?Chapter 119:


    Consumed by guilt, Ruben had allowed Eloisa to haul Jeff away without intervention. He even prevented the other Evans family members from stepping in, reasoning that Eloisa needed to vent her bitterness to facilitate an easier resolutionter.


    However, at merely eight years old, Jeff failed toprehend Ruben’s strategic thinking. To him, it felt as though everyone had abandoned him while his world disintegrated around him. He clutched Elliana’s leg desperately, ready to do anything and dismiss any previous animosity just for her intervention.


    Elliana ignored Jeff, instead reaching for Barbara’s wrist to check her pulse before lowering the arm with careful precision.


    Eloisa stared, bewilderment crossing her features. “Who are you? Why are you touching my daughter?”


    Suspecting something, Elliana offered a subtle smile. “Mrs. Henderson, I’m Elliana Marsh, Cole’s wife. I now serve as the matriarch of this family.”


    Eloisa blinked. Though she typically avoided gossip circles, she had caught wind of the Evans heir’s extravagant wedding. She had heard rumors that Cole’s wife was unattractive, but Elliana’s appearance surpassed her expectations. Had grief not overwhelmed her, she might have recoiled in shock.


    “What’s your angle here? Are you attempting to persuade me into pardoning this child?” Eloisa snapped. “Let me make this abundantly clear—that’s impossible!”


    “You’re overthinking this. I have no intention to entangle myself in Jeff’s predicament,” Elliana responded coolly.


    In stark contrast to Eloisa’s unrestrained fury, Elliana maintained the serenity of a blooming rose, her voice flowing like honey.


    Elliana went on. “Justice must prevail. Jeff injured your daughter and paralyzed your eldest son, so your pursuit of Jeff is warranted. I support your cause. However, rather than forcing him to kneel in a coffin, I suggest administering a more severe punishment.”


    Jeff, still gripping Elliana’s leg, gazed up with terror-stricken eyes at her chilling suggestion. He had found Eloisa frightening, but Elliana existed in an entirely different realm of intimidation. The mere thought of Elliana’s idea of “more severe punishment” sent tremors through his small frame. Traditional disciplinary methods paled inparison. This must be pure vengeance.


    ???????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????ν??????﹒??????


    A wail erupted from Jeff as he released Elliana’s leg as though it had scorched his skin. “No! Put me in the coffin to kneel instead! I reject any harsher lesson!” he sobbed uncontrobly.


    No one could decipher Elliana’s true intentions. Puzzled nces were exchanged before all eyes gravitated toward Ruben.


    Ruben had officially appointed Elliana as matriarch the previous night.


    With her startling pronouncements, everyone waited anxiously for Ruben’s reaction.


    Yet, Ruben remained impassive, observing Elliana silently, permitting herplete control of the situation.


    Without Ruben’s intervention, not a single person dared voice opposition.


    “Elliana, have you lost all reason?” No longer hiding in the background, Irene burst forth from the crowd,unching into a tirade against Elliana. “As the Evans family’s matriarch, your duty is to shield our family and resolve conflicts. You cannot terrorize a child with such rhetoric! What qualifies you for leadership?”


    Elliana fixed Irene with an icy stare. “What impropriety have I spoken? Your son’s reckless behavior ruined two lives. As his mother, you should be offering apologies, not asserting dominance. Do you even qualify as human?”


    Irene stood paralyzed. Elliana’s retort rendered her speechless.


    Elliana maintained her authoritative presence as she eviscerated Irene’s character. “Had you properly instructed Jeff in appropriate conduct, this catastrophe would never have urred. Had you swallowed your pride and apologized to Mrs. Henderson afterward, her hatred wouldn’t have run so deep. You stand in error, Irene, yet parade around with unwarranted superiority, as though others’ lives hold no value. You’ve tarnished the Evans name irreparably. The true deserving recipient of punishment isn’t Jeff—it’s you, for your maternal failures.”


    Being publicly castigated by someone she looked down on struck Irene profoundly. Her face flushed crimson, teeth clenched tightly, yet no rebuttal materialized. Without allies to defend her, she remained rooted in ce, absorbing the verbal onught.


    Detecting Irene’s mounting fury, Elliana stepped closer. “Irene, do you understand what distinguishes humans from animals?”


    Irene blinked rapidly, disoriented by Elliana’s unexpected inquiry.


    Others appeared equally confounded. Elliana’s previous statements had been righteous and severe, so why introduce such a seemingly trivial question?


    With all attention focused on her, Elliana spoke deliberately. “The crucial distinction is that animals remain consistently animals, whereas humans sometimes behave worse. When people abandon their humanity, they descend beneath animal status.”


    A profound silence enveloped the room. Direct insultscked the precision of Elliana’s subtle barb, and she wielded it masterfully. Irene’s body quivered with unbridled rage…


    .


    .


    .