After Being Betrayed I Married the Glamorous CEO-Chapter 138: I’ve Apologized Already, What More Do You Want?!

Disgrace.

This was a tremendous disgrace.

Hong Danggui and Shen Fanyun were of similar age, true peers. However, at that moment, Shen Fanyun sat loftily while she, Hong Danggui, could only kneel before him, subjected to his ruthless scolding without a shred of respect! This is... Hong Danggui knew the situation was not in her favor. Bowing her head and trying to de-escalate the matter was the best solution, but she still felt indignant!

"I’m sorry.

"Over the years, Picking Flowers Pavilion might have been a bit excessive in some aspects. I offer my sincerest apologies.

"But rest assured, from today onwards, I will personally ensure that Picking Flowers Pavilion gets back on the right track. In the future, Picking Flowers Pavilion will never engage in coercion again," Hong Danggui firmly promised.

And yet, for the immense harm caused to countless young women by the Hong Family’s coercion, all she offered was a flippant, "I’m sorry."

"What about those who were driven to death by the coercion of your Picking Flowers Pavilion?" Shen Fanyun questioned.

With a casual tone, Hong Danggui blurted out, "They were weak-willed and chose to end their own lives. What does that have to do with me? Am I supposed to take responsibility for people who actively seek death?"

With those words, the room fell into a deathly silence. Even Hong Tianzhao was displeased. His niece was far too tactless. Even if you feel nothing but contempt, you should at least say something diplomatic instead of just blurting out your true thoughts!

"That’s too much!" Li Ruoshui couldn’t listen anymore. "If they hadn’t been bullied by your Hong Family and driven to despair, would they have chosen such a tragic path? How can you say it has nothing to do with you?" This Hong Danggui was utterly callous, completely inhumane.

Hong Danggui shot Li Ruoshui a venomous glare and warned, "This has nothing to do with outsiders, so keep your mouth shut."

A person’s malice and ingrained wickedness, cultivated over many years, were already deeply rooted. Even when faced with pressure and questioning, she couldn’t change in an instant. The pride and arrogance in Hong Danggui’s bones would likely never be corrected in her lifetime. As the saying goes, a leopard cannot change its spots.

Hong Danggui chose to bow her head and offer a grudging apology only because she couldn’t afford to offend Shen Fanyun, not because she truly recognized her mistakes. In other words, Hong Danggui never once considered the girls she had abducted to be human beings. From her perspective, they were merely pawns for the Hong Family to summon and dismiss at will. In fact, being able to contribute to the Hong Family’s enterprises was an honor that her family had graciously bestowed upon them!

"I, Hong Danggui, assure you that from now on, Picking Flowers Pavilion will strictly govern itself and operate within the rules," Hong Danggui emphasized again. I’ve already taken a step back. If Shen Fanyun keeps pushing, he’s just being difficult.

"Fanyun!" Li Ruoshui trembled with anger. This Hong Danggui had harmed so many people, yet she was trying to get away with a casual promise not to do it again? Without paying any price at all? This was letting her off far too lightly, wasn’t it?

"Hmph, I’ve already admitted my mistake. Do you expect me to offer incense and kowtow to those dead girls?" Hong Danggui scoffed, her face filled with disdain. Who was she? She was the great young miss of the Hong Family, born with a silver spoon in her mouth. When had someone of her noble status ever had to bow to the wretched girls from dirt-poor families?

"Danggui, that’s enough!" Hong Tianzhao could no longer stand it. She’s being far too arrogant! Has she no ability to read the room at all? In this situation, her audacity is no different from begging to die!

"You’re right. You don’t need to personally go and kowtow or offer incense," Shen Fanyun nodded. His next words made everyone’s hearts leap into their throats.

"You should go down there and apologize to them personally."

The crowd was speechless.

"You have three minutes. Anyone who doesn’t wish to remain, get out now," Shen Fanyun said.

The crowd exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, and then fled without looking back.

Shen Fanyun then turned to Li Ruoshui and Lin Jia. "Wait for me outside."

Sensing something was about to happen, the two of them wasted no time and followed the crowd out of the building.

Finally, only Hong Danggui, Hong Tianzhao, Chen Lie, and Xu Tai remained in the vast hotel.

"Do you smoke?" Shen Fanyun lit a cigarette and asked Hong Danggui.

Hong Danggui was bewildered. I’m a girl. Why would I ever smoke?

Shen Fanyun nodded, then turned to Hong Tianzhao. "And you?"

Hong Tianzhao sucked in a sharp breath, his entire body trembling. He was gripped by a terrible premonition. Is this a final cigarette? One last smoke before he sends us on our way?

"The Hong Family has indeed made mistakes, but... our crimes don’t warrant death, do they?" Hong Tianzhao said through gritted teeth.

Hearing the word "death," Hong Danggui finally processed the situation. She realized that Shen Fanyun intended to wipe them out completely. Impossible! The Hong Family is an established family in Hangcheng City, and I am its pampered heiress. With such a prominent status, who would dare kill me? Besides, haven’t I already apologized? Since I’ve admitted my mistake, shouldn’t he give me a chance to change?

"You, you..." Hong Danggui watched, frozen in terror, as Shen Fanyun stood up and strode toward her, his presence an intimidating wave of pressure. She trembled with fear. Never, from the moment this began, had it crossed her mind that she might actually die. "I... I’ve apologized, isn’t that enough?"

"An apology?" Shen Fanyun scoffed. "I don’t have to accept it."

CRACK!

Shen Fanyun’s fingers shot out, piercing straight through Hong Danggui’s throat. She staggered backward, refusing to believe what was happening. It was only when five streams of blood spurted from her neck that the so-called high-society heiress finally realized she might actually die.

"I... I am a high and mighty heiress... those girls were just lowly ants... By what right? By what right..." A life for a life? No! The lives of people were not equal. Some die like burning leaves, worth nothing, while others...

Shen Fanyun stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly watching Hong Danggui clutch her throat. "Breathe deeply," he said. "Once the blood is gone, it will be like falling asleep. Completely painless."

Hong Danggui was speechless. Is he trying to comfort me? Who comforts someone like this?!

THUD!

Hong Danggui could no longer fight the overwhelming blackness. Her body collapsed backward, and as she hit the floor, a pool of blood spread out like a blooming rose.

Hong Tianzhao watched in horror as his niece, right before his eyes, slowly stopped breathing, her body growing cold.