# Chapter 16: A Toast to Defiance
Nicole walked away without a backward glance, leaving Ingrid Ferguson standing in a puddle of expensive red wine, her hair dripping, her designer dress ruined, and her pride shattered into a thousand pieces. The restaurant had gone silent, every patron's eyes fixed on the miserable spectacle Ingrid had become.
Quinn rushed to her side, her voice dripping with venom. "Is this b*tch Nicole crazy?! How dare she do this to you?"
But Nicole was already gone, escorted by the manager to a VIP room on the opposite side of the restaurant, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a drumbeat of victory. She didn't need to look back to know the damage she had caused. She could feel it in the air—the shock, the outrage, the sweet taste of revenge.
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Grant Stanton studied Nicole as they settled into their seats. His mood had soured considerably after the confrontation, but to his surprise, Nicole seemed utterly unperturbed. She even smiled at him, a genuine, warm smile that reached her eyes.
"G, I have a shopping date with Yvette later. Do you want to join us?"
Grant gave her a sidelong glance, his tone icy. "How are you still in the mood for dinner and shopping? Look at the Fergusons' attitude toward you! They're so condescending!"
Nicole looked down, a helpless smile playing on her lips. A flicker of coldness passed through her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "It doesn't matter. You don't have to take it to heart. It's over anyway. They won't mess with me anymore. And even if they do, I'm certainly no longer the pushover who will let them do as they please."
There was something in her voice—a finality, a steeliness—that made Grant pause. This was not the Nicole he remembered. This woman had claws, and she was no longer afraid to use them.
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As they finished their meal and stepped out of the restaurant, Nicole's gaze immediately locked onto a familiar black car parked at the curb. Eric Ferguson's car.
Ingrid must have been waiting. The moment she spotted Nicole, she scrambled out of the vehicle, dragging Eric behind her like a shield. Tears streamed down her face as she pointed an accusing finger at Nicole.
"Brother, she did this! I was so humiliated just now because of this b*tch! Mom can attest to it."
Nicole stood still, her eyes cold and unreadable. She didn't dignify Ingrid's outburst with a response. Instead, she took Grant's hand and began to walk away, dismissing the Fergusons as if they were nothing more than background noise.
But Eric's hand shot out, gripping her arm with iron force.
"Nicole, you should give us an explanation for what happened just now."
His voice was frigid, his expression dark. He expected her to cower, to apologize, to beg for forgiveness like she always did.
Nicole lifted her eyes to meet his, a faint, dismissive snort escaping her lips. "I did it. What's there to explain?"
She shrugged off his grip and continued walking, her heart racing but her composure unbroken. She didn't care about Eric's attitude anymore. She didn't care about any of them.
Eric's grip tightened, causing Nicole to wince. She turned back to face him, her beautiful eyes now permeating a chilling frost. "Mr. Ferguson, are you trying to settle the score for her?"
Ingrid, emboldened by her brother's presence, stepped forward, her voice shrill with entitlement. "Brother, don't let her go! This b*tch dares to treat me like this! You can't spare her so easily!"
Eric's eyes darkened as he looked at his sister. "What do you want then?"
A smug smile curled Ingrid's lips. "I'll let her go if she bows and apologizes to me."
The words hung in the air like a challenge.
Nicole let out a bitter laugh. *He probably thinks the same thing...*
She looked at Eric, her gaze sharp and unyielding. "Mr. Ferguson, do you also want me to apologize? I suggest you check the surveillance footage at the restaurant to figure out the real cause of this matter before jumping to conclusions. Ms. Ferguson isn't some innocent little rabbit, so why the self-pity?"
Her words dripped with sarcasm, each syllable a calculated strike. She shrugged Eric's hand off her arm and took Grant's arm instead.
Grant, who had been watching the exchange with barely contained fury, finally spoke. His voice was ice-cold, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Hasn't anyone in the Ferguson family ever taught Ms. Ferguson that it's natural for others to retaliate against bullying? Why didn't Ms. Ferguson think to apologize to Nicole when she was being rude?"
Ingrid's heart trembled under Grant's piercing glare. Guilt and panic flooded her, and she instinctively hid behind Eric, her pitiful act faltering. "Brother, I didn't..."
Grant and Nicole exchanged a look of pure disdain.
Eric's brow furrowed, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
Ingrid, desperate to salvage her dignity, cried out, "That's because she exposed me online for stealing 'Daydream'! My friends made fun of me for it! That's my family's jewelry, so how is it stealing? I only said a few words to her, but she dared to do this to me!"
The incident had stripped Ingrid of her pride, and she clung to her grievance like a lifeline.
Eric's face was grim, his gaze inscrutable. He opened his mouth to speak, but Nicole cut him off with a light, mocking laugh.
"Not retaliating when being accused was something the old Nicole would do," she said, her voice steady and cold. "Ms. Ferguson, you should learn how to respect others. Otherwise, this will surely happen again."
Grant added, his tone final, "The restaurant's surveillance footage will always be available. Mr. Ferguson, you can view it at your convenience. Goodbye."
Without another word, Grant led Nicole to the car, opening the door for her with deliberate courtesy. They drove away, leaving the Fergusons standing there, dumbfounded and defeated.
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
This chapter was a masterclass in empowerment and poetic justice. Watching Nicole walk away from the Fergusons with her head held high, refusing to apologize, refusing to grovel, was incredibly satisfying. The transformation from the passive, forgiving Nicole to this fierce, unapologetic woman is beautifully rendered. Grant's support of her, his icy defense against Ingrid's lies, was a perfect touch—he sees her worth even when her own family refuses to.
The confrontation in the restaurant parking lot was electric. Every word Nicole spoke was deliberate, cutting through the Ferguson family's entitled behavior like a knife. The way she dismissed Eric, the man who once held power over her, showed just how far she has come. This chapter proves that Nicole is no longer a victim—she is a force to be reckoned with.
**⭐ Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars**
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## Next Chapter Prediction
Nicole has made her stance crystal clear, but the Fergusons are not the type to let go of a grudge. Ingrid's humiliation will fester, and she will likely scheme to ruin Nicole's reputation further. Meanwhile, Eric's suspicious nature may finally force him to review the restaurant's surveillance footage, revealing Ingrid's true behavior. This could be the turning point that shatters Eric's blind loyalty to his family and makes him question everything he thought he knew about Nicole. As Nicole continues to rebuild her life, old secrets and new alliances are bound to collide.