The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1686

Gallagher frowned, ready to demand an explanation, when Patricia cut in, voice laced with irritation. "I’m dying to see how you’re going to handle them."

"Patricia..."

Gallagher spun around at the sound of her voice. The moment he saw her, he hurried over, suddenly much more polite. "You came all the way to Cabinda and didn’t tell me?" He sounded genuinely surprised and a bit excited.

Patricia was older than him, and back when they’d worked together, she’d helped him out more times than he could count. Even now, she always looked after the Byron family. He never forgot how much he owed her.

"Why am I here?"

Patricia gripped Shirley’s hand, her weathered face cold and unforgiving. "You should probably ask your precious granddaughters about that," she replied, her words frosty.

Gallagher’s smile faded. He shot a sharp look at Pandora and Karan, his brow knitting together. "What did you do?"

He couldn’t believe they’d made Patricia this angry.

Seeing how deferential their grandfather was to Patricia, Pandora and Karan lowered their gazes, keeping quiet. Their grandfather was important on the school board, so what was there to fear from Patricia?

"Gallagher, here’s what happened…"

Hartley stepped in, recounting the story for Gallagher from start to finish.

While Hartley spoke, Gallagher’s face grew darker. Rage flickered across his features, humiliation and disappointment weighing on him. The idea that his own granddaughters had done something so disgraceful—and then tried to pin the blame on someone else—was almost too much to stomach.

He’d built his reputation on honesty and kindness. Now it felt like the Byron name was about to be dragged through the mud because of them.

"Come over here."

Gallagher managed a stiff, apologetic smile, then called Karan to his side, face icy. "Apologize to Shirley," he said through clenched teeth, barely keeping his temper in check.

"Grandpa…"

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