Awakening the War God

Chapter 269 Laughter

As Doyle left, Priscilla stood there in a daze.

Her once bright and shining eyes grew dim.

Why?

All she wanted was to bring her brother's killer to justice, seeking vengeance for him with the weapon of legislation.

But now it suddenly felt like a mountain was looming before her, blocking out all the light.

Just then, her phone rang, and she picked it up, still in a daze. "Hello?"

"Priscilla!" Freda's anxious voice came from the other end. "I'm at your place right now, and a few police officers suddenly barged in, saying they want to search. I couldn't stop them, and they're rummaging through your room!"

"Police officers?" Priscilla was utterly confused. "Which division are they from? Let one of them talk to me!"

It was strange. Why would police officers search her home without a warrant?

If they had one, how did they get it?

Just as she was thinking this, her face suddenly turned pale as she thought of something.

"Freda... Freda!" She called out in a hurry.

She remembered she had a copy of the video hidden in the bedside drawer.

Could it be that the officers were there to find her backup copy of the video?

A man's voice came through the phone, "Priscilla, I've taken the USB drive from your bedside drawer. Mr. Coleman sent me. If you have any issues, you can contact him!"

"Leroy Chapman?" Priscilla recognized the voice; it was her colleague Leroy, the most obedient officer under Mr. Coleman.

The moment she recognized Leroy's voice, Priscilla became utterly panicked.

Everything that had happened today was all part of Doyle's plan.

He had likely anticipated that she would create a backup video, so while she was at the party, he had Leroy search her residence.

Now, both copies of the video were in Doyle's possession.

Whether or not she could use the video as evidence to convict Kevin depended entirely on Doyle's discretion.

Priscilla raised her head and looked at the joyful atmosphere on the stage, at Ramon's beaming smile.

It meant that avenging her brother depended on her decision: to humiliate herself for the sake of her brother's vengeance or to uphold justice and forgo the opportunity to seek vengeance for her brother.

With these thoughts, her heart felt constricted and filled with unbearable pain.

She had always believed in a world of justice and fairness, where good deeds would be rewarded, and the wrongdoers would face legal consequences.

Until this moment, a profound sense of powerlessness seemed to creep over her.

It appeared that everything Gabriel had said was coming true. Even if she obtained the evidence, without a substantial backing, she couldn't bring down Kevin and seek revenge for her brother.

The effectiveness of the legal system, this double-edged sword, in punishing the powerful was solely dependent on the strength and influence of the one who wielded it.

In the end, it was evident that everything had nothing to do with justice.

"Hey, everyone!"

Ramon, holding his daughter's hand, ascended the stage.

He grabbed the microphone and gave it a few taps, drawing everyone's attention.

With the sound system amplifying his voice, Priscilla, lost in her thoughts, suddenly looked up.

What should she do next?

Should she compromise her principles to seek revenge for her brother, or should she stand firm on the side of justice and forgo this opportunity?

She was utterly at a lost.

Onstage, Ramon smiled and began speaking, "When Natalie was three years old, she lost her mother! Over these years, the greatest guilt I've carried has been depriving her of a mother's love!"

"I've been searching tirelessly, and finally, when Natalie turned seven, I found an exceptional woman for her. She's virtuous, kind, and full of love!"

"On Natalie's seventh birthday, I want to give her a special gift Natalie, I've found you a mother!"

As Ramon gestured towards Priscilla, all eyes in the room fixed upon her.

Girlfriend?

Priscilla stood there in a daze, wondering when she had become Ramon's girlfriend.

She remained motionless, without any explanation.

"Humph!"

Natalie, holding her tiny bulldog, let out a contemptuous snort.

"Be my mom? I'm going to make this woman understand how formidable I am."

Just then, romantic music filled the air, setting the stage for Ramon to share his and Priscilla's "love story".

