The Starfield Farming Sovereign (Elizabeth Schofield) novel Chapter 136

Chapter 136 Gossip Queen

Her words sounded like she was defending Elizabeth, but everyone knew she was dragging her through the mud. The crowd started whispering, their minds racing with wild speculation.

Molly Hepzinburg was never one to beat around the bush. She blurted out the question everyone secretly wanted to ask. “Hannah, I did hear that Zachary was supposed to marry Elizabeth, right? How did he end up with you?”

Hannah’s face turned bright red in an instant.

Her eyes turned glossy with tears, and she looked at Molly like she had just been stabbed in the back. Her voice trembled. “Molly, please… don’t say that. It’s all my fault. I was the one who hurt Elizabeth. I’m the one to blame.”

She looked so pitiful, taking all the blame on herself, that some people who didn’t know the truth started to feel sorry for her. They thought Molly was just being rude and mean.

Molly rolled her eyes, bored already, and wandered off to find someone more interesting to talk to.

The party started at noon and kept going into the afternoon. The kitchen swapped out course after course, towers of champagne bottles rose and fell, and people’s smiles started to crack as the clock inched closer to three.

There was a tradition in the Kingdom. If the engagement ceremony didn’t happen before three in the afternoon, it was seen as a bad omen. People would start to think the bride’s family wasn’t respected.

Everyone watched the gold clock on the wall, its hands creeping toward three, but Trevor and Zaylee never showed up.

The ballroom cooled off fast. The chatter shifted from friendly to anxious. More and more guests started to use toasts as an excuse to nudge Benjamin and Alessia for answers.

“Mr. Schofield, did something delay Commander Hewitt?”

“Alessia, do you want to check in with Mrs. Hewitt? We don’t want to miss the right time for the ceremony.”

“Benjamin, the Hewitts are a busy family. We get it, but it’s getting late…‘

Every question sounded polite, but each one jabbed at Benjamin and Alessia like a needle.

III, APEIZ

Chapter 136 Gossip Queen

Their smiles grew even tighter. Sweat gathered on their backs.

Nobody realized that Benjamin and Alessia were more anxious than anyone in the room.

If the Hewitts ditched them now, every ounce of glory, every compliment, would disappear in a heartbeat. The Schofields would be the laughingstock of the entire upper class.

“Call them again! Try the Hewitts‘ butler!” Benjamin hissed at Alessia, his voice sharp and low. The veins on his forehead bulged.

Alessia’s face was pale. Her fingers shook as she redialed the butler’s number.

All she got was a busy signal. The sound of it sent a chill down their spines.

They finally pulled every string they could, using every connection possible. They managed to get a number for one of the Hewitts‘ drivers.

Following Benjamin’s orders, the Schofield family’s butler called the driver, being as polite and careful as possible.

“Hello, sorry to bother you. This is the Schofield family. Could you tell us if Commander Hewitt and Mrs. Zaylee have left yet? Do you know what time they’ll arrive at the party? We just want to be ready to welcome them properly.”

Even though he was talking to a driver, the Schofields‘ butler didn’t dare act arrogant.

There was a pause on the other end. Then the driver’s confused voice came through. “The Schofields? Which Schofields?”

The butler froze. Awkwardness flashed across his face. He quickly explained, “You know… Mrs. Hewitt’s family. Elizabeth’s parents.”

“Oh, her parents,” the driver said, suddenly remembering. “So, what do you want?”

The butler held in his anxiety and stayed polite. “Here’s the thing. One of your butlers told our lady that Commander Hewitt and Mrs. Zaylee would come here today for the engagement. Our head of the house and his wife are worried about missing the right time, so they asked me to check when the Commander and Mrs. Zaylee might arrive. Of course, if the Commander is busy, we completely understand. We can reschedule if needed. Whatever works best for him.”

Benjamin had told him to say that. By now, Benjamin knew the engagement was not happening today.

He just wanted a way to salvage his dignity.

But the driver’s next words hit them like a bucket of ice water.

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