Chapter 338: Fraser’s Protection Against His Wife

The banquet hall was thick with tension as Merry stood her ground, her voice shaking with anger. “Hitting someone is wrong? Then what about Morgan kicking me? Why didn’t anyone say anything about that?” She glared at the crowd of socialites. “You all think you’re so high and mighty, judging Summer when none of you are any better!”

Emelia’s lips curled in disdain as she looked down at Merry. “Who is this lowly servant speaking out of turn?” She turned to the butler. “Remove her immediately.”

Summer stepped forward, her voice icy. “You dare?”

Emilia maintained her saccharine smile. “Ms. Stewart, you’ve already disrespected our family by striking my daughter at my father-in-law’s birthday banquet. Now you’re interfering with how we discipline our staff? You’ve clearly overstepped your bounds.”

Just as the butler moved toward Merry, a cold, commanding voice cut through the tension like a knife. “My wife can do whatever she pleases, anywhere, anytime. Even if she spoiled this banquet, why not?”

The crowd parted instantly as Fraser strode forward, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. His expression was deceptively calm, but the dangerous glint in his eyes made everyone instinctively step back. Fraser stopped before Summer, his gaze sweeping over her in quick assessment. “Are you hurt?” His voice was softer now, just for her.

Summer shook her head.

Emelia’s face twisted with indignation. “The one who’s hurt is my daughter, Morgan! Your fiancée slapped her twice!”

Fraser arched an eyebrow, turning to Summer with what almost looked like pride. “Did you? How many times?”

Summer blinked, confused by the question. “…Two.”

To everyone’s shock, Fraser reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately. “Good girl. You’ve learned to hit back properly now. Did your hand hurt?”

The crowd gaped in stunned silence. Morgan’s face burned with humiliation, her lower lip trembling where she’d bitten it raw.

Emilia’s chest heaved with barely contained rage. “Mr. Graham! How can you say such things when my daughter is the injured party here?”

“If she did, it only means one thing—your daughter said something unforgivable.”

A heavy silence fell over the gathering. Martin, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, stepped forward hastily. “Fraser, it was just childish banter! Emelia is simply a concerned mother. Let’s not make a scene—”

Fraser’s smile was razor-thin. “I’d love to hear exactly what this ‘banter’ entailed.”

The woman in the purple dress, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. “Morgan called Mrs. Graham a gold-digger…and she cursed your unborn child.”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Fraser’s expression froze over. His gaze locked onto Morgan with such intensity that she physically flinched, her blood turning to ice.

“Two slaps?” He let out a dark chuckle that sent shivers down spines. “She went easy on you.”

Morgan shrank behind her grandfather, her voice trembling. “G—Grandpa…!”

Martin’s face drained of color. He turned on his granddaughter with uncharacteristic severity. “This is your doing! You and your mother—shut your mouths!”

Turning back to Fraser, he adopted a conciliatory tone. “Fraser, I failed to discipline her properly. I’ll make sure she’s taught a lesson. But today’s my birthday—let’s not ruin the occasion.”

Fraser considered this for a long moment before giving a slight nod. “Out of respect for your age and position, I’ll be lenient.” Then his finger lifted, pointing at Morgan like a judge delivering a sentence. “You. Come here and apologize to my wife. Properly.”

Morgan’s fists clenched so hard her nails drew blood from her palms. The thought of apologizing after being humiliated was unbearable. If I bowed my head today, my reputation as Havenbrook’s top socialite would be ruined.

Martin’s cane thudded against the marble floor. “Morgan! Apologize now!”

“I won’t!” Morgan turned to her mother with pleading eyes. “Mom, don’t make me!”

Emilia looked at Martin, then seeing Morgan, her heart aching, “Dad…Just let it go.”

Martin looked at her with a grave expression. If Fraser didn’t step in, this matter could certainly be forgotten. But things had already been brought to such a head.

Soon, he angrily said, “If you don’t apologize, I’ll lock you in your room for a month.”

Emilia looked at Morgan with heartbreak. Morgan, who had been held in the palm of her hand since she was a little girl, now had to apologize in a low position, and Emilia had a hard time with it, her heart throbbing with pain. But there was no way; Martin had already spoken. Emelia could only tearfully nod her head to Morgan.

Morgan gritted her teeth, the anger in her chest almost breaking through her chest. Humiliated, since I was a child, where have I ever been so humiliated!

A moment later, she clenched her hand and walked up, reluctantly dropping a, “I’m…sorry!”