Chapter_66
Chapter 66
Emmeline was taken aback by Oscar’s comment. “What does he mean? I’m too bewitching?” she wondered. “Am I supposed to be Helen of Troy in this story? Does he think I’ll ruin his family?” She couldn’t quite process what he was implying.
Abel, sensing her unease, walked toward her and casually draped his arm over her shoulder. “Looks like Adrien isn’t that lucky after all,” he said with a smirk. “Emma, this banquet is getting boring. Let’s go somewhere else.”
Emmeline gently pushed his arm away. She knew Abel meant well, but she was worried that his interference might make the situation worse.
The three boys were visibly upset, their faces pouting in silent protest. They would never forgive anyone who spoke ill of their mother, even if that person was their great-grandfather.
“Yes, Mommy,” Sun said, “There’s no point staying here. Let’s go home.”
“Situation report! The Ryker family is a no-go,” Moon chimed in, looking defiant.
“We love you, Mommy,” Star added. “You’re the best mommy to all of us, and it doesn’t matter what other people say!”
Emmeline hugged the three boys tightly, her heart swelling with love for them. “Alright, let’s go home,” she said softly, the weight of the situation pressing on her.
“I’ll give you a ride,” Abel offered, but just as he stepped forward, Adrien appeared, his eyes cold.
“She’s my wife, and they’re my children!” Adrien said firmly, stepping between Emmeline and Abel.
Abel sneered. “You don’t deserve to be a father,” he muttered under his breath, but his words were loud enough for Adrien to hear.
At the same time, Julianna made a move toward the boys. “The three boys can’t leave!” she said, trying to pull them back. “They’re my grandchildren. They can’t leave!”
“But Granny,” Sun protested, “Great-Grandpa doesn’t like our mommy, so we can’t stay here. We’ll be going home with Mommy.”
“We are here to assess the situation,” Moon added, “And it looks like this place isn’t up to par. We should leave with Mommy.”
Oscar, his face reddened with fury, barked, “You three are descendants of the Ryker family. You cannot leave with an outsider!”
“No!” the three boys cried in unison. “We only want Mommy! We don’t care about the Ryker family!”
Oscar’s anger was palpable. “But your mother doesn’t meet my requirements! I can only ask her to leave!”
Emmeline, her voice cold and steady, spoke up. “Mr. Ryker, you’re getting ahead of yourself. I’ve never wanted to marry into the Ryker family, and I gave birth to these children. No one can decide their fate without my consent!”
Oscar’s eyes narrowed in disdain. “You are in no position to speak like that here! I’m the one in charge!”
Emmeline’s eyes flashed with defiance. “I’m not beneath you! I don’t have to listen to what you say!”
Oscar’s temper flared. “Show some respect, young woman!”
“I’d give you some respect if you deserved any!” Emmeline shot back without hesitation.
“Security! Take her down!” Oscar roared, his face contorted with rage.
But before anyone could act, Abel spread his arms and stood protectively in front of Emmeline. “Grandfather!” he said, his voice firm. “You can’t treat Emmeline like this. What did she do wrong?”
Oscar scoffed, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone. “Hmph! I’d rather not separate the mother from the children because it’s better for them to stay together, but I can see that this young woman is extraordinary.”
Emmeline’s eyebrow arched in amusement, but a warning bell rang in her head. “Extraordinary?” she repeated to herself, her mind on high alert. “What does he mean?”
“Oh?” Emmeline smirked, playing along. “How am I extraordinary?”
Oscar’s gaze turned calculating. “The gown you are wearing,” he said, his voice steady, “Is the pièce de résistance of a world-renowned designer. If you’re not extraordinary, you wouldn’t have come into ownership of a priceless item like that.”
Emmeline laughed softly, the sound almost mocking. “Heheh, I made this gown with my own hands. It’s only an imitation. How could you have been mistaken?”
“What?” Oscar blinked, his expression faltering. “An imitation?”
“She made it herself?” The whispers spread through the crowd, stunned disbelief hanging in the air.
Emmeline nodded nonchalantly. “That’s right. I saved up money to buy the materials and spent two years stitching this gown myself. As much as it resembles the original, it’s missing the Ocean’s Heart diamond. I had to replace it with a worthless glass bead.”
The crowd’s eyes turned to the trinket on her collar. True enough, the bead was dull, lacking the luster of a real diamond. The entire room fell silent as they processed her words.
Emmeline smirked, a confident glint in her eye. “Any more questions, Mr. Ryker?”
Oscar stood there, utterly speechless. The tension in the room was thick, and his pride had been thoroughly wounded. His face burned with embarrassment, but he maintained his composure, forcing a smile.
“I must have been mistaken,” he said, though it sounded more like a reluctant concession.
Emmeline didn’t let the moment linger. “Can I leave with my children now?” she asked coolly, her voice unwavering.
Oscar, now thoroughly out of words, nodded stiffly. “Go. But remember this, young lady—you have not won the battle yet.”
Emmeline turned and gathered her three boys, ready to leave. They didn’t need to stay any longer in a place where they weren’t welcome.
