Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"How could she dance with another man in public? What does she take me as?" Freddy grumbled.
Javier frowned in displeasure. "Stop spewing nonsense. It was Cyrus who forced her to dance. How could you blame it on her?
"You should blame yourself instead for dawdling. By not claiming your place by her side from the start, you gave a chance to the other guys."
"What are you saying? I was the first to approach her!" Feeling anxious and furious, Freddy shook from head to toe. "Your daughter took Cyrus' hand right before me! You might not have seen it, but I saw it clearly with my own two eyes!"
Freddy attracted the attention of the guests around him after he raised his voice at Javier. Fortunately, the blaring music drowned out his speech.
After being confronted, Javier's expression crumpled. He fixed a piercing gaze at Freddy, whose heart sank.
At that moment, Freddy finally came to understand how frightening and intimidating the chairman of the Beckett Group could be. Even Jasper was intimidating enough, not to mention his father.
When Freddy froze on the spot, Orlander hurried over to intervene. "Freddy, Mr. Javier is a VIP and your elder. You shouldn't have spoken to him with that attitude!"
"Dad, I..." Freddy was about to defend himself when something struck him. After their families agreed on the marriage, Orlander had been privately referring to Javier as his "in-law" to foster a closer bond. However, this time, Orlander had oddly asked him to refer to Javier as his "elder", which sounded like an attempt to distance himself from the Becketts.
"Mayor Hodgson, your son has opened my eyes today." Javier looked away from the pale Freddy and slowly rose from his seat. "This is the first time I've come across a young man who spoke to his future father-in-law in a rude tone. I should perhaps thank Cyrus one day for revealing this side of Freddy."
"M-Mr. Javier, it was a misunderstanding! Freddy didn't mean it. Mr. Javier!"
Javier left in the middle of Orlander speaking, showing no respect to the Hodgsons.
"Just wait and see!" Glaring at Freddy, Orlander ran after Javier without thinking. Freddy was left frozen on the spot, his expression contorting in resentment.
After the cocktail party ended, the guests gradually left the Hodgsons' residence. Similarly, Lauren headed to the Becketts' luxury car with Rory.
Rory gently addressed Lauren, "Ms. Lauren, Mr. Javier had to head home early as something came up. I'm here to pick you up."
Is Dad angry because... I danced with Cyrus?" Lauren seemed troubled and hesitant.
Rory, who had witnessed the events that evening, merely comforted her, "Absolutely not. Please don't worry about it."
"Lauren." Someone called out to her. Turning around, she found Mandy and Cyrus approaching her. She quickly greeted Mandy, "Hi, Mrs. Taylor!"
"What a fine young lady. I'm growing fonder of you by the minute." Mandy took Lauren's hand with a wide smile and caressed it.
The observant Rory realized that Mandy wasn't being courteous; she was truly fond of Lauren, unlike Minnie's shallow and fake act.
The contempt in Minnie's eyes was evident. She accepted Lauren purely out of greed for the Becketts' wealth.