?Chapter 978:


    “Ah, thank you!” Terrell’s smile was warm.


    Before anyone couldment further, Kam’s voice sliced through the air like a knife. “You certainly have a way with words, don’t you? I’m quite intrigued to see what kind of gift you’ve brought. I suppose today I’ll be a little bold and ask Terrell to open the gift. After all, the daughter of the Vazquez family—long lost and now found—must have something extraordinary up her sleeve.”


    Her words, though wrapped in silk, carried the sting of a thorn. Kam had made it impossible for Eileen to refuse without appearing rude.


    Eileen’s gaze flicked over to Kam. She realized that Kam was undoubtedly Tilda’s mother; the resemnce was uncanny. Yet, while Tilda was naive and unpolished, Kam was sharp and cunning.


    “Eileen, would you mind revealing the birthday present you brought?” Terrell asked.


    Sensing the undercurrent of tension, Bryan surveyed the room, his eyes meeting Raymond’s in a silent exchange. Raymond quickly vanished into the crowd, searching for something.


    “Mr. Byrd, of course not,” Eileen replied, her voice steady.


    “As long as it’s my gift, I have no objections.” She raised her eyebrows, a smile ying at the corners of her lips. With a practiced air, Bernice opened the tightly wrapped box.


    Inside was a delicate red container—or so it seemed at first nce.


    No, it wasn’t just a small container; it was a miniature coffin.


    The room fell silent, faces paling as recognition dawned. On Terrell’s eightieth birthday, thest thing anyone wanted was a reminder of mortality. The coffin seemed like a curse to Terrell!


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    Bernice’s face darkened as she hurled the coffin to the floor. Despite the impact, the well-crafted object remained intact, save for a small chip on one corner.


    “What is the meaning of this?” Bernice turned to Eileen, her voice sharp with usation.


    Kam’s lips curled into a smirk. “Well, well. It seems our young guest is quite impulsive. Even Onnd’s customs can’t exin such a gift. Perhaps you’ve grown too ustomed to the life there. Alverton clearly isn’t the ce for someone like you.”


    Eileen saw through Kam’s ploy to turn everyone against her, to drive her from Alverton. She couldn’t help butugh.


    “You are Mrs. Aston, right? For someone who has never met me before, you seem to know an awful lot about my life. Tell me, what do you think I despise most?”


    “I’m hardly in the mood for guessing games with you,” Kam retorted, her tone dismissive. “None of us here are. After all, you’re a stranger here.”


    Eileen replied calmly, “I am clearly a stranger you seem desperate to know everything about. If you’re so bored, perhaps you should focus on your own family instead of meddling in my business.”


    The implication in her words hung in the air—if Kam truly feared her, she would do well to concentrate on dealing with Keith instead of meddling in her affairs. Kam’s face darkened.


    Eileen exined to Terrell, “Mr. Byrd, I assure you, this gift’s appearance belies its true meaning. While your family’s sess in business and politics is undeniable, this vessel is meant to seal away any evil, ensuring the continued prosperity of the Byrd family.”


    Everyone knew that a coffin traditionally signified death and was a fixture at funerals. Given Terrell’s advanced age, it was a stretch to spin the gift into something positive.


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