The spacious hall remained quiet. Amused, Alyssa blinked and smiled.
Jasper was cheered up by the animated look on her face and put behind the pain he was enduring. He fixed his eyes on her with a contented smile.
In the meantime, a hushed astonishment gripped the onlookers as they watched Newton berating the current patriarch, Javier, in their presence. The public scolding was doubly humiliating, given Javierâs prominent social standing.
He had turned into a punchbag.
Javier, nursing a wounded ego, flushed with anger and hissed, âBarry, please get everyone to leave the hall.â
âNo! No one is allowed to leave before we settle this matter once and for all!â Newton declared with authority. When she was angry, Alyssa bore a striking resemblance to Newton, as if they were blood relatives.
âDad, what do you mean?â Javier inquired, his brows furrowing in anger.
âIt means exactly what you think it is!â Newton responded, his eyes half-closed as he taunted his son, âIf you can bruise Jasperâs ego by hitting him in front of everyone, I donât see why I canât address this matter publicly.â
Javier pointed at Jasper and argued, âDad, you canât always side with this little brat! Youâll only spoil him further! Heâs been pampered to the point where he no longer respects anyone in this family. If this continues, he wonât even heed his father one day!â
âHah,â Jasper scoffed with a cold look. Javier had been dead to him from the moment Anne jumped over the balcony in this villa.
Alyssa noticed his smirk and observed his profile in silence. He appeared pallid, and she could sense the animosity in his eyes, which stung her.
âOh, is Jasper showing disrespect? How so? Enlighten me,â Newton inquired casually as he idly picked at his teeth.
Everyone was speechless at Newtonâs nonchalance. The more Newton aged, the less he cared about upholding his image. Perhaps he had been forced to comply for too long. When he was finally old and rich enough, his true personality emerged.
âHe talked back to me and rebelled against me!â Javier lost his train of thought due to anger and said âYeah,â she replied without looking into his fiery eyes.
Meanwhile, Betty listened to Newtonâs account with a mix of confusion and doubt. If Alyssa had followed Newton to Seaview Manor, then who had originally called him?
A sudden realization dawned on her, and she shot a furious glance at Lauren, who stood nearby.
Indeed, Laurenâs foolish grin had betrayed her actions.
âDad, Sophieâs absolutely right. You shouldnât have made this long journey. Itâs too strenuous. Itâs all for the sake of your health,â Javier explained as he approached Newton However, Newton gestured for him to stop. âIf you were genuinely concerned about my health, your shouldnât have struck my grandson and provoked my anger. You fucking piece of scum! Youâre driving me nuts!â