Chapter 233
Td you all her th
Whathead wheur what happened yesterday?
“I definitely hinggered, ty unde saw it with his own eyes. The man’s in his seventies and still grabbed his cane to stand in front of the Holy Lady Gabriel showed him aside so hard, his cane flew off. Then he turned around and slapped the Holy Lady across the face. My uncle sans by it–saw it, lived it, no way it’s fake.”
ber
And all use of his illegitimate daughter, right Trying to defend her honor or whatever
Oh my God. Gabriel is vervously this based? That’s disgusting”
And yet this he deliberately waited until Prince Regent Nolan wasn’t around before confronting her. And they say he even tried to drag ber out of the herbal clinic If she hadn’t refused to leave, who knows what he would’ve done to her…
Outrageous. Absolutely outrageous”
Tim telling you, the Stonor family is out of control. Even if she used to be his daughter, how can he treat her like this now?”
“And it’s not just Gabriel Don’t think for a second the rest of them are any better. The whole Stonor family has taken tur bullying the Holy Lady
“Remember when Lord Dylan barged into Saint Grace Nunnery?”
“Who could forger
“And what about Adeline? Just because the Holy Lady followed Mary to treat Evelyn, she accused her of theft and attacked her in front of the entire nunnery. Slapped her, screamed at her–absolutely vile.”
“And that’s just the stuff we know about. Who knows how much she’s suffered behind closed doors?”
“But… I thought the Stonor family treated her really well before?”
“Yeah, well, that was before Gabriel found his precious little love child”
“Didn’t be claim Sophie was the daughter of a family friend or something? Then it came out she was his illegitimate daughter all along.”
“So if you ask me, Sophie is the real reason this whole mess began.”
Back at the Stonor Estate.
Father, what exactly did you do yesterday!” Matthew stormed into Gabriel’s study, fury practically steaming from……ears.
Anthony, seated nearby, looked up, frowning. “Matthew? What happened to you? You’ve got rotting vegetable leaves all over
“What happened! Those brain–dead peasants outside are throwing things! All because of some ridiculous rumor that our entire family’s been abusing Eliza. I got ambushed the second I left the estate this morning!”
He yanked a slimy lettuce leaf off his shoulder in disgust. “If Id caught the bastard who threw it. I’d have given him a beating he’d never forget”
4/3
Chapter 233
Anthony sighed “So you’ve heard too. But in all fairness, this wasn’t entirely Father’s fault. He was set up
setup”
“Set up By who‘ Eliza Matthew scoffed and turned to Gabriel, wide–eyed “Father, is that true? Someone tricked you?”
Gabriel didn’t respond.
Anthony, however, offered calmly. “Elra is definitely involved–the’s the so–called victim in all this. But I doubt she has the reach to spread this many rumors, not this fast Someone else is fanning the flames
Matthew’s face darkened. “It has to be Nolan. Who else would back her like this? He’s been going against os for months.”
Anthony said nothing, but clearly agreed.
Matthew paced, agitated. “So what now! People are ready to chuck rotten eggs at our gate. At this rate, we won’t even be able to show our faces in Hasen City”
Gabriel remained silent. From the moment Matthew had barged in, he hadn’t spoken a word. Instead, he gripped a brush tightly, writing the word Clam on paper–again and again, trying to suppress his fury.
He got to ninety–nine before the brush trembled in his hand. A blot of black ink dripped from the tip, blooming across the parchment like a spreading stain.
The brush snapped onto the desk.
Finally, Gabriel spoke. “Where’s Benedict?”
Matthew groaned. “Who knows? These past few days he only leaves to attend court in the mornings. Then he locks himself in his room and won’t even open the door for meals. I tried knocking. Nothing. He’s being a weirdo.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes but waved it off.
Matthew pushed, “Forget Benedict–what about the bigger issue? Father, do you have any plan at all!*
“A plan?” Gabriel gave a cold laugh. “You think I still have a plan? Do you even know how many impeachment letters were submitted against me in court this morning?”
Matthew and Anthony exchanged a look
“You mean… the rumors have reached the royal court?” Matthew asked hesitantly.
Gabriel’s expression was grim. Of course they have. You think this is just about gossip? This whole circus was designed to bring me down, and it’s already reached the throne room”
“Nolan… faking madness in the Benevolent Palace. Eliza baiting me into lashing out in public.”
He paused, then added with biting disdain. “Even my own daughter and political enemies are working hand in hand now,”
Gabriel’s gaze was like a knife. “Punishment? No, this is far worse than that”
He stood. “The two most important posts I held in court–gone. Stripped away with a single line from the King. Its a matter of public perception‘ And three of my most loyal supporters have been arrested for corruption”
“Tve been publicly gutted and hung out to dry.”
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then Matthew asked. “But what about Sophie? If His Majesty has moved against you will she be affected too!”
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