NovelBookChapter 423 Charis couldn't hold back her laughter. She turned to Healy and said, "Honestly, I didn't expect the third branch of the family to try so hard to impress everyone, only to end up making a complete mess of things. What a disaster-how embarrassing!" Healy wanted to laugh as well, but managed to restrain himself. Putting on a serious face, he said, "Alright, let's not make a bigger deal out of it. If word gets out, it's not just them-it's the whole Etheridge family that ends up looking foolish." Charis suddenly realized he was right. Her expression darkened as she clenched her fists and muttered through gritted teeth, "That wretched branch-look at the trouble they've brought us!" After offering countless apologies, the Crawford family finally left, looking thoroughly humiliated.
"Dad, I think we've done all we can here. Maybe it's tfor us to go, too," Charis suggested, giving Healy a meaningful glance.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHealy caught her cue immediately and turned to Bancroft. "Dad, if there's nothing else, we'd like to take our leave." He expected that after this polite farewell, they could simply slip away. But Bancroft's sharp voice cut through the room. "No one's leaving today!" "Dad?" Healy looked at him in confusion.
Bancroft simply scoffed, saying nothing more. Then he turned to Fowler. "Go find Fidelia and bring her back." "Yes, sir," Fowler replied.
He could feel the difference in Bancroft's attitude toward him compared to the others, and he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fowler found Fidelia outside in the garden.
Marcia was trying her best to comfort her, but Fidelia was sobbing uncontrollably-her face streaked with tears, her eyes swollen from crying.
Seeing his daughter like this, Fowler's heart twisted painfully. It felt as if the sky itself had collapsed.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmFidelia was his precious girl, the apple of his eye. He and Marcia had always treated her like a princess, afraid she'd get hurt, afraid she'd suffer even the slightest grievance. How could she possibly endure a humiliation like this? Right then, all Fowler could think about was tearing Jacques-the reckless fool- limb from limb. "Sweetheart, cinside. Your grandfather wants you back," Fowler said gently to Fidelia. Fidelia wiped her cheeks, sniffled, and choked out, "I can't. I'm too ashamed to face anyone." Fowler knelt beside her. "This is not your fault, not in the least. You have nothing to be upset about. If anyone's to blame, it's that brat from the Crawford family." Fidelia's jaw trembled with fury. "And Effie! Effie's the one who seduced Jacques. If she hadn't, he never would have mistakenfor her, and none of this would've happened!" Her eyes flashed with resentment as she spoke.
Fowler glanced at Marcia, who shook her head helplessly. She'd tried reasoning with Fidelia, but nothing seemed to work. Earlierwhile sobbing, Fidelia had been furiously texting someone-venting her anger at Effie with every message she sent.
Marcia didn't care much for Effie herself, but even she could see that ΟΠΙ someone on the other end was only .O making things worse, fanning the flames instead of calming Fidelia down.
Everyone in the family knew where the patriarch stood regarding Effie. They couldn't change his mind; all they could do was cooperate on the surface and keep up appearances.
That had always been Fowler and Marcia's approach-polite on the outside, whatever they needed to do on the inside. The old man never. interfered as long as they didn' cause a scene. After Fidelia was punished last time, the couple was even more convinced not to challenge the main branch openly. Fowler turned to his daughter. "Effie doesn't seem like that kind of person. You can't accuse her without proof. If
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
