This Time, I'll Be the Villain's Favorite Daughter novel Chapter 373

Chapter 373 Holding Grandpa’s Beard Hostage

There was a teasing edge to Maya’s words.

But teasing aside, these people really were genuine politicians and successful figures.

Fit hed

It was just that to Maya, who was politically clueless, none of it mattered much. She didn’t care about international affairs and would much rather chat about something pointless with her friends than any of

this.

Philbert glanced at her, smiled, and didn’t say no. “You want to leave?”

Maya figured she had a shot.

She scooted in closer to him on her own, and because she was so close, she was practically speaking right into his ear. “Yep. Grandpa, if you don’t say yes…”

Without so much as a flicker, her hand closed around his beard, and she made a wildly bold threat. “I’ll yank every last hair of it out!”

The instant Philbert saw her zero in on his beard, his face twitched in sympathy.

He knew this little troublemaker far too well.

For as long as he could remember, this kid had nursed an almost obsessive fascination with other people’s hair and beards, like a cat spotting a feather wand, miserable all over until she’d batted at it a couple of times.

Had he grown the beard just so she could yank it off?

“No respect for your elders.” Philbert’s palm was broad and dry, and he lifted his hand to pat her gently on the forehead, letting it rest there a moment with an affection he couldn’t quite put into words. “Go on, then.”

“Thanks, Grandpa.” Maya flashed a smile, gathered up her skirt, and went skipping off.

Philbert watched her retreating figure, and before he could stop himself, he reached up and stroked the beard she’d called ugly.

He sank into a moment of genuine self–doubt.

Could his beard really be that ugly?

“She’s got some nerve.” Sitting down below and bored out of her mind, Somalie had just watched her friend grab the host of the whole banquet by the beard, and her eyes blinked fast and uncontrollably as she said with total sincerity, “Not only does she say whatever pops into her head, she’s hands–on about it

too.”

G

1:12 am TN

Chapter 373 Holding Grandpa’s Beard Hostage

So what Iris didn’t follow. “It’s her own grandpa. What does she have to be scared of?”

“It’s different, though, Salic countered in a soft voice.

“An elder’s pride matters more than just about anything, especially at a formal event like this.” Watching Philbert get his beard pulled and still laugh like that, Somalic propped her chin in her hand and came to a conclusion that left her a touch envious. This family seems to have a really nice dynamic at home.”

“So you’ve been with the family this whole time, Maya.” Somalie looked up at Maya, who’d just come running back, and reached out to poke her shoulder. “And you didn’t even give me a heads–up.”

The complaint in Somalie’s tone was half real, half not.

She didn’t actually care whether Maya had told her ahead of time or not.

Either way, the outcome was what mattered.

Coming to this country and managing to make such a useful friend was a happy surprise, plain and simple.

Somalie figured her time and energy were limited.

They had to be spent on people worth getting to know.

And Maya was one of the valuable ones.

Meanwhile, Phoebe was still working out how to balance this whole friend situation.

She hadn’t fully wrapped her head around the fact that Maya was Toby’s sister.

Compared to the two of them and all their calculating, Iris had none of those reservations.

“So this is your place?

“Your family throws a banquet and you don’t even tell us. That’s so unfair, Maya.” She grumbled the complaint under her breath.

“Well, none of you asked.” Maya answered earnestly, and didn’t forget to fish for a little credit in front of her companions. “Besides, I came straight over to find you guys. I didn’t even hang around with my family for long.”

At the mention of family, Phoebe glanced over in Toby’s direction.

Meeting his cold stare, she hurried to tuck Maya in front of her as a shield, and warned in a rapid–fire- whisper, “Look, Maya, he’s glaring at us.”

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