With a microphone in hand, Ramon looked at Priscilla affectionately and said, "Priscilla and I fell in love at first sight. We were attracted to each other, admiring one another! To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing to say this, but, while I am a man, Priscilla was the one who pursued me. Through her pursuit, I felt her affection for me and decided to reciprocate her feelings."

Applause broke out from the audience. Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

Ramon enjoyed being admired. A proud smile graced his face.

Priscilla, however, had turned stupefied.

"I pursued him, seriously?"

Ramon must have been afflicted with erotomania.

How shameless did someone have to be to spout such preposterous words?

Outside, thirty proposal actors were ready to go. Gabriel, holding the sign "Love," was amused by Ramon's words.

Goodness, where did this ugly guy find the confidence?

"Never seen someone this shameless!" thought Gabriel.

Onstage, Ramon continued the "affectionate" narrative.

He snapped his fingers and said, "Priscilla did pursue me before, but for a proposal, a man must step up! Today, before Natalie's birthday celebration, I want to propose to Priscilla, to give Natalie a mother and make my family complete!"

"Action!" As soon as they heard the signal, Ms. Scarlett gestured, and the thirty actors ran into the banquet hall.

The show began!

Some held up signs, some hopped around, and some tossed confetti.

Two people, one holding a bunch of roses, the other a ring box, approached Ramon.

The music changed to "More Than I Can Say"!

Gabriel, holding a sign, muddled through the singing with the others.

Ms. Scarlett approached Priscilla, pulled her up, and positioned her opposite Ramon on the stage.

Romantic music filled the air, setting the mood.

Everything was consumed by romance.

Ramon took out a ring, dropped to one knee, and raised the ring.

The music abruptly stopped, and the entire place fell silent.

Only Ramon's voice resonated, "Priscilla, I love you! I believe our love exceeds that of Romeo and Juliet. Will you marry me? I'll make you happy for life!"

As soon as the proposal was made, the crowd erupted, shouting, "Say yes... say yes!"

Priscilla was stunned, her mind blank.

She had imagined countless times what being proposed to would feel like. It seemed to have a lot of witnesses and a romantic atmosphere.

But the person in front of her was light years away from the partner she'd dreamt of.

She was bewildered and stood there for a long time.

She was certain she didn't like Ramon at all. Being proposed to today was utterly absurd, almost like a kidnapping.

However, if she refused, the only evidence that could nail her brother's murderer would be destroyed by Mr. Coleman.

And offending Mr. Coleman would likely prevent her from seeking revenge for her brother for the rest of her life.

Yet, if she gritted her teeth and agreed to Ramon, she could rely on the Jeff family's influence to capture Kevin and avenge her brother.

Which choice should she make?

She was in agony, lost.

Seeing Priscilla on stage without any response, Ms. Scarlett gestured for the thirty actors to make a louder appeal.

Then, she signaled to the sign holders to raise them higher.

"Say yes!"

"Ha-ha!"

"Say yes!"

"Ha-ha!"

But amid the cheering, discordant laughter emerged.

After each "Say yes," there came a burst of laughter.

The laughter, deliberately out of sync with the "Say yes," stood out distinctly.

Ramon, still kneeling, turned around, his face darkening.

The entire crowd followed the laughter, gazing at the person who laughed so loudly.

This laughter was evidently intentional.

Ms. Scarlett yelled desperately, "Gabriel, what are you laughing at? Stop laughing, or I'll dock your pay!"

The one laughing was Gabriel.

Seeing the scene, he was almost breathless from laughing.

Clutching his chest, he suppressed his laughter. "Ms. Scarlett, I'm really sorry. I just couldn't help it. It's just so hilarious!"

"That guy looks like a toad, comparing himself to Romeo, saying this lady pursued him. It's killing me!"

"Moreover, it's absolutely clear this lady doesn't like this toad at all, yet this toad is confidently proposing. I bet this toad doesn't have a mirror at home; I mean, how did this fucking shoddy guy get the cheek to propose to this lady? Outrageous!"

"Too funny, way too funny. I'm counting on this joke to get me through the year!"