?Chapter 16:


    Javier held no esteem for this cousin from a less distinguished background. He assumed shecked ss.


    “Javier, stop making things up,” Elyse interjected softly, her gaze on Elena. “Elena, ignore him. Javier tends to be overly frank, yet he intends no offense. You’re magnanimous and won’t take it to heart, right?”


    Elyse’s demeanor was soothing and sympathetic, yet her words subtly framed the insult as frankness. If Elena felt insulted, she would appear small-minded. She reminded Elena of Sylvia.


    Before Elena could reply, Elyse added, “Javier, say you’re sorry. Elena is your cousin.”


    “Ha, she doesn’t deserve to be my cousin…” Javier scoffed, unaware of the growing tension around him.


    “Javier, I dare you to say that again! Do you deem me unworthy of your cousin as well?” Jeffry fixed Javier with a hard stare, his expression turning ice-cold.


    Javier stiffened. The smug look in his eyes shifted to panic as he nced around nervously. He stammered, “Jeffry, I… I didn’t mean it like that…”


    “Then what were you trying to say?” Jeffry kept his tone level, but Javier felt a chill in his bones and couldn’t manage a proper reply.


    Sensing the tension, Javier’s mother, Samira Harper, hurried in to break the awkward silence. “Javier speaks without thinking. We’ve spoiled him too much, and we’ll make sure to correct him.”


    Samira turned toward Elena with a gentle smile. “If that painting has caught your eye, consider it a wee gift. I’ll have someone bring it to your house.”


    Samira had no desire to sh with Alexander’s family, since the Harper Group was under their control. Besides, that painting was just another present someone from Foiclens had sent.


    Over the years, people had given all sorts of gifts to earn favors, and Samira seldom took any notice.


    Yet, Javier interjected, “Absolutely not! Elyse wants that painting, and I’m going to give it to her!”


    Noticing how Alexander and Jolie both looked upset, Samira wished she could stop Javier from talking altogether.


    Samira had watched Elyse grow up and treated her like her own. Naturally, she cared for Elyse more than Elena, who had only recently reconnected with the family. Still, she had to stay on good terms with Alexander’s family.


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    Samira’s polite smile almost slipped. “You…”


    Before she could continue, Elyse said, “It’s all right, Samira. If Elena likes it too, let her have it. Javier just doesn’t want me to feel overlooked, but I’m fine. I’ll let Elena have it.”


    Elyse’s eyes looked slightly reddened, but she forced a small, brave smile.


    This made Samira feel even more pity for Elyse, which only deepened her dislike for Elena. Elena had barely returned, and yet she was already treating Elyse poorly. She was exactly what one would expect from someone raised in a backwater, with…


    No sense of proper manners. “Elena is the daughter of the Harper family. She has everything. Why would she need to take what others discard?” Louis spoke up suddenly. He rested an arm protectively on Elena’s shoulder. “My sister didn’t return to be mistreated. Wouldn’t you agree, Samira?”


    Elyse’s eyes flickered with hostility. She wondered if Louis meant her liking a painting that Elena also appreciated was wrong. That question struck her as a veiled insult.


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