?Chapter 286:


    From across the hall, Elliana couldn’t hear the words, but the sidelong nces and smug grins told her plenty. She didn’t flinch. Petty talk didn’t bother her. Without missing a beat, she kept walking, chin high. Once she reached Ruben, she offered a poised nod. “Ruben.”


    Then, she turned toward the woman beside him and greeted her just as politely. “Mrs. Craig.”


    But Bonnie wasn’t having it. She scoffed—loud and sharp—and dropped the maskpletely. Whatever manners she had flew right out the window as she began tosh out at Elliana…


    “You must be Elliana.” Bonnie’s words dripped with sarcasm. “I heard your mother used to cower at home all day, as if bearing some terrible shame. Yet you, quite the opposite, seem to revel in attention and stirring up trouble.”


    Before Elliana could muster a response, Bonnie pivoted toward Ruben, jabbing a finger at Elliana. “You cling far too rigidly to principles and family traditions. How could you force Cole to marry a woman like her? Cole possesses remarkable talent. Even if he doesn’t wed a beauty, must he truly be shackled to someone so ugly?”


    Bertram and Emmanuel shifted ufortably beside Ruben, exchanging tense nces before their eyes inevitably drifted to Elliana. But despite the tant insult, Elliana remainedposed, her expression betraying nothing of her inner thoughts.


    After an awkward pause hung in the air, Ruben’s face softened as he addressed Elliana. “Since Cole is unwell and couldn’t attend, why aren’t you at Regal Grove tending to him?”


    Elliana’s lips curved into a gentle smile, her voice melodious and warm. “I came to keep youpany, Ruben. I worried you might find the event tedious without family present.”


    “Ha-ha…” Ruben’sughter resonated with genuine affection. “Bertram and Emmanuel are already at my side. Your attention is better directed elsewhere. Perhaps Mrs. Craig deserves yourpany instead.” With that deration, Ruben rose from his seat. “Bertram, Emmanuel, help me take a walk elsewhere.”


    Bertram and Emmanuel exchanged puzzled nces, bewildered by Ruben’s decision to abandon Elliana to Bonnie’s venom. It struck them as callous, even cruel. Yet, knowing Ruben’s unwavering authority over his children, they dared not question his judgment. They hastily bid Bonnie farewell and escorted Ruben from the ufortable scene. Once they’d created sufficient distance, Emmanuel finally voiced his concern. “Dad, Mrs. Craig clearly harbors contempt for Elliana. How could you leave Elliana to face that viper alone? Elliana bears our family name now. Shouldn’t we shield her from the Craig family’s malice?”


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    Ruben cast Emmanuel a look of amused pity, as though he had missed the obvious. “Have you already forgotten Elliana’s sharp tongue? Remember the day the Henderson family caused a scene at our house? She gave Irene a memorable lesson.”


    At this reminder, Bertram’s face flushed with embarrassment. That fateful day, his wife Irene had been thoroughly humiliated by Elliana, and as Irene’s husband, the shame had cut him doubly deep.


    Emmanuel’s eyes widened with suddenprehension. “You’re orchestrating an opportunity for Elliana to put Mrs. Craig in her ce? But Mrs. Craig’s social position is quite untouchable—might this prove too challenging for Elliana?”


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