With a senior figure present, Preston really couldn't afford to be too aggressive.
While he hesitated, Zara didn't hold back.
"Let me guess. You want to know why your precious Zoe is crying her eyes out?" Zara's mother frowned in displeasure.
Was the Dalton family heir completely out of his mind?
What did Zoe's tears have to do with her daughter?
The older woman fixed Preston with a highly critical stare.
Preston knew Zara's mother might get angry, but he was currently burning with rage himself.
What gave Zara the right to use her status to constantly torment Zoe?
Who did she think she was?
"Did you do something to her?" Due to the fierce glare from Zara's mother, Preston's tone was significantly dialed down.
But Zara wasn't an idiot; she knew exactly what he was accusing her of.
"Yeah, sure. I bullied her."
"I've got nothing better to do all day, so I just make it my life's mission to ruin hers!" Zara tossed out the sarcastic claims without missing a beat.
Preston ignored the sarcasm entirely. "Zara, I really need you to get this through your head. The fact that we broke off our engagement has absolutely nothing to do with Zoe."
"I expect you to stop targeting her from now on."
Zara genuinely wanted to burst out laughing. "Preston, are you actually psycho?"
"Did I not make myself clear enough the last time we spoke?"
"I don't have feelings for you. I don't give a damn who you choose to date!"
"You don't seriously believe I'm still bitter and attacking Zoe because I'm pining over you, do you?"
Preston opened his mouth, wanting to insist that she definitely was, but
remembering how emphatically Zara had rejected him, he suddenly felt a sting of humiliation.
Even though he kept his mouth shut, his face gave away exactly what he was thinking.
Zara's mother had heard enough. She pulled her daughter behind her protectively.
"Preston, let's get one thing straight My daughter and Zoe have clashed Since they were kids. It has nothing to do with you!"
"If she's targeting her, she's been doing it since they were in diapers."
"You're a grown man. Stop watching so many cheesy soap operas and assuming everything revolves around you."
Normally, as an older woman, she wouldn't stoop to arguing with a younger guy.
If she spoke up, people might accuse her of bullying the younger generation.
But she had watched Preston act like an arrogant jerk toward her daughter far too many times, and her patience had run dry.
If she didn't put him in his place today, she was going to give herself an ulcer!
Preston's face cycled through shades of red and pale white under her fierce verbal assault.
"Ma'am, why does she have to be so hostile toward Zoe? What has Zoe ever done wrong?"
"Even though she and Zara aren't biological sisters, Zoe always yields to Zara. Isn't that enough?"
"Family harmony is important. Couldn't you try talking some sense into Zara?"
"Are you actually criticizing my parenting?" Zara's mother narrowed her eyes glaring at preston like he was a bug on her windshield.
The Dalton family had clearly raised an absolute fool.
"Well, maybe I should go find your parents right now and we can discuss whose parenting skills are actually the problem here."
As it happened, Preston's parents were indeed attending the party.
Preston panicked for a second.
Calling off the engagement without their permission had already infuriated them.
His grandfather had even threatened to disown him if he didn't apologize and patch things up with Zara.
However, he had his grandmother backing him up, so his grandfather's empty threats hadn't bothered him much.
But that didn't mean his parents were safe from the fallout.
They were the ones dealing with the social consequences of their son's idiotic choices.
If Zara's mother marched over and caused a scene with them, Preston would be in serious trouble.
Not wanting to face another round of sanctions from his parents, Preston quickly swallowed his pride and backed down. Im sorry Maam. I didn't mean to imply you were a bad mother."
"I just chose my words poorly. Please don't be upset."