Restoring a Life After Seven Years of Wrong Love novel Chapter 103

Trent's eyebrows pulled together in a tight frown.

Everyone attending this banquet was exclusively invited, and Sybil was famously known for her warm, smiling demeanor. She was never the type to publicly humiliate her guests.

He had never seen her deliver such a merciless, public dressing-down.

Willow shot a pitiful, aggrieved look in Jabez's direction, but his head was bowed, entirely absorbed in whatever work he was handling on his phone. He hadn't noticed the commotion at all.

Quentin quickly stepped forward, desperate to salvage the situation. "Mrs. Shelby, I know you have a deep appreciation for fine porcelain, so I specially sourced an antique piece just for you."

Sybil's expression radiated absolute, uncompromising authority. "Didn't the Huxleys move out of Kingsbrook over a decade ago? What brings you crawling back?"

Years ago, after Quentin had liquidated Winifred's dowry, he had fled Kingsbrook, terrified of the Yeats family's retaliation.

Helen's face was rigid, her eyes slicing into Quentin like daggers.

This was the man who had driven her daughter into a state of chronic illness and endless medication.

It was a devastating betrayal Helen would never, ever get over!

Sensing her dear friend's trembling rage, Sybil reached over, gently patting Helen's hand in a silent promise of support.

"The Huxleys... recently relocated back to Kingsbrook," Quentin stammered, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

Beside him, Rhonda barely dared to breathe, terrified that Sybil would turn her wrath on her and publicly tear her to shreds.

"Zelma, I cannot accept a gift from the Huxleys. Return it." Sybil picked up her teacup, taking a slow, unbothered sip.

The words dropped like a bomb.

The VIPs seated at the main table were visibly shocked.

Every major player in Kingsbrook was in this room tonight. By publicly rejecting their gift, Sybil was declaring to the entire city that the Shelby family wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Huxleys.

The corporate world ran entirely on strategic alliances and shared interests. Since the Huxleys had managed to offend the Shelby matriarch, their business partners would immediately read the room and sever ties to save themselves.

Trent was bewildered. He couldn't fathom why Sybil harbored such intense hostility toward the Huxleys.

The only logical explanation in his mind was that Yvette had poisoned the well.

Trent felt even more indignant on her behalf, but he was powerless to override Sybil's decree. All he could do was shoot a warning glare at Yvette.

Yvette sat quietly in her chair the entire time, having zero intention of wading into the crossfire between the two families.

Sybil treated her well solely because she was the Shelby daughter-in-law.

Once her divorce from Jabez went through, Willow would step into that role.

When that day came, who knew if Sybil would suddenly turn against her instead?

She wasn't stupid enough to gamble on the fickle nature of human loyalty.

"Mrs. Shelby, please just accept the gift. It's a token of the Huxley family's deepest respect," Willow insisted, bowing slightly as she raised the rejected box back toward Zelma.

She held the pose, making it aggressively clear that she refused to stand up straight until the gift was accepted.

Sybil's aged eyes narrowed sharply, the air around her dropping to a freezing temperature. "Are you threatening me?"

"I would never dare, Mrs. Shelby." Willow's voice trembled with forced vulnerability and grievance, yet she stubbornly remained bowed.