The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1041

Franco’s sudden move left everyone in the room completely dumbfounded.

Especially Robert.

He just stood there, stunned, the words he’d wanted to yell suddenly stuck in his throat as he watched Franco’s performance unfold. Before Robert could even get angry, Franco had already dropped to his knees and started bowing his head, practically throwing himself at Robert’s feet.

Talk about taking the initiative.

Nora glanced nervously at her father, biting her lip before whispering, “Dad…”

“Don’t say a word,” Robert snapped, cutting her off. He stared down at Franco with a stony face, his voice low and cold. “Let him talk.”

Being glared at like that, and remembering how he’d overheard Robert threatening to skin him alive just minutes ago, Franco felt a kind of pressure he’d never experienced before in his forty-something years. Wasn’t kneeling supposed to work? That’s what Anthony had told him.

So why did it feel like things were getting worse?

Just to be sure, Franco hadn’t only knelt. He’d gone all in, pressing his forehead to the ground in a full-on apology.

His breath caught in his throat. He sneaked a look at Anthony, who was just sitting there, watching with obvious amusement. Franco frowned.

Anthony, who was in the middle of peeling an orange for Charlotte, paused, his lips pressed together.

Franco had grown up on the Isle of Veil and later moved to Solenia. He really didn’t know much about the traditions here in Eldoria. Apparently, you couldn’t just go around banging your head on the floor—especially not with such a solemn look. It was a little intense, even creepy.

No wonder Robert’s face looked even darker.

When Robert coughed, loud and deliberate, Franco quickly turned his eyes away and started replaying everything he’d just done in his head.

Kneeling? That was right.

Bowing? That was right too.

So why was Robert still so cold? Maybe he hadn’t bowed enough times.

That had to be it.

“Dad…”

Had her grandpa really scared her dad out of his mind? If this kept up, she was worried she’d end up a single-parent kid.

Charlotte popped an orange segment in her mouth and was just about to say something when Robert finally broke the silence. “Enough! What are you doing, holding a funeral? I’m not dead yet!”

At the sound of Robert’s voice, Nora rushed over and grabbed Franco’s arm, both worried and almost wanting to laugh. “Stop it! Seriously, just stop!”

What on earth had Anthony taught him? This was way too much.

Watching it all, Charlotte couldn’t help but relax a little. This desperate act was actually working.

Anthony just smiled and kept feeding Charlotte fruit, saying nothing.

Franco lifted his head, looking dazed. There was a deep, red-blue mark on his forehead. It looked pretty bad.

Robert’s brow furrowed.

He’d never seen anyone go this far with an act of self-pity.