Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 171

Susan tried to step in, but she was too late. She could only watch Stephanie with a worried expression.

Arnold’s voice was laced with fury. “Are you mocking me for failing to raise my own daughter right? Have you no manners at all? Is that any way for someone your age to speak to me?”

The commotion in the private lounge was getting loud. Benson rushed in and quickly pulled Arnold back.

Stephanie’s cheek burned, the sting so sharp it brought tears to her eyes.

But she forced them back, refusing to let them see her cry.

She knew she had struck a nerve, which was why Arnold had flown into a rage.

He was still stewing over what had happened at the memorial service.

Stephanie lifted her head, a defiant smile on her lips. She would bring up exactly what he feared most. “Why are you so desperate to shut me up? Is it because you have a guilty conscience?”

Her words shattered Arnold’s composure once again. Before he could erupt, Benson forcibly escorted him out of the room.

Benson shot Stephanie an apologetic look, but with so many people around, he couldn’t say anything more without inviting unwanted speculation.

The lounge door was closed, but the argument had already been overheard.

Guests were craning their necks, whispering about the incident.

They knew there had been a fight, but they hadn't caught all the words, only fragments like “memorial service,” “failing to raise a daughter,” and “guilty conscience.”

As soon as Arnold stepped out of the lounge, his face transformed back into a mask of civility.

He smiled and chatted with the guests as if his earlier outburst had never happened.

Someone asked, “Mr. Yates, what was going on in there? It sounded like an argument.”

Arnold chuckled dismissively. “Just a small disagreement. The kids in the family can be a bit unruly sometimes. I hope it didn't disturb anyone.”

His explanation discouraged further questions.

An unruly child? But Stephanie was the only young person in that room. Was he talking about her?

The Yates family had never raised Stephanie a single day. Arnold had no right to say such a thing.

Publicly, everyone nodded along, but privately, the whispers continued.

Once Arnold left, only Stephanie and Susan remained in the lounge.

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