Chapter 696

Zion smirked, but his eyes remained cold and detached. As the tension between Sergio and Zion escalated, Clara pulled at Sergio's sleeve with an aggrieved expression. "Sergio, please, let it go. I misspoke. I'll just apologize to Ms. Scott." "You're my fiancée, Clara. You don't need to bow to anyone. If Mr. Spencer has an issue, we'll settle it in the business world tomorrow." Sergio tried to lead Clara away, but a group of men suddenly surrounded them. The Spencer family's influence in Seathburn was formidable, and these men were clearly their personal guards—seasoned fighters, fiercely loyal, and trained by the family's veterans. Zion casually pulled a lollipop from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. He had promised Maeve he'd quit smoking, but he was still getting used to the change. When the urge to lash out hit him, the sweetness of a lollipop helped take the edge off. Sergio's voice turned cold. "This is the police station, Zion. Aren't you afraid?" "Afraid? Of course, I am. I'm a law-abiding citizen." Zion waved casually at Zayla. "Go ahead and close the police station doors. We wouldn't want to disturb the officers inside." "Yes, Mr. Spencer." Maeve observed the scene unfold and was unable to hide her smirk. Zion's audacity was both amusing and infuriating. Zion raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Now, whether there's an apology depends entirely on how obedient your woman chooses to be." As the tension mounted, Clara tightened her grip on Sergio's arm. To have her bow to Maeve? That was simply out of the question! Just then, a familiar voice broke through the standoff. "Hailey, isn't that your future granddaughter-in-law? What's going on here?" Maeve turned to see Hailey approaching, flanked by three well-dressed women in their 50s—probably her friends. They had gathered at a nearby upscale tea house, a popular meeting spot for the elite ladies of Seathburn. Hailey looked surprised to see Clara and Sergio. One of her companions pointed at Maeve as her eyes widened in disbelief. "Mrs. Brooks Senior, isn't that the granddaughter-in-law you had before?" Hailey's face instantly went pale. She stumbled back after realizing it was Maeve. "You... How are you still alive?!" She had ordered Emily to take care of Maeve! How could Maeve still be standing there, completely unharmed? Maeve noticed Hailey's fear and the raw panic in her eyes. She couldn't help but suspect that Emily's attempt on her life had been backed by Hailey's orders. "I heard in the news that Ms. Scott and Mr. Spencer are getting engaged. I didn't believe it until now," one of the socialites commented. Older women in their circles rarely kept up with such news, but they always caught wind of the big events eventually. Hailey had spent the day out and hadn't heard about Maeve and Zion's engagement. Hailey's composure crumbled, and her face had turned ashen. To confirm her suspicions, Maeve stepped closer and extended her hand. "Mrs. Brooks Senior, it's been a while." But as soon as Maeve reached out, Hailey recoiled as if she had seen a ghost. Her voice quivered with panic. "Y-You—! Don't come any closer to me!"