Sarah grew frantic and grabbed Joanna's arm.
"Are you here to make trouble? Do you know how much this vase costs? How dare you break it just like that!"
Joanna turned pale, lips trembling. "I… I didn't mean to…"
Tears welled up as she spotted Mark nearby. She burst into sobs.
"Mark, help… You've been ignoring me. I saw you outside the hotel today and followed you in. I didn't mean to break the vase… I swear I didn't…"
Meredith had expected Mark to show restraint, but the moment Joanna cried, he threw caution to the wind.
He strode over in three quick steps, shoved Sarah aside, and growled through clenched teeth.
"Joanna didn't do it on purpose! Why are you shouting at her?"
Sarah hesitated, then explained, "Mr. Perry, the porcelain was specially commissioned by Madam for Mrs. Brown. They're out-of-print pieces. With one broken, the set is ruined…"
Mark cut her off impatiently, "Enough! They're just a pair of worthless vases. How could they compare to Joanna?"
Joanna wept in his arms, a picture of pitiful beauty, clutching his shirt. "Mark, this is all my fault. I'm not worthy of being your girlfriend."
The moment 'girlfriend' was uttered, everyone froze, their gazes shifting to Meredith.
Mark comforted the delicate girl in his arms without explanation.
After a while, Joanna stopped crying and asked timidly, "Mark… Did I cause trouble?"
Mark smirked, grabbed the remaining vase, and flung it to the ground.
The shattering sound echoed through the hall as Joanna clung to him in fright.
He reassured her, "Don't worry. These vases are worthless. See? I broke the other one too. Nothing to feel bad about."
Joanna finally smiled.
The hall fell silent. Though no one spoke, Meredith knew they were judging her. By tomorrow, the story would spread throughout the company.
Mark left with Joanna, announcing they were going shopping to calm her nerves. His assistants trailed behind.
Only Meredith and Sarah remained.
Sarah's expression was complex. She glanced at Meredith hesitantly.
"Madam, the vases…"
Meredith cast a calm glance at the shattered pieces. "Have hotel housekeeping clean this up."
Then she turned to attend to other matters.
Sarah noticed a cut on Meredith's left hand—a wound from the porcelain shards when Mark smashed the vase. She sighed.
That evening, Meredith returned home exhausted. Before she could sit, Mark caught up from behind and slapped her across the face.
"You've gone too far! Did you tell Joanna my true identity?!"
Meredith staggered, her leg hitting the coffee table as she fell.
She braced herself on her hands, staring up in confusion.
His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in anguish.
"Don't play innocent! How else would she know I'm the Perry Family heir? How else would she know I've been lying to her all this time? She wants to break up because of you!"
Sarah rushed over, shocked.
"Mr. Perry, Madam's been busy with birthday preparations all day. How could she have had time to go after anyone?"
Mark wouldn't listen. The image of Joanna in tears, accusing him of deception, fueled his rage at Meredith.
The cut on Meredith's hand reopened, blood seeping as she pressed on it.
Mark shot her a contemptuous glance. "Cut the act! You go after Joanna, and now you play the victim?"
Aksara