Chapter 1654: Chapter 1654

Chapter 1654:

“Yes, sir!” Karl nodded respectfully and slowly backed away.

Regarding the new antibiotics, Rhys had no intention of reclaiming them by force. He would simply make the Cavendish family deliver them to him.

Meanwhile, after regaining her composure, Celine slowly walked into the Cavendish family residence.

As she entered the living room, she was met with the stern faces of the Cavendish family elders. A sense of dread filled her heart. Before she could inquire about the situation, the Duke of Mylo approached swiftly and delivered a sharp slap to her face.

The force of the slap left Celine’s cheek numb, a trickle of blood emerging from the corner of her mouth. She staggered, her ears ringing from the impact. As she faced the scornful looks of those in the room, she stood frozen, too shocked to even touch her wounded cheek.

Celine had never been slapped before. This first, heart-wrenching strike came from the very man she considered her loving foster father, shattering her world. However, before she could even shed a tear, another harsh slap resounded, this time on her other cheek.

Through gritted teeth, the Duke of Mylo berated her, “Celine, you fool! Your actions have put the Cavendish family in jeopardy! Do you understand that our family’s ducal status and everything we’ve achieved is tied to the alliances behind Thiago?”

He pointed at her, his body quivering with fury.

“And what have you done? You’ve not only offended a key ally but also dragged our family’s name through the mud. Now, Thiago is pulling his investments, and I might even lose my title as Duke.”

“You’ve undone decades of hard work by the Cavendish family!” the Duke of Mylo exclaimed before collapsing onto the sofa, clutching his chest as if struggling to breathe. Despite his affection for Celine, faced with such dire consequences, his duty to preserve the family’s legacy took precedence over familial bonds.

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Celine’s delicate skin made the red handprint on her cheek appear stark and shocking.

Yet, not a single person in the living room showed any sympathy. Instead, they all glared at her with hatred, vehemently blaming her for causing irreparable damage to the Cavendish family.

Celine trembled for a moment but soon stood upright. It was a Cavendish family rule: always maintain proper posture and never, under any circumstances, collapse to the floor.

Still, Celine was bewildered. She couldn’t understand why her father, mother, brothers, and the family elders, who had always shown her affection, were now using such harsh words against her. She was unsure whom she had offended to cause such a shift. Suddenly, a name flashed in her mind—Harlee.

A second later, Celine dismissed the thought, murmuring to herself, “That’s impossible. Harlee is just a pauper. There’s no way she has that kind of power!” Her voice was soft, but Coen, who was standing closest, heard her. He grabbed her wrist and anxiously asked, “Harlee? Was the person you offended tonight named Harlee?”

“Coen, you’re hurting me.”

Celine tried to pull her hand back in a coquettish manner, a tactic that had often made Coen relent in the past.

But this time, Coen’s grip only tightened. His eyes were fierce, and his tone was filled with anger as he interrogated her like a criminal.

“Tell me. Who exactly did you offend tonight?”

As Coen’s voice escalated, the others quickly converged around them.

“Say it! What did you do tonight?”

“We thought your courting Mr. Montgomery would bring greater benefits to our family. You fool! How could you cause such big trouble for us?”

The room erupted with complaints, each voice trying to drown Celine in a torrent of accusations.

Celine had never been subjected to such public humiliation. At this moment, she felt emotionally shattered, teetering on the edge of fainting. Could Harlee truly possess such terrifying power? Suddenly, she recalled Thiago had referred to Harlee as the leader.

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