Chapter 229 In an instant, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Lauraine looked at Anthony in shock and couldn’t help but burst into hysterical tears. “It’s her who bullied me, can’t you see? Why are you still siding with her at this moment?” She glanced at Louis with a mix of grievance and despair. Her voice sounded hoarse. “And you, you’ve been deceived by her. She’s not a good person at all. Can’t you see how she bullies me?” Lauraine felt utterly wronged and couldn’t understand why everyone was siding with Genevieve. She was devastated as her brother and the man she liked showed no concern for her. Even if they knew the truth, they just wanted to brush it under the rug. She thought, Just why? What makes her so special?‘ Lauraine hated Genevieve to the core, her chest swelling with resentment and bitterness. She stared deeply at Louis, her eyes shimmering with resentment and determination. “You were supposed to be mine. Genevieve is just using you as a stepping stone. Now she’s back getting entangled with Tony. Why can’t you see through her?” Louis fell silent for a moment, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness. The onlookers watched the scene unfold with a hint of shock. Lauraine’s sudden confession took everyone by surprise. Genevieve’s lips curled in amusement, but she remained silent. Finally, Louis spoke, his voice cold and cutting. “Backing Genevieve up is my decision. There’s no need for outsiders to meddle in our affairs. Ms. Hoffman, you seem to have forgotten what you did to Genevieve. You’re. not exactly a paragon of innocence, are you?” His words felt like a bucket of ice water dumped over Lauraine, freezing her in place. 1/6 Don’t Be Stupid, Use a Hydraulic Press Machine Chapter 229 Her expression was a mixture of complexity and fear, drained of color. (5) She thought, “He knew, he knew everything. He knew I had something to do with Genevieve falling into the sea. He knew that I was shameless and sinister. He saw through the dirt and unwillingness in me.’ At that moment, under the diamond lights, she bared her soul, only to be laid bare by Louis‘ penetrating gaze. She wished she could disappear. Suddenly, images of Genevieve falling into the sea and Louis leaping after her flashed through Lauraine’s mind. She was suffocating in her chest. In the end, she was the most vicious person. She stood there, trembling, unable to utter a word. Louis stepped forward, walked past Lauraine, and took Genevieve’s hand. “Let’s go. Don’t dirty your hands anymore.” They left, one after the other, leaving the two socialites gaping in disbelief. They were shocked that the situation was over, Some people didn’t understand what they just said, while others understood. Anthony’s eyes lingered on their retreating figures, filled with resentment and jealousy. He didn’t want to admit it, but envy was rampant in his heart. Then, his cold gaze fell on Lauraine. He was thoroughly disappointed in her as he thought, “If you’ve done something wrong, you should be held. accountable. That’s only right.” Just like that, he remained silent. Anthony looked at the other two people and said, “Take her away.” The other two nodded blankly, and Anthony walked away without looking back. 2/6 Don’t Be Stupid, Use a Hydraulic Press Machine As he moved, he glanced at the reddish–brown beads on his wrist, concealed by his sleeve. Lauraine stood frozen in silence, her entire being seemingly drained of soul, desolate and hopeless. Genevieve went back, and Selene just returned. The two of them gathered and exchanged the information they had just received. It turned out that Louis was brought into Hoffman Group as a special management–level personnel. While he may not have had much real power, he could effectively balance out Anthony’s influence. Selene couldn’t help but say, “Mr. Hoffman’s move caught everyone off guard. A father–son conflict unfolded in the company. But what is he after?” Genevieve thought, ‘What is he after? Perhaps Anthony’s development had already slipped out of Presley’s control, prompting him to feel threatened.‘ She felt there was something she couldn’t quite grasp, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. That day, someone revealed Stella’s identity, and Scarlett and a few others were mocking her. Stella stood there looking helpless, but no one stepped forward to help. Genevieve was puzzled, but Selene stepped in to explain, “Stella is Benjamin’s illegitimate daughter. Mrs. Campbell pretends she doesn’t exist, but her eyes are always fixed on her. Seeing Stella here almost drives her crazy.” That’s why Selene was asked to leave, and Scarlett went to confront Stella herself. After all, it was a family secret that couldn’t be openly discussed. Genevieve averted her gaze as she was not particularly interested in such matters. Meanwhile, Selene’s eyes lit up as she held her phone. “Look at this…” She handed Genevieve the phone eagerly, sharing, “Isn’t he one of Eagle Entertainment’s artists?” /6 Don’t Be Stupid, Use a Hydraulic Press Machine A Chapter 229 Genevieve raised an eyebrow as she watched the live broadcast showcasing several muscular men in tank tops Eagle Entertainment’s rookie under Eagle Entertainment’s banner, cheerfully performing calisthenics. It talent show. The tank tops they wore were almost like strings holding two pieces of fabric together, barely concealing their sculpted chests. Their sexy physique, combined with their innocent smiles and earnest calisthenics routine, not only lacked any hint of greasiness but also had a certain charm that defied convention. As a result, the number of comments and viewers in the comment section exploded.. [Smile for me!] [Oh, my gosh! If they don’t debut, who will?] [Let’s send rockets!] [Compared to the pretty boys, these guys are dripping with masculinity. Can I even handle this?] Genevieve glanced at the screen, unable to suppress a surprised flutter of her eyelids. She took a few more glances and couldn’t help but laugh along, exchanging a knowing smile with Selene. These men were truly rare finds. Luckily, they were unnoticed in their corner, free to enjoy the spectacle. Each holding a phone, they watched the muscular men in the live stream, sending gifts and rockets at a speed faster than grabbing monetary gifts. “I want to top the leaderboard. Genevieve, don’t you dare steal it from me,” Selene said. “I’m giving gifts to Robby. Every time he smiles, my heart melts,” Genevieve exclaimed. Robby was the muscular man who stood on the far left, exuding a youthful and sunny charm with his endearing gummy smile. Each smile seemed to sparkle with stars. Chapter 229 It made people feel so sweet. In this formal and serious setting, it seemed like Genevieve and Selene had found a slice of paradise. They laughed and smiled, completely engrossed in the livestream. Unbeknownst to them, Anthony had silently approached from behind. He had been hesitant to approach Genevieve earlier, fearing her wrath over Lauraine’s incident. However, different from what he had imagined, Genevieve was not enraged but was smiling happily instead. Anthony’s face darkened as he drew closer and saw Genevieve and Selene each holding a phone, laughing at the muscular men on the screen. He was infuriated, especially when Genevieve eagerly sent gifts to secure the top spot. Her eyes were fixed on the screen without blinking. She sent gifts with a smile, seemingly enjoying it wholeheartedly. His expression darkened. The flames in his chest raged uncontrollably, threatening to consume him like burning charcoal. Genevieve had never been so generous with him before. Selene lost to Genevieve, failing to secure the top spot. She quietly approached and asked, “Liam or Zayn? Who do you prefer?” Anthony’s face turned even darker as he listened to Genevieve’s gentle voice reply, “I hate making choices. Can’t I have both?” 5/6