Richard ignored Zachary’s displeased expression and continued, “After Winona bes my disciple, she will join the upper echelons of Betrico society. Seacrity can’t hold her back. So, if anything happens to Winona again, I will seek justice for her, even at the cost of my reputation.”


    After speaking, Richard sat down without sparing a nce at Zachary,


    Zachary was furious upon hearing that, but his anger was not directed at Yvette. Instead, it was aimed at the few people at the table, including Nellie. They clearly could not tolerate Yvette. In just a few hours, they had already poisoned Richard’s mind against her.


    Zachary shot a look at Victor, who was attentively sitting next to Winona. His gaze darkened, full of discontent. When Victor noticed Zachary’s expression, he guiltily lowered his head. He was not wrong. Zachary was indeed biased towards Yvette, neglecting Winona.


    Suppressing his anger, Zachary exined to Richard, “Mr. Griffin, we lost Yvette for over 20 years, and I only want to make up for the fatherly love shecked all these years. If you think I don’t care for Winona, that’s a misunderstanding. Winona and Zeke grew up with a silver spoon, with the best of everything. But Yvette suffered all these years outside, and I feel immense guilt towards her. So please, understand.”


    Richard’s face stiffened. If Zachary had confronted him head-on, he would have had more to say. But now, reasoning, if he did not relent, it would seem ungracious.


    with such


    The room went silent. Nellie and the others dared not speak, knowing that Zachary was already angry, though he held back out of respect for Richard. Only Winona lowered her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. That was exactly the oue she had hoped for.


    Two men in their fifties, refusing to give in to each other, and the tension at the table was thick with unspoken hostility.


    The knock on the door momentarily broke the tension. Everyone assumed it was the food, and did not pay much attention, But when the waiter opened the door, all eyes turned to the person who walked in behind them, Yvette.


    Except for Winona, who knew what was happening, and Richard, who did not recognize her, everyone else was shocked “Why is Yvette here?’ they wondered.


    Zachary was the first to react. In that situation, Yvette’s arrival was not a good thing. Richard was already siding with Winona, and now Yvette had walked right into the fire. Zachary was confused. He had specifically instructed Lucas to take Yvette to the Chambers residence. How did she end up here? What went wrong? he wondered.


    “Yvette? Why are you here? Didn’t Lucas take you straight home? You were supposed to try on dresses this afternoon,” Zachary said.


    Yvette paused, hands in her pockets, surveying the room with a cool gaze. Her eyes brieflynded on Winona before moving on. That single nce confirmed to Richard that what Victor had said was true-Yvette often bullied Winona


    “Oh, Fabian sent me here. He said it was on your orders,” Yvette replied in a cold and indifferent voice, carrying her characteristic detachment.


    Zachary quickly pieced it together. Clearly, someone here had plotted to bring Yvette to the hotel. After thinking it through, he realized that the only person capable of such a scheme was Nellie. His disgust for her deepened. ‘Once Sunday’s banquet is over, some things need to be addressed, he thought.


    Nellie, noticing Zachary’s suspicious gaze, knew he was ming her for sending Yvette to the hotel. She was about to exin. when Winona interrupted her. Enthusiastically, Winona approached Yvette and said, “Yvie, you’re here! Come in and sit. I know you don’t like sitting with me, so you can sit next to Dad. Excuse me, could we get another set of cutlery, please?”


    Zachary gave Winona an approving look. At least she had not beenpletely misled.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Winona internally sighed with relief, her smile bing even more sincere. She looked at Yvette as if she were her real sister.


    Victor, on the other hand, felt that Winona was too kind, which was why she was constantly bullied by Yvette. That only made his anger grow.


    Richard, now realizing that this young girl was the Yvette they had been discussing, sized her up from head to toe with a somewhat hostile gaze. Yvette sensed this and looked back, her expression calm but sharp enough to surprise Richard. This Yvette is no pushover, Richard thought.


    Ignoring Richard, Zachary affectionately pulled Yvette to sit next to him, smiling with indulgence. “Come, sit with me,” he said.


    Yvette nodded, hands still in her pockets, and slowly made her way to the seat beside Zachary. She sat down, crossing her legs,pletely indifferent to the eyes on her.


    Zachary, doting on Yvette, continued to serve her food, not caring what anyone else thought. After all, it was not often that they had a chance to share a meal together. Everyone else in the room seemed to fade into the background.


    Richard, seeing how Zachary and Yvette ignored everyone around them, grew even more displeased. Yvette clearlycked manners, he thought. He deliberately let out a cold snort, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Mr. Zachary Chambers, your daughter seems tock some respect. Does she not acknowledge my presence?”


    Just moments ago, he was not addressing Zachary formally. The shift in tone made it obvious that Richard was angry.


    Zachary, no pushover himself, grew colder as he replied, “Mr. Griffin, what are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that I’ve been a poor host? If you’re unhappy with me, feel free to say so directly.”


    With that, Zachary subtly redirected Richard’s displeasure toward himself, signaling that any issues should be dealt with between them.


    Everyone at the table understood the message, though their reactions varied.


    Winona was gripping her fork so tightly it nearly bent. Zachary was truly biased to his core. She had nned to use Richard


    to teach Yvette a lesson, bur xpected Zachary would actually offend Richard for Yvette’s sake, disregarding her


    entirely. Winona nced at Richard’s angry face. Things were spiraling beyond her control.


    Seeing Zachary siding with Yvette so openly, Richard felt humiliated. Since bing president, he had been treated with the utmost respect everywhere he went. And now, Zachary was willing to offend him over a daughter he had only recently reconnected with. It seemed he was not afraid that Richard might refuse to take Winona as his disciple in retaliation.