On the side seats of the sofa, there were a few elderly people and several elegantly dressed women.
Judging by their appearance, they should be rtives from the Boleyn family''s coteral branches.
Katniss hadn''t seen them much before.
Katniss obediently followed Maximilian, walking in together.
As soon as the crowd saw them, they greeted them with smiles.
Katniss responded to each greeting, appearing poised and graceful.
Maximilian didn''t say much, holding Katniss''s hand, his expression cold, sitting next to Carlton with an air of superiority.
On Carlton''s other side sat Gabriel and Emily.
Maximilian didn''t even nce at them.
Gabriel''s face turned slightly blue, ring at Maximilian, about to lose his temper, when his arm was gently nudged.
Turning his head, he saw a gentle face, Emily''s watery eyes signaling him not to get angry.
Gabriel patted her hand, his anger dissipating significantly.
Carlton looked at Katniss, seeing her round face and goodplexion, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening.
His voice was steady and affectionate, "Katniss, this is your home. Today, I want to formally introduce you to the Boleyn family members."
"Everyone here is family, don''t be reserved. If you need anything, just let me know." "Grandpa, I won''t be shy."
Katniss''s small face blossomed with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling.
Suddenly, Maximilian''s mocking voice sounded, cool and indifferent, "Grandpa, not everyone here is family."
His voice wasn''t loud, but it was enough for everyone to hear clearly, and it was obvious who he was referring to.
The air in the living room froze, and all eyes fell on Emily.
Emily''s face quickly turned pale, and she lowered her head slightly.
Gabriel''s recently dissipated anger red up again, "You..."
"Gabriel, Maximilian is right. It''s okay, don''t get angry in this setting."
Emily quickly grabbed Gabriel''s arm, lowering her eyes, "I shouldn''t havee. When
Desmond and his fiancée arrive, I''ll give them the gift and leave."
As soon as Emily finished speaking, Desmond walked in with ra by his side.
Katniss''s gaze fell on ra''s face.
ra was wearing a knee-length chiffon dress with perfect makeup.
Katniss''s mind shed back to when she was ten years old, being brought back to The Manners Vi and seeing ra for the first time.
Back then, ra was just as she is now, every move as delicate as a doll in a disy window.
She didn''t let herself think too much and was about to look away when ra''s gaze met hers.
She clearly saw the jealousy in ra''s eyes, and with a slight smile, Katniss indifferently looked away, treating her as if she were air.
ra clenched her hand tightly, but her face maintained an impable smile.
Katniss is here too!
How could she deserve this!
Desmond brought ra to greet Carlton first, then Gabriel, and finally introduced her to Emily.
"ra, this is my mom."
"Hello, it''s so nice to finally meet you. Desmond has told me so much about you,
saying you''re the most beautiful mom in the world."
ra''s expression was sincere, "Now that I see you, he wasn''t wrong."
"Desmond is just ttering. He hasn''t stopped praising you in front of me."
"Seeing you, Desmond''s taste is indeed impable."
Emily covered her mouth andughed lightly, but if someone looked closely, they
could see a hint of perfunctoriness on her well-maintained, gentle face.
Then, Emily opened her blue handbag and took out a square velvet box.
"ra, this is a gift I specially prepared for you. I was supposed to give it to you at your engagement party with Desmond."
"Unfortunately, I wasn''t feeling well then and couldn''t attend. So, I''m taking this opportunity to give it to you now."
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ra epted it with both hands, "Thank you."
"Open it and see if you like it," Emily said with a smile.
"Okay." ra opened the box, revealing a pair of sapphire-encrusted bracelets.
ra''s eyes lit up, knowing their value.
ra felt the admiring gazes around her.
At this moment, ra felt she was already being regarded as the future mistress of the Boleyn family.
She clutched the box tightly, her voice sweet, "Thank you, these sapphire bracelets are beautiful. I love them."
As soon as the "sapphire bracelets" appeared, Maximilian, who was holding Katniss''s small hand, suddenly narrowed his eyes.
His gaze shifted, seeing clearly what was in the box.
Suddenly, a cold light shed, and Maximilian sat up straight, his sinister voice
breaking the harmonious atmosphere, "Emily, are you looking for death!"
Katniss and everyone else were stunned, then heard Maximilian''s next words, "You dare touch my mom''s belongings."
Katniss frowned, a surge of anger rising from her heart.
Too much!
Emily was shocked, looking at Gabriel in panic.
Carlton''s face also darkened, his gaze serious, "What''s going on? Is this Natalie''s item?"
Gabriel mmed the table and stood up, angrily rebuking, "You took all your mom''s things long ago. This is a gift I gave to Emily, it has nothing to do with her."
Maximilian coldly ordered, "Emilio."
Emilio, who had been waiting outside the living room, quickly walked in, stopping in front of ra. ra instinctively protected the bracelet.
Emilio swiftly snatched it away and handed it to Maximilian.
ra''s eyes quickly filled with tears, "Desmond."
Desmond''s lips tightened,fortingly holding her hand.
Maximilian held up the bracelet to the light.
The sapphire bracelet shone brightly under everyone''s gaze, like a brilliant star in the
dark.
At the same time, a word appeared inside the bracelet, "Natalie."
Gabriel''s face changed dramatically, "Impossible, you took all your mom''s things. This bracelet is..."
As he spoke, Gabriel suddenly realized.
He had found this bracelet by chance in the old Boleyn family house, thought it was beautiful, and brought it back for Emily.
He didn''t expect it to be something Natalie had left behind.
Maximilian''s eyes were cold and fierce, staring at Gabriel, making him feel guilty and cold.
Maximilian was nothing like him.
He had given birth to a wolf.
In the moment of his speechlessness, Emily stepped forward, her shoulders trembling slightly, sincerely saying, "Maximilian, I''m very sorry."
"Don''t be angry, I didn''t do it on purpose. I just thought the bracelet was nice, I didn''t know it was your mom''s relic."
At this moment, seeing his beloved Emily so cautious, Gabriel''s anger red up.
"It''s just a bracelet. Your mom had so many jewels, giving one to Desmond''s wife is no big deal."
"Is it worth speaking to your elders like this and ruining the atmosphere?"
Emily tried to pull Gabriel back, tears streaming down her face, "Gabriel, stop talking.
Don''t let this affect your rtionship with your son."
"He never considered me his father. I''m still alive, and you''re my wife, his elder!"
"You have every right to be here, no need to lower yourself to him."
Katniss silently clenched her teeth.
Angry and heartbroken.
She understood this feeling too well.
It wasn''t Maximilian''s fault, yet he seemed like the one who hadmitted a grave sin.