?Chapter 486:


    While Derek seethed, Elliana remainedposed. Her voice was steady, with a touch of mockery. “Whatever you n to doter is your business. But today, with no proof, you’ve insulted, ndered, and threatened me. That alone deserves punishment—ording to the family code.”


    She didn’t give Derek a chance to respond. Her gaze shifted to Paulina. “Paulina, under the Evans family code, what’s the penalty for ndering and disrespecting the matriarch?”


    Earlier, Paulina and Myles had been in Cole’s room, keeping watch. But when they heard Elliana was heading to the conference room with Ruben, they followed, expecting trouble from Carter’s camp. Now, they stood quietly by Elliana’s side, ready to act.


    Myles, though still pale and weak from serious injuries, stood tall and firm. Paulina, on the other hand, was brimming with energy. She might have been Cole’s butler by title, but she had trained alongside Myles and the others since childhood. Her strong build and sharp instincts made her a force to be reckoned with.


    Standing beside Elliana, Paulina’s presence gave weight to every word Elliana spoke.


    Toby was here too, with a team of bodyguards. He stood by the door, silent and unmoving, like a wall, keeping watch over the room.


    As Elliana and Derek exchanged verbal blows, Paulina kept herposure, but deep down, she was in awe. Now, she finally understood why Cole had fallen so hard for Elliana. It wasn’t just Elliana’s beauty beneath her disguise. It was her fire, courage, and poise.


    Elliana could be sweet and yful when things were calm, teasing Cole with charm. But when it mattered, she didn’t flinch. She stood firm and took control. She was everything a perfect wife should be. Paulina was still cheering Elliana on silently when Elliana’s voice snapped her back.


    “If a family member nders and disrespects the matriarch, they receive twentyshes as a warning,” Paulina said clearly.


    Elliana nodded slightly, her expression calm andposed. “Then let’s follow through with the code.”


    Find more at g?? lno  ve ls.??o??


    “Understood,” Paulina replied, handing Toby a quick 100k.


    Toby and his men moved instantly, grabbing Derek and forcing him down.


    Derek panicked and yelled at Carter, “Grandpa, help me!”


    Theshes wouldn’t kill Derek, but they would leave him bruised and bedridden for weeks. As a spoiled heir used to a soft life, he couldn’t handle that kind of pain. But worse than the pain was the shame. Getting whipped in front of everyone would crush his pride—and Carter’s too.


    Carter had started this whole mess, rallying the family elders to the estate and demanding a new family head. But now, before the meeting had even begun, his grandson was about to be punished in front of them all. It was like a p to his face.


    Carter leapt to his feet, furious, pointing at Elliana. “You vicious woman! Over something this small, you’re punishing my grandson? Even Irene, as fierce as she was, never did something so cruel when she was in charge!”


    Everyone knew Irene was sharp-tongued and cunning, a real schemer. But even she had never dared punish Carter’s family, often bending over backward to keep them happy and avoid conflict.


    .


    .


    .