James Campbell was scolded mercilessly by Old Master, and in front of so many prominent people at that. His face fluctuated between red and green, taking on a particularly hideous hue.
"Dad, you... you... Fine, since you look down on your own son so much, my staying here would only embarrass you."
James turned around, seized the Baker ladies, and began to walk out. It was Old Master’s birthday, and as the eldest son, his absence would be notable; James couldn’t believe the traditional old man would actually let him leave.
James, dragging the Bakers with him, had walked quite a distance and still, no one had come after them, making him feel all the more humiliated.
Eventually, someone did call out to him, the fourth young master of the Campbell Family, James’s younger brother.
"It’s Dad’s birthday today. Stop making a scene; you’re making us the laughing stock."
James furrowed his brows and said coldly, "Do you think I want this? Didn’t you hear how awful Old Master’s words were just now?"
Hearing this, the fourth brother glanced at the pale faces of Sophie and her daughter, his brows subtly creasing as he said, "I won’t say anything about today’s incident. After all, it’s Dad’s birthday, so let’s not escalate things too far."
James didn’t really want to leave; if he did so today, he could only imagine the rumors that would circulate about him. Although he had behaved recklessly regarding the matter with the mother and daughter, he still cared about his image.
With the fourth brother intervening, other onlooking guests also tactfully stepped in to offer James a way out, urging them all to make peace.
Given an out, James naturally stayed silent and remained, though he didn’t dare to take his daughter to Old Master’s side again.
Seeing that so many guests had spoken, Old Master also refrained from making a scene in deference to their status, though he never softened his harsh demeanor towards them.
Despite the earlier humiliation, Sophie and her daughter felt relieved to be able to stay. Their attendance at the birthday banquet wasn’t just to show face before the indomitable old man, but more importantly, it was filled with the wealthy and powerful, and forging good relationships with these affluent ladies and misses would benefit them in the future.
So, they brazenly stayed behind.
James, indeed, cared for this mother and daughter. After the embarrassment, he still had the gall to accompany Sophie and her daughter in socializing with the guests.
The guests could only manage a polite nod in response, while internally they cursed repeatedly.
If it weren’t for their various business dealings with the Campbell corporation, they really wouldn’t want to associate with a mistress and her illegitimate daughter who could not show their faces in public.
Though they also kept mistresses, maintaining a basic level of dignity was essential; they would never bring an illegitimate child or mistress to major events, as they had to save face for their own wives.
Behaving as James did was likely only possible out of true love for his mistress.
"Sister, long time no see."
Elly Campbell was seated on a couch nearby, going through emails from Mr. Ainley, when suddenly, someone stood before her. That one word "sister" made Elly narrow her eyes without any visible reaction.
Without even lifting her head, she continued reading the email from Greenhill.
Sophie had come intending to flaunt before Elly. In her view, since Jenna had divorced their father, Elly was nothing and had no grounds to act haughtily in front of her.
She waited for Elly to lash out at her, only to see Elly not even lifting her head, blatantly ignoring her.