Filipe Gable, the butler, hesitated before speaking. "Madam, isn''t this a little inappropriate?"


    After all, N was still Emerald''s daughter and, technically, one of the masters of the estate. It wasn''t proper for a service staff to unlock the door to N''s room with a spare key.


    Emerald hadn''t originally intended to take things this far, but N was being uncooperative-so she only had herself to me.


    "Just do as I say!"


    Filipe let out a quiet sigh before nodding. "Understood."


    Filipe left the hall, taking a few staff members with him. He stopped outside N''s bedroom and knocked lightly before speaking through the door. "Ms. Kinsey, pleasee out. If you refuse, I will have no choice but to unlock the door with the spare key. Please don''t make things difficult for me."


    Behind him, one of the maids frowned in confusion. "Why are you treating her with so much respect? It''s obvious Madam doesn''t care about her at all. Anyone can see that she despises her."


    Filipe shot the servant a nce before answering, "No matter how Madam feels about her, she is still our master. And how do you know Madam won''t change her mind one day? Or what if she really does take over the Nixons?"


    The maid wrinkled her nose, clearly disagreeing, but said nothing further.


    Noticing her dissatisfaction, Filipe smiled and let the matter drop.


    Inside the bedroom, N furrowed her brow at Filipe''s warning. After a moment''s hesitation, she got up and unlocked the door.


    As soon as it opened, Filipe lowered his head slightly in deference. "Ms. Kinsey, Madam has asked me to bring you to the hall. There are still many guests who would like to meet you."


    "Alright, let''s go." N didn''t resist.


    If Emerald was willing to go so far as


    ras


    to have Filipe threaten to open her door with a key, she would undoubtedly find other ways to deal with her if she continued to refuse.  swnovel


    Besides, she had already aplished her goal of upsetting Emerald. Going out now wouldn''t make a difference.


    When they reached the main hall, Filipe led N to Emerald''s side. "Madam, Ms. Kinsey is here."


    Emerald turned to look at N, then told Filipe, "Good. You can go now."


    After Filipe left, Emerald smiled at N-but the disdain in her eyes was impossible to hide.


    "N, this entire banquet was organized for you. I won''t question where you went the other day, but don''t push your luck and test my patience," Emerald warned.


    N raised an eyebrow with a


    mocking smile. "Ms. Kinsey, are you


    sure you''re not investigating in secret? And saying this banquet was organized for me-isn''t that a bit


    hypocritical? It''s not about me at all. It''s about your precious children and securing the position of the Nixons'' sessor."  swnovel


    Emerald''s gaze darkened instantly, though the smile on her face remained unchanged. "No matter the reason, you have no choice but to behave yourself.


    "I''ve assigned plenty of people to keep an eye on Damon and Buddy. Do you really think the person behind you can watch over them at all times, without a singlepse?"


    "If you darey a finger on them, I promise you''ll regret it," N threatened.


    Emerald reached out, seemingly to


    brush a stray lock of hair from N''s


    face, and whispered in her ear, "Whether do or don''t depends on you. Oh, by the way, I also had your father brought here. Once the banquet is over, I''ll arrange for you to meet him."  swnovel


    N''s eyes widened in shock. "What did you just say?"