“You’re overthinking this. I have no intention to entangle myself in Jeff’s predicament,” Elliana responded coolly.
In stark contrast to Eloisa’s unrestrained fury, Elliana maintained the serenity of a blooming rose, her voice flowing like honey.
Elliana went on. “Justice must prevail. Jeff injured your daughter and paralyzed your eldest son, so your pursuit of Jeff is warranted. I support your cause. However, rather than forcing him to kneel in a coffin, I suggest administering a more severe punishment.”
Jeff, still gripping Elliana’s leg, gazed up with terror-stricken eyes at her chilling suggestion. He had found Eloisa frightening, but Elliana existed in an entirely different realm of intimidation. The mere thought of Elliana’s idea of “more severe punishment” sent tremors through his small frame. Traditional disciplinary methods paled in comparison. This must be pure vengeance.
A wail erupted from Jeff as he released Elliana’s leg as though it had scorched his skin. “No! Put me in the coffin to kneel instead! I reject any harsher lesson!” he sobbed uncontrollably.
No one could decipher Elliana’s true intentions. Puzzled glances were exchanged before all eyes gravitated toward Ruben.
Ruben had officially appointed Elliana as matriarch the previous night.
With her startling pronouncements, everyone waited anxiously for Ruben’s reaction.
Yet, Ruben remained impassive, observing Elliana silently, permitting her complete control of the situation.
Without Ruben’s intervention, not a single person dared voice opposition.
“Elliana, have you lost all reason?” No longer hiding in the background, Irene burst forth from the crowd, launching into a tirade against Elliana. “As the Evans family’s matriarch, your duty is to shield our family and resolve conflicts. You cannot terrorize a child with such rhetoric! What qualifies you for leadership?”
Elliana fixed Irene with an icy stare. “What impropriety have I spoken? Your son’s reckless behavior ruined two lives. As his mother, you should be offering apologies, not asserting dominance. Do you even qualify as human?”
Irene stood paralyzed. Elliana’s retort rendered her speechless.
Elliana maintained her authoritative presence as she eviscerated Irene’s character. “Had you properly instructed Jeff in appropriate conduct, this catastrophe would never have occurred. Had you swallowed your pride and apologized to Mrs. Henderson afterward, her hatred wouldn’t have run so deep. You stand in error, Irene, yet parade around with unwarranted superiority, as though others’ lives hold no value. You’ve tarnished the Evans name irreparably. The true deserving recipient of punishment isn’t Jeff-it’s you, for your maternal failures.”
Being publicly castigated by someone she looked down on struck Irene profoundly. Her face flushed crimson, teeth clenched tightly, yet no rebuttal materialized. Without allies to defend her, she remained rooted in place, absorbing the verbal onslaught.
Detecting Irene’s mounting fury, Elliana stepped closer. “Irene, do you understand what distinguishes humans from animals?”
Irene blinked rapidly, disoriented by Elliana’s unexpected inquiry.
Others appeared equally confounded. Elliana’s previous statements had been righteous and severe, so why introduce such a seemingly trivial question?
With all attention focused on her, Elliana spoke deliberately. “The crucial distinction is that animals remain consistently animals, whereas humans sometimes behave worse. When people abandon their humanity, they descend beneath animal status.”
A profound silence enveloped the room. Direct insults lacked the precision of Elliana’s subtle barb, and she wielded it masterfully. Irene’s body quivered with unbridled rage..
After unleashing days of pent-up fury on Irene, a delicious sense of triumph rippled through Elliana’s chest. Since the day she’d married into the Evans clan, Irene had been a relentless storm-spitting venom, weaving petty schemes, and making her life a daily battle. But today, she had finally turned the tables and served her tormentor a long-overdue dose of her own cruelty.
It was, without question, the worst day of Irene’s life. No one had ever dared speak to her with such cutting disregard-not even Bertram, who’d barely disguised his contempt for her over the years, had ever gone this far. But Elliana had. And that was what made it burn. Worse still, Irene couldn’t strike back-not here, not now. All she could do was stand there, seething in silence, swallowing the humiliation like poison.
Elliana took a moment to savor the sight- Irene’s clenched jaw and trembling fingers. Then, she turned her attention to Eloisa.
Surprisingly, the fire had gone out of Eloisa. Even Ruben’s earlier attempt to calm her had failed. But somehow, Elliana’s words-sharp, precise, and deeply honest-had pierced through her fury and defused it.
Each sentence Elliana had hurled at Irene echoed in Eloisa’s heart, lancing the pressure she’d been holding in for too long. Now, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the fury replaced by something far gentler: gratitude toward Elliana. She felt like a coiled spring finally released, the tension melting away and bringing a sudden sense of relief.
“Elliana, thank you,” Eloisa said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Elliana offered a soft, almost serene smile. “I only spoke the truth. There’s no need to thank me.”
Eloisa let out a heavy, trembling sigh. “The Evans family is lucky-truly lucky-to have you.” Her voice faltered. “If only… If only my Charles…” She couldn’t finish. The words crumbled on her tongue, and she turned away, broken by grief.
Across the room, Trinity stiffened. Eloisa’s praise landed like a slap, and a surge of dread knotted in her chest. Her eyes darted from face to face, silently gauging their reactions. Were they all beginning to see Elliana in a different light?
In Trinity’s mind, Elliana’s place in this family should have been considered a stain-not a badge of honor. Only she was the Evans family’s shining pride, not Elliana.
Jealousy tightened around Trinity like a noose. She couldn’t stand being sidelined while Elliana soaked in admiration. She had to act-had to be seen.
Only minutes ago, Trinity had shrunk in fear under Eloisa’s fury, blending into the background. Now, she stepped forward with a poised, practiced smile.
“Eloisa,” she said softly, slipping her hand around the grieving woman’s arm. “I’m so sorry for your loss. We can’t bring the dead back-but you must look after yourself. Seeing you like this breaks my heart.”
But the moment her fingers touched Eloisa’s skin, Eloisa’s eyes ignited with fresh rage.
“You!” With a cry of fury, Eloisa shoved Trinity away-hard. “Get away from me!”
Trinity let out a gasp as she tumbled backward, hitting the floor with a thud.
“Trinity!” Lance was at her side in an instant, helping her up as she clutched his arm like a fragile porcelain doll. “Are you alright?” he asked, his face tight with concern.
Trinity nodded, her eyes glassy with tears. “I’m fine,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Lance turned on Eloisa, indignation burning in his gaze. “Out of respect for our families’ long history-and knowing you’re grieving-we’ve tried to be understanding. But Trinity was only offering comfort. Don’t you think this was a bit excessive?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.