Gordon did know. After the news that Ashlyn was an older man’s mistress was spread out, he asked Lowell to investigate the matter.
Stevie’s face wasn’t clear in the photos online, so Gordon didn’t recognize him at first. Lowell told him that the man was Stevie, but still Gordon didn’t connect the dots that Ashlyn was in fact Stevie’s daughter.
Denise still wanted to defend herself, but when she saw the murderous look in Gordon’s eyes, she clamped her mouth shut.
“Mr. and Mrs. Ramos, this is Denise’s fault.” After saying that, Gordon turned and looked at Denise sternly. “Apologize to them.”
“I—” Denise protested.
“Now!” Gordon shouted.
Before Denise could protest any further, Gordon’s cold gaze shut her up. She reluctantly approached Stevie, dissatisfaction written all over her face.
Ashlyn looked at her father.
Stevie raised his hand and stopped Denise. “You don’t have to say sorry here. In fact, I doubt you even believe that you did something wrong. If it weren’t for the fact that Ashlyn was married to Gordon for three years, we wouldn’t have come here in person to ask for an explanation.”
Gordon frowned slightly. “Mr. Ramos, what do you mean?”
“I want Denise to publicly apologize and admit that she was the one who spread malicious rumors about Ashlyn. If she isn’t willing to apologize, then we’ll settle this matter in court.”
Stevie had dealt in business for decades and he was by no means a simple-minded man. Asking them to say sorry and pay some money in private had no effect on the Jones family whatsoever.
But it would be different if Denise had to apologize in public. She used to gang up with Arabella to hurt Ashlyn. Now, she had to pay the price.
Stevie had already discussed this with his wife before they came here, and they wanted Denise to apologize in public.
“By the way, you don’t have to compensate us. Yes, the reputation of the Ramos family has been damaged badly, thanks to Denise. But I was worried that you would think we are demanding an exorbitant price,” Stevie added meaningfully.
Upon hearing what Stevie said, the Jones family all looked sullen.
After being confronted by Ashlyn just now, Nathaniel had fallen silent and didn’t know what to say.
They used to push Ashlyn around, but now Nathaniel knew Ashlyn wasn’t afraid of them.
Jenifer had always been a peacemaker. In her eyes, Ashlyn’s parents were making a reasonable request, so she didn’t try to protest.
All the color drained from Denise’s face after hearing what Stevie said. “Gordon, I didn’t…”
Gordon looked at her with a long face. The ruthlessness in his eyes made Denise stop cold.
“Okay. We’ll apologize publicly,” Gordon said, looking at Ashlyn.
Ashlyn returned his gaze, but there was no expression on her face.
“Also, Denise drugged my daughter,” Stevie added coldly.
“Ashlyn also drugged my sister,” Gordon responded with a frown.
Stevie pursed his lips unhappily. “Your sister drugged my daughter first. Isn’t it only right that my daughter got even?”
“You misunderstood me. What I meant to say is that I think we’re even on this matter.”
Gordon firmly looked straight at Stevie, thinking that if the latter pursued this matter, both sides would suffer losses.
“He is right. We’re even on this matter. That’s all for today. After Denise makes her public apology, we’ll have nothing to do with each other, but…” Ashlyn’s voice trailed off and she glanced at Denise.
After a slight pause, Ashlyn continued, “If you dare to provoke me again, it will not be as easy to settle.”
Then she turned to Stevie and Vivien. “Dad, Mom, let’s go.”
Before leaving, Stevie couldn’t help but say, “Back then, in order to marry Gordon, Ashlyn cut ties with us. Fortunately, she was able to realize later that she made a huge mistake. You’re too blind to realize how good she is. As for you, Gordon, remember that you and Ashlyn are divorced. Leave my daughter alone!”
Ashlyn and Vivien were already halfway to the car when Stevie said this. Hearing him, Ashlyn’s eyes turned red.
It wasn’t just the Jones family that were blind. Ashlyn was blind, too. She was blinded by her love for Gordon.
Fortunately, she could see things straight now
Bang!
As soon as Ashlyn and her family left, Nathaniel smashed a porcelain cup on the floor.
The antique cup was shattered into pieces, and Denise subconsciously shrank back.
“What the fuck is going on? Why is Ashlyn suddenly Stevie’s daughter?”
Denise pursed her lips and whined, “Who knows? Didn’t Gordon say that she was just an ordinary girl?”
“You, shut up! I’ll deal with you later!”
Nathaniel had been a respectable man. In all his eighty years on this earth, this was the first time that he felt so humiliated. He had not a shred of dignity left.
After scolding Denise, Nathaniel glared at Gordon and demanded, “She didn’t tell you that she’s Stevie Ramos’s daughter?”
Gordon shook his head. “No.”
Then he turned to look at his sister and said, “Mr. Ramos asked you to apologize. You should think about how to apologize.”
Denise’s face turned pale.
Was she really going to apologize in public?
“Well, there’s something I have to deal with at work. Sorry I can’t have dinner with you.”
With that, Gordon turned around and left.
Nathaniel watched him go in silence. Thinking about what Stevie had said, he raised his walking stick and whacked the sofa Denise was sitting on, jolting her. “Prepare your public apology now! Or else you’ll be grounded until you fix this!”
This was the second time that Denise had seen Nathaniel get so angry. The first time was when the video and recordings of Arabella’s schemes were posted on the Internet after Ashlyn and Gordon’s divorce.
Denise thought that Nathaniel was going to hit her with his walking stick just now, so she didn’t dare to protest and dashed upstairs before she could get scolded any further.
Just then, the butler announced, “Mr. Jones, dinner is ready.”
Hearing this, Denise, who was running up the stairs, couldn’t help but pause. As if on cue, her stomach grumbled, and she looked pitifully at her mother at the foot of the stairs.
Seeing her daughter’s pleading eyes, Jenifer had no choice but to try to calm Nathaniel down. “Why don’t we have dinner first? Denise can make her apology later.”
“Dinner? Seriously? You still have an appetite after what just happened?” Nathaniel snorted and stormed upstairs in a fit of rage.
Meanwhile, Gordon had gotten into his car and was driving out of the villa. The lights changed to red. He stopped his car and loosened his tie, thinking about Nathaniel’s words.
Did Ashlyn ever tell him that she was Stevie’s daughter?
No! Never!
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.