The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 2015

"You—"

Hearing Robert's mocking words, Funk's face turned completely rigid. It took him several seconds to rein in his fury. "Robert, I wouldn't come to the Gates estate demanding someone if I didn't have definitive proof."

Funk shifted his glare to Roger, the fire in his eyes burning even hotter. "Dr. Gates, you know exactly where my daughter is. I tried to negotiate with you beforehand, but you refused to release her. I had no choice but to bring this to the Gates family."

He knew very well that his daughter was in love with Roger. She had given up everything and followed him from abroad all the way to Cabinda. Funk had always assumed the two of them would legitimately end up together.

He never expected this. He scoffed internally. Roger would regret abandoning Veronica.

Roger ignored him entirely. He set his silverware aside, elegantly wiped his hands with a napkin, and treated Funk like thin air as he leaned down to ask Stella, "Are you full?"

Stella nodded. Under the table, her grip on Roger's hand tightened involuntarily, her eyes filled with worry.

"Don't be afraid," Roger said. He poured her a glass of lemon water, his thumb gently tracing her cheek as a faint smile touched his lips. "We will make them answer for this."

"Don't you worry about a thing, darling. The entire Gates family has your back," Samantha assured her.

Seeing that everyone had stopped eating, Samantha ordered the staff to clear the table. The family moved to the living room, sitting down to face the Ham family head-on.

"Roger!" Being continuously ignored pushed Funk past his breaking point. Seeing Roger entirely focused on the girl beside him, Funk's face twisted with rage. "You are utterly heartless! My daughter has loved you since college. She gave up everything to follow in your footsteps and come to Cabinda. And what do you do? You betray her, bully her, and even lay a hand on her, all for this woman!"

Before coming, Funk had thoroughly investigated the situation. The girl in question was nothing more than an orphan whose parents were in prison, a mere college student. Her background was so pathetic it couldn't even touch the threshold of the Gates family's standards. There was no way the Gates family would ruin their own reputation to protect a girl like her.

Furthermore, he held leverage. Roger was a member of the Forensic Association. Funk had a significant say in whether Roger would ever be promoted to vice president or president. Did Roger really think he could bully Veronica just because he liked this nobody?

If it wasn't for the fact that his daughter was still in Roger's hands, Funk would have crushed that little girl easier than crushing an ant.

"How does it not concern the Gates family?" Gavin paused his prayer beads, a dark smile spreading across his aged face. His gravelly voice echoed through the room: "Stella is Roger's girlfriend, the future bride of the Gates family."

"Bullying her is bullying the Gates family. Slapping her face is slapping the Gates family's face."