Chapter 229: The Folly of Overestimating Oneself
The onlookers immediately began to whisper amongst themselves. "Mrs. Flynn, hailing from the esteemed Flynn clan, should exhibit a bit more compassion... to cast out her sister in such a manner?""Indeed, how can she bear to be so callous...""If the rumors are to be believed, that Miss Everly of the Brooks family willingly stepped aside to allow Reese to ascend, then Reese's actions are grossly inappropriate.""It's the quintessential tale of the ungrateful beneficiary. She likely exploited Miss Everly's accommodating nature in the past and now that she's ascended the ranks, she dismisses her own kin."Upon overhearing these remarks, Dahlia and Nancy reveled in a sense of smug satisfaction.Drawing Dahlia back into the thick of the situation, Nancy spoke with a feigned sense of helplessness, "We mustn't defend Dahlia too fervently, or Reese will suspect we're stirring up drama. That will only serve to deepen the rift between us."Playing her part to perfection, Dahlia, tears still streamed down her cheeks, spoke in a soft, timid voice, eliciting sympathy from the surrounding crowd."Please, don't be too harsh on Reese. She's merely momentarily disoriented, and I have faith that once she regains her senses, we'll reconcile and everything will return to how it once was," she pleaded. These words painted Dahlia as an even more understanding and kind-hearted young woman in the eyes of the bystanders.In stark contrast, Reese's indifference made her appear less considerate by comparison.This swayed the crowd further, inciting pity for Dahlia and fostering the belief that she was being unjustly treated by Reese.The fury of a crowd can surge unexpectedly, and in that moment, they had no regard for Malcolm's background or status.They were also blissfully unaware that they were instigating trouble with someone they simply could not afford to antagonize."Miss Everly truly embodies thoughtfulness. That's the epitome of a dignified heiress.""And to think Mrs. Flynn hails from some rural backwater town... I've heard about that too, but who knows where he picked up that folk remedy that miraculously healed Malcolm's leg injury."Rather than inciting anger, Reese found their gossip mildly amusing.With an air of grace and tranquility, she approached Dahlia.Standing tall, Reese's mere presence seemed to overwhelm Dahlia, as if crushing her under an invisible weight.Dahlia recoiled, her face paling and her eyes darting away, guilt etched across her features.Watching her struggle to maintain her composure, Reese suppressed a chuckle."Why maintain this brave facade when you're clearly terrified of me? Spreading rumors about me to my face, do you genuinely believe I'm incapable of retaliating?"Her voice was steady, yet it carried an indescribable undertone of icy pride.Who would have thought this was a girl raised in the wilderness?She was the very embodiment of frosty, regal elegance.Dahlia, under immense pressure and teetering in her high heels, lost her balance and crumpled to the floor in an ungainly heap.Unable to contain herself, Reese laughed from her superior position, looking down at Dahlia."Do you truly dare to engage in these games with me, given your lack of composure? I extended respect towards you and you blatantly disregarded it. Don't blame me for the loss of my kindness."Then, turning to Malcolm with a softened voice, as though the haughtiness was merely a facade—or was it?"Did you bring the laptop?""Yes, I'll have Justin fetch it for you."Malcolm was at a loss as to what Reese had planned. After all, his beloved wife didn't need to dirty her hands with matters such as these.With just a word from him, both Nancy and Dahlia would be rendered irrelevant, but sometimes, dealing with matters personally provided a more satisfying resolution.He stood behind his wife, resolute to see who would dare to speak ill of her.Justin soon returned with the laptop, and Reese powered it on, plugging in her own portable drive.Dahlia and Nancy could feel the tension, both utterly clueless about Reese's intentions.Dahlia was beginning to panic. "Mother, what on earth is Reese planning?"Nancy shook her head, "I haven't the slightest clue."Suddenly, Dahlia's unmistakable voice emanated from the laptop."If I marry into the Flynn family, to a man who doesn't even know when he'll drop dead, what will become of the rest of my life? Besides, I'm already dating the young master of the Morris family.""Yes, Reese, why don't you take your sister's place and marry into that family instead?"The discussion between Reese and Nancy from the past filled the hall, reverberating off every wall.The scheme that had been successfully executed at the Flynn’s was now delivering a devastating blow to Dahlia and her mother.Indeed, Dahlia and Nancy's faces had turned an ashen hue, twisted in embarrassment as numerous eyes bore into them.At this point, it seemed highly unlikely that any of the affluent guests would consider Dahlia a suitable match.Dahlia's dreams of marrying into high society were shattered.Observing their dismay, Reese lifted her chin defiantly. "I warned you, I'm not a pushover that you can manipulate at will. These attempts to tarnish my name? Abandon them, they won't succeed."Under the immense pressure, Dahlia's mind went blank, unable to determine her next course of action.Those who had recently voiced support for Dahlia swiftly changed their tune."What's the situation? Miss Everly turned down Malcolm herself.""Exactly! We felt sympathy for her initially, thinking she was wronged, but it turns out she rejected Mr. Flynn due to his limped leg, not wanting to marry into that.""That's despicable, two-faced even.""The thing is, her demeanor now is just revolting. It’s clearly her own doing.""She should just leave; she doesn’t belong here."A chorus of scoffs began to echo around the room.The murmurs and harsh words of the onlookers nearly drove Dahlia and Nancy to the brink.They felt the disdain and disgust as if they were viewed like vermin that needed to be chased away.Nancy, who took pride in her dignity, now found herself humiliated. Could they really endure any longer under these circumstances?Dahlia was nearing her breaking point. “Mother, perhaps we should just leave now.”
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