?Chapter 284:


    “Elliott, you thought it was appropriate to bring an outsider into this room?” Rayna pressed a delicate hand to her nose, eyes narrowing in barely concealed distaste, making a show of shielding herself, as if Christina reeked of something rotten.


    Christina barely spared Rayna a nce, refusing to rise to the bait. She knew perfectly well she didn’t stink of anything unpleasant. If someone was determined to despise her, even the way she breathed would be a crime in their eyes.


    Elliott’s tone cut through the tension, crisp and unyielding. “Miss Jones is my guest. She’s wee anywhere in the Hubbard estate.”


    The look Elliott shot Rayna left no room for argument—his patience with her petty posturing had clearly run out. There was always a faint trace of clean, delicate perfume that lingered around Christina, subtle and refined. Rayna, on the other hand, nearly choked the air with her cloying scent—a perfume so strong that it practically announced her arrival before she even entered the room.


    Color crept up Rayna’s cheeks, but she swallowed her protest and edged to Eugene, lips pressed in a tight, sulky line.


    “Elliott, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Your aunt is just concerned about outsiders wandering into private family spaces. Are you saying she’s the one causing trouble now?” Eugene puffed up with indignation, slipping into the sanctimonious tone of a lecturing elder. “Have you forgotten the rules of the Hubbard family?”


    “I’m a Hubbard. And I haven’t forgotten the rules thate with that name. Like I said, Miss Jones is my friend. She’s not an outsider,” Elliott said coldly, eyes locked on Eugene and his family. His words weren’t just a defense. They were a warning—aimed straight at Eugene and his family. The Happers had no right to say so.


    Eugene got the message loud and clear—and it burned. Even though he tried to pull rank as an elder, Elliott didn’t bow to him. Elliott’s father might’ve shown him some respect. But when it came to Elliott’s generation, they wouldn’t yield an inch to him. And soon enough, whatever connection the Happers once had with the Hubbards would be forgotten like a faded stain. If the Happers wanted power, they’d have to w their own way to the top.


    “Elliott, what’s that supposed to mean? My grandmother was your great-aunt! We may be Happers, but we’ve still got Hubbard blood!” Bruno snapped.


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    “Please head to the banquet hall,” Elliott replied tly. He wasn’t interested in arguing. If they hadn’t disrespected Christina, none of this would’ve happened. But they had. And for that alone, they’d lost his goodwill.


    “You’re really choosing this woman over your own family?” Eugene demanded. Elliott’s expression didn’t budge.


    “Mr. Happer, please don’t make this harder than it needs to be. I’d hate to trouble my grandfather over something this petty.” He dropped Freddie’s name effortlessly, a quiet threat.


    Eugene’s face darkened at Elliott’s formal way of addressing him. And now, Elliott was tossing Freddie’s name into the mix. He’d gotten bold. And it was all for some random woman. Did his rtives mean nothing to him anymore?


    “Please stop arguing. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn,” Rayna cut in softly, tears glistening in her eyes as if she truly regretted her actions. She turned to Christina with a shaky voice. “I’m sorry, Miss Jones.”


    “You did speak out of turn,” Christina said inly.


    Rayna froze as she hadn’t expected this. Her charade almost slipped—but she quickly covered it up, clinging to the victim act.


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