Masked In Nobility Secrets Of Mrs.Chavez101-200

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Chapter_119

Richard ignored the growing displeasure on Zachary’s face, his voice steady and unyielding. “After Winona becomes my disciple, she will join the upper echelons of Betrico society. Seacrity cannot hold her back. If anything happens to Winona again, I will seek justice for her, even at the cost of my own reputation.”

Without waiting for a response, Richard sat back down, deliberately avoiding Zachary’s gaze. The silence that followed was palpable.

Zachary, though furious, directed his anger not at Yvette but at the others seated around the table. The subtle yet insidious way in which they had already turned Richard against his daughter was maddening. In just a few hours, they had poisoned his mind. He shot a hard look at Victor, who was sitting attentively beside Winona, his gaze now lowered, almost guiltily.

Victor’s playing his part, isn’t he? Zachary thought, his irritation mounting. He had always been protective of Yvette, but here, the walls were closing in on her. Winona’s influence had clearly worked its way into Richard’s mind.

Suppressing his fury, Zachary finally spoke. “Mr. Griffin, Yvette and I lost so much time together—over twenty years. All I want is to make up for that. I feel immense guilt for everything she’s suffered.” His voice softened with a father’s earnestness, yet his words held an unspoken plea for understanding. “If you think that I don’t care about Winona, that’s a misunderstanding. She’s had everything, and Yvette has had nothing. So please, understand my position.”

Richard’s face stiffened, though he said nothing in response. The tension in the room thickened, hanging heavily in the air. Zachary’s words had the desired effect, though, forcing Richard to pause and reconsider his stance. For a moment, the two men locked eyes in a silent standoff, neither willing to back down. The atmosphere at the table had become a battleground of wills, with Winona quietly watching, her lips curling into a small, satisfied smile. This was exactly the outcome she had hoped for.

The silence was broken by a knock at the door. At first, everyone assumed it was the food, and no one paid it much attention. But when the door opened, all eyes turned toward the newcomer. Yvette stood in the doorway, hands in her pockets, her cool gaze sweeping the room.

Except for Winona, who already knew what was going on, and Richard, who didn’t recognize her, everyone else was shocked. Why is Yvette here? they all wondered in unison.

Zachary’s stomach sank. Yvette’s arrival was nothing short of disastrous. Richard was already leaning toward Winona, and now Yvette had walked right into the fire. How did she end up here? he thought, confused and alarmed. He had specifically instructed Lucas to take her straight to the Chambers residence. What had gone wrong?

“Yvette? Why are you here?” Zachary’s voice was laced with concern, though he tried to mask it with an air of authority. “Didn’t Lucas take you home? You were supposed to try on dresses this afternoon.”

Yvette paused in the doorway, taking in the scene with a calm, almost detached gaze. Her eyes briefly flickered to Winona before moving on. That single glance confirmed to Richard everything he had been told—Yvette was, indeed, a troublemaker who often bullied Winona.

“Oh, Fabian sent me here,” Yvette replied flatly. “He said it was on your orders.”

Zachary’s mind raced. Fabian? he thought, piecing things together. Someone had orchestrated this. It wasn’t a mistake—this was deliberate. The only person who could have orchestrated such a scheme was Nellie. So it’s her, Zachary thought, his disgust for Nellie growing by the second. Once the banquet is over, some things need to be addressed.

Nellie, noticing the suspicion in Zachary’s eyes, bristled. She could see that he was connecting the dots and blaming her for sending Yvette to the hotel. Before she could defend herself, Winona interrupted.

“Yvie, you’re here! Come in and sit,” Winona called out with practiced warmth, rising to her feet. “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, ever the father, cast an approving glance at Winona. At least she hadn’t been completely misled by the others.

Internally, Winona exhaled in relief. Her smile was as sincere as she could muster, though it was carefully crafted. She had just managed to turn the situation back in her favor. I’m playing this game well, she thought, her eyes flicking back to Yvette with a glint of satisfaction.

Victor, sitting next to Winona, couldn’t help but frown as he watched the exchange. He thought Winona was too kind—too soft. This is exactly why Yvette bullies her, he seethed inwardly, his anger flaring.

Richard, now realizing that this young woman was the infamous Yvette, sized her up with barely concealed hostility. He couldn’t help but scrutinize her from head to toe. Yvette, unfazed, met his gaze directly. Her eyes were calm, but the sharpness in them made Richard take pause. This girl is no pushover, he thought, irritated by the coolness she exuded.

Ignoring Richard entirely, Zachary affectionately pulled Yvette toward him, smiling indulgently. “Come, sit with me,” he said, his tone light, as if the tension in the room hadn’t been cut by a knife.

Yvette nodded, her hands still tucked into her pockets, and made her way to the seat beside him. Once she sat down, crossing her legs with complete indifference to the eyes watching her, she barely acknowledged the others in the room.

Zachary continued to serve her, treating her as if she were the only one present. His focus was entirely on her, ignoring the discomfort in the air. It was rare that they had the chance to share a meal together, and he cherished the moment.

Richard, his irritation growing, finally let out a loud, deliberate snort, aimed directly at Yvette. “Mr. Zachary Chambers, your daughter seems to lack some respect. Does she not acknowledge my presence?” His words cut through the silence, his voice biting.

Zachary’s expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. “Mr. Griffin, what are you trying to say?” he asked, his voice low and controlled, but sharp. “Are you suggesting I’ve been a poor host? If you’re unhappy with me, feel free to say so directly.”

The room went still, everyone sensing the shift in the dynamic. Zachary, always protective of his family, had subtly shifted the conversation to redirect Richard’s displeasure toward himself. The tension between the two men was now thick, a battle of pride and ego.

The others at the table understood the unspoken message—Zachary was standing his ground, and he wasn’t going to let Richard’s subtle jabs slide.

Winona, gripping her fork so tightly it nearly bent, watched the exchange with mounting fury. How could Zachary side with Yvette so openly? she fumed inwardly. I thought I was using Richard to teach Yvette a lesson, but now he’s completely ignored me for her. What a disaster.

Richard’s sense of humiliation deepened as Zachary openly defied him. Since becoming president, Richard had been treated with nothing but respect. Yet here was Zachary, willing to offend him over a daughter he had only recently reconnected with. It was clear that Zachary had no fear of the consequences—Richard’s refusal to accept Winona as his disciple seemed irrelevant to him.

As the tension between the two men simmered, it was clear that the evening was far from over—and the stakes had just risen higher than ever.

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