Chapter 978: Chapter 978

Chapter 978:

“Ah, thank you!” Terrell’s smile was warm.

Before anyone could comment further, Kamila’s voice sliced through the air like a knife. “You certainly have a way with words, don’t you? I’m quite intrigued to see what kind of gift you’ve brought. I suppose today I’ll be a little bold and ask Terrell to open the gift. After all, the daughter of the Vazquez family—long lost and now found—must have something extraordinary up her sleeve.”

Her words, though wrapped in silk, carried the sting of a thorn. Kamila had made it impossible for Eileen to refuse without appearing rude.

Eileen’s gaze flicked over to Kamila. She realized that Kamila was undoubtedly Tilda’s mother; the resemblance was uncanny. Yet, while Tilda was naive and unpolished, Kamila was sharp and cunning.

“Eileen, would you mind revealing the birthday present you brought?” Terrell asked.

Sensing the undercurrent of tension, Bryan surveyed the room, his eyes meeting Raymond’s in a silent exchange. Raymond quickly vanished into the crowd, searching for something.

“Mr. Byrd, of course not,” Eileen replied, her voice steady.

“As long as it’s my gift, I have no objections.” She raised her eyebrows, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. With a practiced air, Bernice opened the tightly wrapped box.

Inside was a delicate red container—or so it seemed at first glance.

No, it wasn’t just a small container; it was a miniature coffin.

The room fell silent, faces paling as recognition dawned. On Terrell’s eightieth birthday, the last thing anyone wanted was a reminder of mortality. The coffin seemed like a curse to Terrell!

Your source: g𝕒ln𝕠v𝕖ls.𝕔𝕠𝕞 Bernice’s face darkened as she hurled the coffin to the floor. Despite the impact, the well-crafted object remained intact, save for a small chip on one corner.

“What is the meaning of this?” Bernice turned to Eileen, her voice sharp with accusation.

Kamila’s lips curled into a smirk. “Well, well. It seems our young guest is quite impulsive. Even Onaland’s customs can’t explain such a gift. Perhaps you’ve grown too accustomed to the life there. Alverton clearly isn’t the place for someone like you.”

Eileen saw through Kamila’s ploy to turn everyone against her, to drive her from Alverton. She couldn’t help but laugh.

“You are Mrs. Aston, right? For someone who has never met me before, you seem to know an awful lot about my life. Tell me, what do you think I despise most?”

“I’m hardly in the mood for guessing games with you,” Kamila retorted, her tone dismissive. “None of us here are. After all, you’re a stranger here.”

Eileen replied calmly, “I am clearly a stranger you seem desperate to know everything about. If you’re so bored, perhaps you should focus on your own family instead of meddling in my business.”

The implication in her words hung in the air—if Kamila truly feared her, she would do well to concentrate on dealing with Keith instead of meddling in her affairs. Kamila’s face darkened.

Eileen explained to Terrell, “Mr. Byrd, I assure you, this gift’s appearance belies its true meaning. While your family’s success in business and politics is undeniable, this vessel is meant to seal away any evil, ensuring the continued prosperity of the Byrd family.”

Everyone knew that a coffin traditionally signified death and was a fixture at funerals. Given Terrell’s advanced age, it was a stretch to spin the gift into something positive.

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