Chapter 20 Boasting

James's face immediately darkened when Nolan spoke. Nolan regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. He awkwardly fell silent, while James suppressed his anger and said, "Alright, alright, let's all step back a bit. It's almost noon, the weather is hot, and it's normal for everyone to be a bit on edge. Let's just leave it at that, so we can all move on." The other guests, having had their fill of drama, watched as someone attempted to defuse the tension. The atmosphere gradually eased, and others stepped forward to speak. Katherine turned to look at Otto, clearly seeking his opinion with her eyes. Otto felt a warmth in his heart. He had never been protected like this before, never had someone stand up for him like this. For a moment, he was stunned, mouth slightly agape, unable to speak. Just as emotions were running high, Katherine, not receiving a response from Otto, suddenly turned away, surprising him. His eyes began to well up with tears. The situa