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Rafael led a group consisting of Harvey, Jeremiah, and Trevor, and the men approached Helen. They didn’t glance at the female guests but walked straight to Helen, stopping a short distance before her and raising their glasses.
“Lady Helen, we wish you a long and healthy life, filled with joy and peace. May you live as long as the mountains.”
Originally, Rafael was supposed to drink this toast on behalf of his mother, but Helen, delighted, took the glass herself and said cheerfully, “Good. May everyone live as long as the mountains. Let us enjoy many more years and the blessings of our descendants.”
Jeremiah and Trevor, both of advanced age, found this wish suitable for themselves as well. Only Harvey stood awkwardly by.
Jeremiah and Trevor drank as a gesture of respect, and Helen promptly drank from her glass. Harvey quickly finished his drink, and excused himself before departing with them.
The men continued to toast in groups of three. After Helen had drunk several glasses, Sophie stood and said, “I will now toast to the earls and marquises in attendance on behalf of my mother-in-law. Thank you for coming today. If there has been any lack of hospitality, please forgive us.”
There were two earls and one marquis in attendance today, and the marquis was the Marquis of Ironridge, Jessica’s husband. He had not once glanced at Jessica since entering.
Jessica’s eyes burned with anger. If he wasn’t interested in looking at her, she had no desire to look at him.
“Well said, Your Grace!” Leopold said with a smile, draining his glass and giving a respectful bow to Sophie. “I have great respect for you.”
“Lord Winchester, you flatter me,” Sophie replied with a smile.
The two earls also finished their drinks and cast admiring glances at Sophie.
Viola watched the scene unfold, and found it ironic. The toast was meant for Helen, and if anyone should be drinking in her place, it should be Rafael. How did it end up being Sophie?
Viola expected Rafael to be furious, but when she glanced at him, she found him gazing at Sophie with an expression of deep, tender affection.
At that moment, Viola was utterly dumbfounded. She stood frozen in shock.
This kind of look was familiar to her, though it had been a long time. Thomas used to look at her like that, but Blake never had. His eyes were always calm and distant. Memories of Thomas surged forth like a tidal wave, and the image of Rafael seemed to merge with his.
Viola quickly downed a glass of wine, trying to suppress the swirling thoughts.
What use were memories now that Thomas was gone?
Meanwhile, Serena was sitting beside her. She saw Rafael within her reach, and knew this was her only chance. Jessica would no longer take her to meet the He
Monarch, and after her previous failure, Jessica hadn’t offered a word of comfort.
Serena had to marry Rafael-she was determined!
Driven by obsession, she ignored the curious stares of those around her. Standing up with her glass, she walked forward, her voice trembling as she said, “I offer this toastto Lady Helen. I wish that…”
Before she could finish her sentence, she staggered and fell toward the Hell Monarch.
Finally, a strong arm reached out to catch her. Her heart leaped with joy, but when she looked up, her face went pale with shock-it was the Marquis of Ironridge, Leopold! Leopold released her as soon as she was steady on her feet, but the room’s eyes were already on them. Leopold’s face darkened with realization, his expression turning ashen. “You bitch!” Jessica’s voice cut through the air as she hurled her glass to the side and stormed forward.
Grabbing Serena by the shoulders, Jessica slapped her hard.
Serena was thrown off balance, crashing to the floor. She covered her face, her eyes brimming with tears, looking around in panic as if caught in a nightmare.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on her, as it had been before. But this time, their eyes were filled with mockery It was clear to all what her intentions had been. If there had been any doubt before, it was gone now Serene was clearly trying to latch onto the Hell Monarch.
Viola was completely floored. She couldn’t believe Serena would repeatedly engage in such shameless behavior. This time, Serena had even offended Leopold!
Most troubling of all, Leopold hadn’t merely grabbed her. He had caught her around the waist, likely an instinctive reaction.
As a male guest, Leopold was unaware of the earlier commotion in the garden. All he saw was a woman who appeared to be fainting with an injured eye, and he instinctively reached out to catch her. The instinctive action had been so swift that Leopold’s mind lagged behind just a moment. By the time he realized what he had done, he was already holding Serena.
And it had been in full view of everyone!
Sophie’s expression hardened. “Guards, escort Ms. Jaffe back to her residence. She’s unwell.”
Margaret cast a grateful glance at Sophie. If Serena wasn’t sent away promptly, the situation would be difficult to resolve.
Lily and two maids quickly entered. One supported Serena’s arm, while the other helped her out of the room.
Serena, initially dazed, suddenly struggled and looked toward Jessica with desperation as she was dragged away, tears streaming down her face. “Lady Jessica, you promised you would help me! Please help me!”
Her plea sparked a flurry of discussions among the guests.
“Was she aiming for Prince Rafael or Lord Winchester?”
“Since she said Lady Jessica would help her, it’s possible she was aiming for Lord Winchester. I’ve heard that Lord Winchester’s secondary wife is Madam Winchester’s niece, who has already given birth to a son and daughter and is currently pregnant. Perhaps Lady Jessica wants Lord Winchester to take another secondary wife?”
“But why resort to such underhanded tactics? She’s a duchess. Why doesn’t she just handle it directly?”
“You probably don’t know the trouble Lady Jessica caused at Lord Winchester’s household. She has been hiding at her natal home for some time. Since she can’t just go back, she’s making a scene to cover it up!”
The whispers and speculations reached Leopold’s ears, adding to the already tense atmosphere.
Jessica was furious, her eyes flashing with a murderous intensity as she met Leopold’s gaze. She knew her husband had misunderstood, but how could she explain the situation here? Was she supposed to admit that she intended to push Serena onto Rafael?
“Lady Jessica, help me! You said you would help me!” Serena, who had already been dragged out, shouted desperately. “Lady Jessica, you can’t just abandon me!”
Jessica’s rage was about to explode, but Eleanor intervened with a sharp command, “Hold on.”
Jessica’s anger was instantly quelled as she looked at her mother with a plea for help.
Eleanor’s eyes were dark with fury. She was upset not only with Jessica for failing to manage the situation, but also with Serena’s audacity to feign fainting and create a scene
But with the situation already met escalated, if Jessica didn’t intervene, the matter would likely become even harder to resolve. Eleanor’s long-maintained reputation was also at risk of being ruined.
She turned to Margaret and said, “Madam Winchester, this girl is someone I have taken a liking to and has nothing to do with Jessica. She has been unwell today, which is why she has been fainting repeatedly. Once we resolve this issue, I believe neither my household nor the
Marquis of Ironridge’s household would seek to tarnish her reputation.”
Margaret sneered, “Grand Princess
Eleanor, you really go above and beyond, even concerning yourself with our household’s matters. Butet you are right. We, the Marquis of Ironridge’s family, do not ruin reputations without cause. Take her away for now. We’ll consider it further later.”
Eleanor, though deeply embarrassed and furious, maintained a polite smile. “Today is Lady Helen’s birthday banquet. I apologize for the disturbance. Lady Helen, please accept this glass of wine from me, and I hope you won’t hold it against us.”
Helen had been drinking, and she looked confused by the unfolding events. She glanced at Sophie and noticed her calm demeanor but cold eyes, and realized that something significant was amiss.