CHAPTER 20 BOASTING

Marcus’s face immediately darkened when Zac spoke. Zac regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. He awkwardly fell silent, while Marcus 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. Marai turned to look at Tim, clearly seeking his opinion with her eyes. Tim 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, Marai, not receiving a response from Tim, suddenly turned away, surprising him. His eyes began to well up with tears. The situation embarrassed Tim greatly. A