377.Chapter 377
“Get them separated right now!” Gabriel barked.
The quards he brought with him immediately stepped forward, ready to act.
But before they could even approach the crowd, several groups of guards in various noble uniforms suddenly surged forward, blocking their path
“Stop right there! Don’t you dare get close to our madam!”
“Take one step forward, and don’t blame us if our swords show no mercy!”
“Who do you think you are, trying to approach our young heiress?”
The Stonor family quards hesitated, their eyes scanning the crowd. They recognized the faces–wives of ministers, daughters of generals, sisters–in–law of commanders, and younger sisters of imperial censors. The sheer number of influential families represented left them completely at a loss,
How could they possibly make a move against such a group?
Gabriel’s face turned even darker as he took in the scene.
And then, his gaze landed on a particularly familiar figure amidst the chaos.
He shouted, “Adeline”
Adeline, her face hidden behind a veil, froze at the sound of a voice she knew all too well. Her body stiffened in fear as she turned around. “Gabriel?”
Her eyes widened in shock and panic. What is my brother doing here?
Gabriel was livid. “Get over here, now!”
Reluctantly, Adeline squeezed her way out of the crowd she’d fought so hard to reach the front of. Her scalp prickled as she shuffled toward Gabriel, her throat dry with nerves.
“What are you doing here?” Gabriel demanded, his tone sharp and cutting.
Adeline dared not lie. “I… I came for the Snow Lotus beauty soup.”
Gabriel’s laughter was laced with icy fury. “Do you even care that your nephew is on his deathbed? You’re even here fighting over some beauty soup!”
What does that have to do with me? Adeline lowered her head, her lips curling in disdain.
She hadn’t forgotten how Gabriel had broken her son’s leg. Though the royal physician had managed to set the bone, he’d wamed that her son’s leg would never fully recover.
This was all his fault!
For the sake of some lowly illegitimate girl, he’d gone so far as to cripple his nephew. How could he be so ruthless? Adeline seethed inwardly, but in front of Gabriel, she dared not let even a hint of her resentment show,
She said, “Why are you yelling at me? How was I supposed to know Benedict was in trouble?”
Alright, she did know.
But she absolutely didn’t want to go to the Stonors‘ estate–not when she’d have to face the two people responsible for her son losing a leg.
Of course, Gabriel knew Adeline far too well.
Even without her looking up, he could read her thoughts like an open book.
Gabriel let out a cold laugh. “Oh, I see. Your son storms into our house, nearly driving my son to his grave, and I only break one of his legs in return. And for that, you hold a grudge against me?”
“No, no! I would never hold a grudge against you, Gabriel. You’ve got it all wrong” Adeline, of course, denied it with all her might. “I swear, I didn’t know! I’ve been here since dawn–ask anyone if you don’t believe me! All the ladies crowded at the front can vouch for me”
Ganel snorted “And do you know that your nephew is hanging by a thread, waiting for Eliza’s Snow Lotus to save his life? Yet here you are, trying to snatch some Snow L
Now, that was news to Adeline
Successfully unlocked!
She had come purely for the beauty soup. After all, every woman wanted to be beautiful
Sure, she was a mother, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t want to look stunning
So when she heard that the Snow Lotus beauty soup could make women even more radiant, she couldn’t resist coming–
1/2
even if it was made by Eliza, someone she didn’t get along with.
In fact, knowing it was Eliza who had personally prepared it only made her want it more.
After all, who wouldn’t feel envious of Eliza’s beauty?
So Adeline donned her veil, hoping to blend into the crowd unnoticed.
D
