Chapter 1232:
“Everybody knows she can’t have children.”
“There’s nothing left of the Bennett family.”
“What’s the point of marrying someone with no family to stand behind her?”
The remarks—sharp and cutting—spilled out without a hint of caution or shame.
Helga didn’t miss the fact that she was the only Elliott representative in the room. There was no elder at her side, no older relative to demand respect. She was younger than most here, and they used their seniority like a shield to justify every slight.
A cold snort escaped Helga as she set her glass down with a quiet, deliberate clink.
She let her gaze sweep across the table, not missing a single face.
Long ago, when her husband died and she was left alone with three young children, these same people had looked down on her, whispering behind her back.
It wasn’t until Myron returned home—strong and successful—that they finally remembered how to hold their tongues. But here they were, slipping into old habits again.
She caught Napier’s eyes and, seeing his approving nod, felt her resolve harden.
Helga rose smoothly to her feet and tapped her knuckle against the tabletop, commanding silence.
“I might not be the oldest one here,” she announced, her voice carrying to every corner, “but let’s set the record straight.”
Her words were calm, but laced with a cold edge.
“Millie and Myron are about to marry. From this day on, Millie belongs to the Elliott family. If anyone takes issue with that, I suggest you keep your complaints to yourselves.”
Light from the chandeliers gleamed across polished tables, warming the room as the scent of aged wine hung in the air. Reactions rippled through the spacious hall—amused smirks, eager glances, open skepticism, and a handful of stone-cold glares.
Some guests simply settled in, ready to see what sparks might fly next.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․cо𝗺, your storytelling home
But one of the men who had just been running his mouth refused to yield so easily.
“I’ll be just as direct,” he said.
“I don’t trust Millie at all!” His sneer cut across the table.
“If she’s anything like James, she’ll end up exactly as he did.”
Helga arched an eyebrow, her voice smooth and icy.
“Is that so, Wade? If you’re so convinced your own family’s prodigies are superior, why not bring them out for everyone to see? Let’s see if they can measure up.”
“You—Helga!” Wade stammered, caught off guard by her challenge.
She met his glare with the faintest hint of a smile.
“Yes, Wade? Something else you’d like to add?”
The air seemed to crackle, tension mounting by the second.
Before things could boil over, Napier cleared his throat with a deliberate, “Ahem… ahem…”
Instantly, all eyes shifted in his direction.
“That’s enough posturing,” Napier said evenly. He turned his focus to Adkins.
“Adkins, how are you holding up?”
Adkins, looking pale after his recent stay in the hospital, gave a weak wave. He’d spent most of the evening quietly playing chess with Napier, rarely joining in the conversation.
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