After Divorce

Chapter 102 A Public Display

Cyril glanced at his sister Bonnie but said no before heading over to his business partners after a brief warning to her. Bonnie followed suit, feeling somewhat bored on her own. After being introduced to the partners as Cyril’s sister, she watched him get engrossed in other matters.

They mingled through the crowd, greeting almost everyone, and Bonnie soon felt tired. She sat down to rest just as Sylvia emerged. Sylvia had come down to greet her friends, though she was still waiting for Bruce to bring some jewelry, so she took the opportunity to check out the event.

To her surprise, she encountered Bonnie before running into her friends Juliet and the others. Sylvia and Bonnie didn’t get along, and sitting beside Bonnie were several young ladies who shared Bonnie’s shock at seeing Sylvia there.

“Apparently, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can enter this place. This is the Ivan family’s birthday feast for their young daughter, you know. Who do you think you are, flaunting your associations with other men? Even if you’re the Ivan family’s vice president, so what? Stop thinking you’re entitled to things that aren’t meant for you,” Bonnie sniped at her, alluding to the known tension between Sylvia and Cyril from their past marriage, the details of which remained murky to outsiders.

Ignoring Bonnie’s comments, Sylvia focused on her own business. After all, she had taken precautions to handle the earlier troubles by inviting the media. She wanted to finally resolve all the big issues surrounding her.

Their conversation was soon interrupted by the arrival of the media, who had zoned in on Sylvia and Bonnie and hurried over with their cameras at the ready. Bonnie, spotting the media, couldn’t help but feel a gleeful smugness as she looked down on Sylvia.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting, using other men’s power to win back my brother. Let me tell you, it was only out of compulsion that my brother married you to begin with, and he certainly won’t be fooled by you again,” Bonnie declared, making a scandalous allegation that left the onlookers stunned and skeptical of Sylvia’s character.

“And while you were married to my brother, you were always trying to please us, weren’t you? Cooking, cleaning–acting like a maid. Don’t fool yourself; your groveling got you nowhere then, and it certainly won’t work now. In our eyes, you’re no different from the help,” Bonnie continued, shocking everyone further.

Sympathetic glances were cast Sylvia’s way as people reflected on how she was perceived during her marriage–a period when she was undervalued by the family. No one imagined

the disregard was so profound.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

At this moment, Juliet and others happened by, infuriated by Bonnie’s vitriol. Juliet impulsively tossed the contents of her wine glass at Bonnie.

“Ah!” Bonnie, caught off guard, was drenched in red wine, letting out a shriek from the surprise. 

Bonnie spat vitriol at Sylvia, who calmly took it all in silence as her friends at her side seemed unable to hold back any longer. Miranda, in particular, delivered a swift kick to Bonnie, who hadn’t expected physical retaliation to such a degree.

Bonnie’s companions quickly helped her up as she looked disheveled and flustered by the altercation.

“Don’t overstep your bounds! Dare to touch me and see if you aren’t thrown out of here,” Bonnie threatened, attempting to reclaim the high ground despite the humiliation she felt at the hands–or feet–of the group.

Miranda scoffed, “What kind of people does your family raise to be like this? Comparing you to my brother is an insult.”

Sylvia, finding herself in the awkward situation of witnessing this exchange, felt it was getting out of hand.

“What’s your point?” Bonnie retorted. “Why not ask Sylvia what she thinks? To get married to my brother, she would’ve gone so far as to bed him. Doesn’t she find herself disgusting for that?”

Previously, such accusations against Sylvia might have been dismissed as slanderous

ramblings, but after witnessing her intimate meal with the Ivans, many found it difficult to disregard Bonnie’s claims now.

“Bonnie!” The voice that silenced her was filled with suppressed rage. She turned to see Cyril, her brother, whose eyes were reddened with anger.

Bonnie shifted her gaze, unable to confront him.

Cyril was livid, having never expected his sister to stoop to such lows. He took a few steps closer to Sylvia, struggling to suppress his emotions.

“Everything Bonnie just said-”

Throughout their marriage, Cyril had maintained an air of indifference toward Sylvia, never once inquiring about her well–being or acknowledging the difficulties she faced at home. Even when whispers of Sylvia’s plight reached his ears, he remained silent, feeling it was what she deserved for marrying him through deceit.