From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 181

Claire Camp was at a complete loss for words. Her eyes were glazed over, and she just shook her head, dazed.

It was Alice Austin who managed to pull herself together, turning to Adelina Lane and saying, “Mrs. Lane, please don’t take it to heart. She’s really not in her right mind—everything she said just now was nonsense. Please, don’t hold it against her.”

“Nonsense?” Adelina Lane gave a soft, chilly laugh. She didn’t need to raise her voice to command respect. “So just calling it ‘nonsense’ is enough to wipe away the smear she just threw at our Olivia?”

Alice froze, mouth slightly open, but before she could say anything, Adelina Lane pressed on, “Let me ask you—if it turns out Olivia isn’t connected to our Carter family at all, would you still say it was just rambling?”

“I… I would…” Alice faltered, her voice barely a whisper.

People nearby could only see her lips move; no sound came out.

Adelina Lane’s gaze grew even colder. “So if I hadn’t stepped in, would Olivia just have to stand here and take your accusations today?”

Alice’s eyes widened in panic. “That’s not what we meant!”

“Then what did you mean?”

Alice stammered, totally at a loss.

Just then, a sharply dressed middle-aged man stormed over, and without warning, landed a stinging slap across Claire Camp’s face. His voice was harsh: “Apologize.”

Claire stared at him in disbelief, clutching her cheek as her eyes welled up instantly.

Orlando Camp’s face was stone cold. He repeated, even more forcefully, “Now. Apologize.”

Claire looked at him, tears spilling over. In her whole life, Orlando Camp had never once hit her. And now, for the first time, he’d done it—in front of everyone.

It felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on her chest; she could barely breathe. Her tears fell, one after another, unstoppable.

She pressed her lips together, vision swimming, but she understood why Orlando Camp was so furious.

Then he shot Claire a sharp look. “Well? What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

Claire, still covering her face, was helped away by Alice Austin. The Camp family paused only to offer another apology to Carroll Baker before leaving.

And just like that, the matter was settled.

Carroll Baker stepped forward, addressing the guests. “Ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the little hiccup earlier. Please, go back to enjoying the wine, the roast beef, and everything else. If you have any concerns, come talk to me.”

It really hadn’t been that big of a deal, and most people just shrugged it off, dispersing back to their conversations, plates full of sliders and deviled eggs.

Only Lavinia Bennett, Mason Bennett, and Carmen Gates lingered nearby, unmoving.

Mason frowned, glancing at Lavinia. “What’s going on with Olivia Bennett? Do you know anything?”