restraint, belittling me.
Patricia, who had once been my wife and knew I had been wronged, didn't speak a word in my defense.
Instead, she pointed at me with disdain and said, "I don't even know how he found out I was meeting Miss Alley here today. Look at him, pitifully showing up to beg for money. It's shameless, absolutely disgusting."
The people around all looked at me with contempt and said, "Sir, a person needs dignity, just like a tree needs bark. You should leave."
"This is a high-end setting for business. Acting like this just repels people, you won't get a dime."
"You have hands and feet, why not work hard? Why always look to get something for nothing?"
I said coldly, "I didn't come here for money. I just happened to run into Patricia."
Patricia sneered, "Oh, so now it's a 'chance encounter'? You really think I'll fall for your pathetic mind games? Nolan, I used to love you, but you've long drained every drop of patience I had."
She wrapped her arms around Chad and looked at me provocatively, "I've found someone new. We're getting married soon. As for you, you're not my first love, nor my apple of my eye, you're just a passerby. Seeing you here today brings back no fond memories. All I feel is disgust at your underhanded tricks."
Someone started clapping. The room full of businessmen erupted into applause, admiration all over their faces.
"Miss Walter is awesome."
"Miss Walter defending her man, so fierce!"
The greasy, bootlicking scene made my stomach churn. I couldn't be bothered to argue with these pathetic people. I turned to leave.
But Chad suddenly stepped in front of me, "Nolan, you're just going to walk away like that? Don't you think you owe me an apology?"
I looked at Chad, confused, "What are you talking about?"
Chad pointed to his leather shoes, "These are custom-made, thirty grand. You stepped on them just now. The leather is scuffed."
Everyone turned to look at me.
One of the rich businessmen said, "How can this man be so poorly mannered? Not just rude, but full of spite too."
Patricia glared at me, "Nolan, you're really becoming more and more vile."
I said, speechless, "I didn't step on him."
Chad gave a cold laugh, "So you're saying I'm lying? My fiancée is the CEO of a publicly listed company. Do you know what kind of status I have? What kind of position? You think I'd waste time making this up?"
After hearing that, Patricia looked at me even more coldly. She yelled at me, "Nolan, did you step on him or not? Stop lying and embarrassing me."
I spat, "Are you crazy? What does any of this have to do with you? How is it ‘embarrassing you'? Patricia, don't flatter yourself. I stopped loving you a long time ago and I didn't come here for you today."
Patricia's face darkened, "Fine. You don't know what's good for you, huh? Then I won't help you either. Pay up in full, or we call the police."
Everyone around them shouted in support of Patricia, "Yeah, call the cops! Teach him a lesson!"
