291.Chapter 291


    "Isn''t it all thanks to you, Gabriel?" Dn suddenly spoke up, a mocking tone in his voice. "When I left the Duke''s estate, I truly had nothing on me. I thought, with how petty you are, there''s no way you''d ever actually agree to Eliza''s terms."


    His words immediately provoked Gabriel''s anger.


    "Enough!" Gabriel mmed his fist on the table, ring at Dn. "Is this how you speak to me?"


    Dn gave a cold smile. "What else would you prefer, Gabriel? What kind of attitude do you expect from me?"


    "You-" Gabriel was momentarily stunned by Dn''s words, his anger clouding his judgment. For a moment, he didn''t continue pressing the matter.


    But the result was still the same-his anger boiled over.


    "Fine, you dare to speak like that? If that''s the case, you''ve wronged me, so you''ll face punishment." Gabriel had had enough of wasting words on his rebellious son. He turned sharply and ordered, "Bring me the family punishment immediately!"


    But just as he spoke, Dn, undeterred, snapped back again. "What family punishment? Has the Duke of Mowbay forgotten that I, Dn, am no longer part of the Duke''s estate? How can you apply your family punishment to me?"


    "Smack!"


    Gabriel, unable to hold his temper any longer, struck him across the face. "Do you think I''m too afraid to strike you?" As Gabriel raised his hand again, Benedict swiftly stepped in front of Dn, blocking him. "Gabriel! Enough!"


    "Move aside!" Gabriel growled at Benedict.


    "No, Gabriel, please, calm down! You know how hot-tempered Dn is. He was upset about losing the estate, and his frustration got the better of him, so he spoke out of turn. Please, Gabriel, don''t hold it against him!" Benedict couldn''t stand to see Dn take any more punishment.


    Benedict thought, At least Dn is the only one of us who seems to have any rity these days. I still don''t know what he didst night, or what he was doing in Gabriel''s study, but I''m sure he had his reasons. Given his temperament, there''s no way he''de back after leaving unless something was troubling him. And to sneak into Gabriel''s study in broad daylight, that''s not something Dn would do without a serious reason.''


    Benedict stood in front of Gabriel, unable to ask any more questions, as he did his best to shield Dn.


    "Not to take it out on him? Then, who should I take it out on?"


    "Look at you, Benedict," Gabriel snapped. "I know why you''ve been avoiding me these past few days, but did you ever stop thinking about everything I''ve done for you? All the years of guiding you, teaching you. And now, you act as if none of it matters. Is that how you see everything I''ve done? A lie?"


    "Don''t forget, Benedict. You are the firstborn son of the Stonor family, the heir to the Duke''s estate, the future Duke of Mowbay. I''ve entrusted everything to you to lead and guide your siblings. And look at you now-how have you been doing your duty? Matthew and Anthony are constantly in trouble, Dn is stealing and scheming, and now you are hiding in your little courtyard, avoiding everything. How long will you keep running from it?"


    "Do you want to wait until the Duke''s estate crumbles before you finally feel at peace with yourself?"


    After reprimanding Dn, Gabriel turned to Benedict, continuing his tirade with a fierce re.


    Benedict''s face went pale, and for a long moment, he struggled to react.


    Dn let out a coldugh. "Well, isn''t this interesting. Are you trying to ce all the me for thest few months squarely on Benedict''s shoulders?"


    "Let''s be honest here, the reason the Duke''s estate is in chaos is because of what you did years ago. You betrayed Caroline and even brought someone back who shouldn''t have been here in the first ce."


    "Who are you talking about?" Gabriel''s voice deepened with anger.


    Gabriel''s face darkened immediately. "Sophie is also your sister."


    "She''s not my sister!" Dn''s eyes shed with bitterness. "The thing I hate most


    is being deceived. You and Sophie- father and daughter-both deceived me, and


    even drove Eliza. And now, you still im Sophie''s our sister?"


    "Don''t be ridiculous. I''m no longer part of the Dukestestatem


    OW."


    Sessfully unlocked!


    The word "outsider" stung Gabriel''s pride, maki.


    *Fine. If you''re an outsider, then get out! Leave the Duke''s estate, and never return.TM*


    "And since you insist on siding with Eliza, you two can go and live together, depending on each other. I won''t leave your name in the family tree." 291.Chapter 291


    Dn sneered dismissively. "I don''t care."


    Dn thought, ''From now on, if my name is ever written, it will be alongside Eliza''s. What''s wrong with us depending on each other? At least I''ll be able to make things right with her, and when I see Caroline in a hundred years, I''ll have something to say that will make her happy


    "What? You can''t do this, Gabriel!" When Gabriel announced that Dn''s name would be erased from the family tree, Benedict panicked.


    Dn didn''t care, but Benedict did. He had already lost Eliza, he couldn''t bear losing Dn either!


    Benedict dropped to his knees in desperation, but in his hurry, he didn''t notice the broken coffee cup on the ground andnded on a shard, cutting his knee.


    But Benedict didn''t even feel the pain. He kept pleading with Gabriel. "Gabriel, Dn was just being impulsive. He didn''t mean those words. Please, don''t erase his name from the family tree!"


    "Benedict!" Dn couldn''t bear to watch Benedict begging Gabriel like this. Dn thought, ''I can''t stand Gabriel anymore. Especially after seeing that ledgerst night and uncovering the truth, my hatred for him has reached the core. Suppose he wants to remove me from the family tree, fine. I almost wish he''d do it. That way, I won''t be tied to the Duke''s estate or the Stonor surname anymore."


    So-"Benedict, stop pleading. Let him erase my name. Don''t worry, even if I''m no longer part of the Stonor family, I''ll always be your brother!"