Chapter 491 What Is He Being Arrogant About
Clara always knew how to play to her strengths, and she was particularly adept at using them.
As expected, Dylan's heart softened.
He spoke to her gently, trying to comfort her with a few kind words.
Finally, seeing her tear-streaked face, he sighed and said, "It's okay. If you don't want to talk about it, we can wait until Lucas gets back. I'll take you to your room so you can rest."
Clara nodded weakly, wiping away her tears as she left.
As night deepened, the Manners family gradually drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, in Luminous City, Desmond was far from content. He was so restless that he couldn't sleep.
When someone suggested going out for drinks, he immediately agreed and headed to a nightclub.
The moment he stepped into the noisy bar, a man waiting at the entrance spotted him and waved, "Mr. Boleyn!"
Desmond barely acknowledged him with a glance, too irritated to respond.
Despite Desmond's indifferent attitude, the man remained eager to please, his face plastered with a sycophantic smile. "Mr. Boleyn, I've been waiting here just for you."
Desmond finally gave a curt response, "Lead the way."
The man, as if receiving a great favor, smiled even wider and led Desmond inside. "Right this way, Mr. Boleyn. I'll take you to your table."
Desmond followed, his mood not improving in the slightest.
Even when he entered the private room and was greeted with flattery and greetings, his expression remained unchanged.
"Mr. Boleyn, is something bothering you?" Eldon Soto, the one who had invited Desmond, immediately noticed his sour mood and asked with concern.
He sat next to Desmond and poured him a drink, speaking in a friendly, rather than obsequious, tone.
Desmond took the drink but didn't say much. "It's nothing."
Seeing the room filled with people from lesser-known families only added to his frustration.
It reminded him that he could no longer mingle with the elite families of Luminous City as he once could.
Desmond couldn't help but wonder how things had come to this.
Back when the Boleyn family was thriving, he wouldn't have given these people a second glance.
Now, they were the only ones willing to socialize with him.
"Mr. Boleyn doesn't want to talk? No problem, we can guess!" Another man, rough-looking, suddenly chimed in.
Eldon shot him a disapproving look, though a slight smile played on his lips.
While he had invited Desmond, he didn't feel the need to coddle him.
Despite the Boleyn family's outward appearance of strength, Desmond's reputation in Luminous City was poor, and the family was clearly in decline.
Desmond's frown deepened as he coldly eyed the man who had spoken.
The man's crude appearance and boorish drinking habits only irritated him further.
Yet, the others in the room began to speculate wildly.
"Mr. Boleyn, are you worried about company matters?" one person ventured, trying to keep the conversation respectful.
Another chimed in, "Mr. Boleyn is so capable, what could he possibly be worried about? It must be something else."
The man who had led Desmond in suddenly asked, "Could it be about a girlfriend?"
The room erupted in chaotic chatter.
This was outrageous!
They were treating him like a subject of idle gossip.
Desmond abruptly stood up, glaring at the man who had brought him in.
The man felt a chill run down his spine under Desmond's icy stare.
Sensing Desmond's anger, Eldon quickly intervened, "Mr. Boleyn, they don't know any better. Please, don't take it to heart."
Desmond glanced at Eldon, displeased but refraining from an outburst.
Eldon, seeing that the situation was manageable, shouted, "Apologize to Mr. Boleyn!"
Given Eldon's influence, the others quickly complied.
One person started, "Mr. Boleyn, we were out of line. We shouldn't have spoken so carelessly."
Another raised his glass, "Mr. Boleyn, I'll drink three cups as an apology." He downed the drinks in quick succession, prompting others to follow suit and apologize.
Desmond merely snorted, casting a cold look around the room before striding out.
"Mr. Boleyn, are you leaving?" Eldon tried to stop him but was met with a frosty glare. "Move."
Seeing Desmond's determination, Eldon didn't dare to block his way and let him leave.
As soon as Desmond left, the room filled with derisive laughter.
"Does he think the Boleyn family is something special?"
"Exactly. The Boleyn family isn't what it used to be, and his reputation in Luminous City is a joke!"
"Right, the Elise family made sure everyone knew about his disgrace."
The group's attitude shifted dramatically once Desmond was gone.
Eldon, annoyed, reminded them, "The Boleyn family might be struggling, but don't forget who Desmond's brother is. You can talk behind his back, but be careful in front of him."
Eldon's words carried weight, and the group quieted down.
"Mr. Soto is right. Maximilian might be Desmond's half-brother, but the Boleyn family has shamelessly used their connections." Someone immediately chimed in.
"True, Maximilian isn't someone to mess with."
One bold person scoffed, "Why worry? He's not even in Luminous City."
Eldon shot him a warning look. "Even if he's not here, his assistant Emilio can handle things. Just don't push Desmond too far."
Chastened, the bold one fell silent.
The gathering, already tense, quickly dispersed.
Desmond, meanwhile, wandered the streets, unwilling to go home.
It wasn't until dawn that he finally hailed a cab and headed back.