Chapter 1480:

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Prudencia raised an eyebrow. “You? Hit me? You should be grateful I didn’t put you in your place earlier.”

The words made Hazel’s blood boil. She raised her hand to slap her — but before it could land, Prudencia caught her wrist and gave it a light twist. Hazel yelped in pain.

“You dare touch me?!” she shrieked.

Prudencia released her with a faint smile. “So what? Dealing with bullies like you doesn’t require much restraint.”

The crowd around them began to murmur. Humiliated and shaking with anger, Hazel yanked out her phone and made a call. “Dad! Come to the banquet hall! Someone’s bullying me!” She hung up and fixed Prudencia with a smug glare. “Keep acting tough. My father is the city committee secretary. You’ll regret this.”

Prudencia laughed and was about to reply when a stern, broad-shouldered man came storming into the hall — Stetson Spencer, Hazel’s father, his face already flushed with anger.

“Who dares bully my daughter?” he barked.

Hazel rushed to him, tears streaming dramatically down her face. “Dad! It’s her — Prudencia! She insulted me and hit me! Teach her a lesson!”

Stetson’s sharp gaze snapped to Prudencia. “Prudencia Knight? How dare you cause a scene at an official banquet!”

“Cause a scene?” Prudencia stepped forward without flinching. “Your daughter started it. She mocked me first. Is arrogance a family trait?”

“Rubbish!” Stetson’s face deepened to red. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. I’ll make sure you learn some respect today!”

𝖰u𝘢𝗹і𝘵𝘺 trаո𝘀𝗅𝗮tіоոs 𝗼n gа𝗅ո𝗼𝘃е𝘭𝗌.co𝗆

Several senior businessmen who knew Evan well stepped in quickly. “Mr. Spencer, please calm down. It’s just a quarrel between the young. No need to blow it out of proportion. Prudencia’s still young — let us apologize on her behalf.”

“Prudencia, let it go. Don’t make things worse.”

Prudencia gave them a slight nod and said with quiet sincerity, “I know you mean well. But I can’t stand by while someone walks all over me.”

Before anyone could react, she stepped forward and slapped Hazel cleanly across the face. The sharp sound cracked through the hall. Gasps erupted from every direction.

Stetson lunged toward her in a rage, but Prudencia sidestepped neatly and gave him a light push. He lost his balance and stumbled into a nearby serving cart, sending dishes clattering and crashing to the floor.

“This is outrageous!” he roared from the ground. “Someone arrest this woman!”

The crowd buzzed with shock. Hushed voices rippled through the room. “She’s finished. She laid hands on a city official’s family. Not even her parents can save her now.”

Hazel clutched her cheek, crying loudly and sweeping her gaze across the onlookers. “You all saw that! The Knight family’s heiress thinks she’s above everyone! You’ll back me up, won’t you?”

Then a stir moved through the crowd like a current. “The mayor’s here! The new mayor just arrived!” someone called out.

The room parted quickly as a man in a black suit walked in — calm, composed, unhurried — surrounded by a cluster of officials. His presence commanded the space without effort.

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