Love at Novel 2231
Love at the Wrong Table
Chapter 2231 The Shift Begins
While the votes were being cast, Emmanuel remained by Ethanâs side, closely monitoring the election via live video feed.
Everyone understoodâthis wasnât just about the Chamber of Commerce presidency.
Whoever won today would gain a huge advantage in the presidential race.
As Emmanuel studied the screen, Albin approached him and spoke in a low voice, âCommander Lowe, the task has been taken care of.â
âGood.â Emmanuel nodded in approval and gave a subtle thumbsâup. He thought, With that, one of Teddyâs major schemes is already dismantled.
âSpread the word. Make sure the news reaches the venue,â Emmanuel ordered.
âUnderstood, Commander Lowe!â Albin responded before slipping away.
Everything was moving into place. It was a carefully coordinated effort involving multiple players who had set things in motion long before today.
Meanwhile, Teddy was still irritated by Anselâs earlier move.
He had instructed Ansel privately that Mackenzieâs people shouldnât get a turn until he had at least 30
votes.
Yet, Ansel had already let Jidrus vote early, subtly disrupting Teddyâs plan.
Teddy drummed his fingers against the table. Did Ansel think following my ons suspicious, so he adjusted things slightly?
exactly would look
Needing to reel him back in, Teddy cleared his throatâonce, twice, then a third time. Ansel finally glanced in his direction. Teddy raised his glass, pretending to sip
It was a small, seemingly innocent gestureâbut Mackenzie wasnât fooled.
Mater
Teddy believed he was still in control, using Anselâs family as leverage to dictate the voting
order.
However, Magnus, Stanley, and Terence had already tipped off Mackenzie, and Emmanuel had dismantled Teddyâs leverage well before the election even started.
Unfortunately, Ansel was still in the darkâhe had no idea that Teddyâs grip on him was already broken.
A video message greeted him when he arrived at the election hall this morning. On the screen, his family appeared trapped in a dimly lit room, serving as a clear warning.
Teddyâs instructions were straightforwardârig the voting order or face the consequences.
With no choice, Ansel played along unwillingly.
Yet, every part of him resented it.
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Chapter 2231 The Shift Begins
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the first ten votes, he ensured at least two went to neutral representativesâa small disruption, but a disruption nonetheless.
Still, Teddy wasnât oblivious. Another silent warning followed that he was still being watched.
Jaw tightening, Ansel forced himself to comply, allowing Teddyâs faction to sweep the first 29 votes, shifting the odds entirely in his favor.
Teddy sighed, his voice tinged with forced sincerity. âMs. Quillen, to be honest, I was thinking about stepping aside and letting the younger generation take the reins. However, it seems the people arenât quite ready for me to retire just yet.â
His expression was convincing, almost genuine. To anyone unfamiliar with him, it would seem like a humble remark. Still, Mackenzie knew betterâbeneath the surface, he was mocking her.
She remained poised. âMr. Tanner, weâll make sure your wish comes true.â
A brief flash of irritation crossed Teddyâs gaze before he quickly masked it with a chuckle. âHopefully, Ms. Quillen.
Disgust immediately twisted in Mackenzieâs stomach. She had studied countless stories and wisdom texts, each warning that the most dangerous villains often wore the warmest smiles.
Experiencing it firsthand proved far worse than reading about it in books. Watching Teddy play his role so effortlessly made her skin crawl.
Then suddenly, a new voice interrupted the moment.
âSorry for the delay!â
Heads turned as Julian Summerton, one of Mackenzieâs key representatives from Nuthana, strolled into the hall.
Despite being hospitalized for poisoning the night before, he walked in as if nothing had happened.
âHmm⦠As far as I remember, even if someoneâs late, they still get to vote, right?â he added with a smirk.
Murmurs filled the room.
Teddyâs calm expression twitched for a split second.
He had counted on Julian being out of the picture.
With Ken and Anthony dead and several representatives absent due to the poisonings, Mackenzieâs numbers were supposed to be crippled.
Yet here Julian wasâstanding tall and ready to vote.
Even though one vote wouldnât overturn the election, was a crack in Teddyâs wellâcrafted narrativeâand
he knew it.
Keeping his expression neutral, Ansel responded, âYes, ll representatives retain their voting rights until the final vote is cast.
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Chapter 2231 The Shift Begins
for Julian to take a seat.
However, Julian had no interest in playing along with Teddyâs performance.
Instead, he walked straight toward the voting podium.
3
âWhat do you think youâre doing?!â One of Teddyâs men snapped, moving to block Julianâs path.
Several notaries also stepped forward, ready to intervene.
Finished
Noticing Julianâs subtle eye movements, Ansel raised a hand and signaled them to hold back. Something about Julianâs expression suggested he was trying to send a message.
Julian didnât even blink. Turning to Ansel, he asked, âMr. Morrison, can I vote first? Iâm still recovering, and my doctor told me I shouldnât be stressing myself out.â
He casually pulled out his phone and added, âDonât believe me? Here, take a look.â
Most people thought Julian was talking nonsense or about to show a doctorâs note.
When Ansel glanced at the screen, his breath hitched.
It wasnât a medical report.
It was a live video feed of his familyâsafe, unharmed, resting comfortably in a hotel.
Meanwhile, Teddyâs men werenât about to let things slide.
âIs this Nuthana delegate out of his mind?â
âThe voting order is randomized!â
âYeah! No special privileges for anyone!â
âI say we strip him of his vote for causing a disruption!â
Despite the mounting pressure, Ansel kept his voice even and replied, âPlease return to your seat and wait for the draw.â
Julian smirked. âOf course. No hurryâit doesnât affect me at all. I can wait,â he spoke casually, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
His words carried an unspoken message, one meant only for Ansel. Relax. Your family is safe. No oneâs going to die.
As a seasoned professional, Ansel understood the message instantly.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself before turning to announce the next voter.
This time, his voice was clearer and steadier. âThe next representative to voteâJulian Summerton of Nuthana!â
The room froze.
Teddyâs connorters who had just been celebrating nucl no lulian aside suddenly looked like they had
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Chapter 2231 The Shift Begins
swallowed their tongues.
Their mind raced. We fought so hard to block him from voting, and now heâs randomly selected as the next in line?! Is this just dumb luck?
Julian grinned, turning toward the people who had been yelling at him a moment ago. He gestured at them mockingly. âLooks like even fate is tired of your nonsense! Go on, keep whining! Letâs hear the next excuse!â
Silence.
No one dared to argue.
As Julian stepped forward, Teddyâs eyes burned into Anselâs. His expression said it all, âDo you no longer care about your family?â
However, Ansel wasnât the same man he was an hour ago. He didnât flinch, didnât acknowledge the stare.
He had been forced to rig elections under Teddyâs threats for years.
Yet this timeâhe had a way out.
ઠનૠઠનૠàªà«, àªàª²
If he let this opportunity slip away, there might never be another chance to bring Teddy down.
Taking a deep breath, he made the announcement. âNuthanaâs representative, Julian Summerton, votes for Mackenzie Quillen
The screen refreshed. The score was 2 to 29,
The gap remained vast, almost insurmountable.
Yet, for Mackenzieâs sideâit was the first real sign of hope.
Outside, Beatrix and the others let out a quiet breath of relief.
Still, no one relaxed just yet. They all keath of relief.
chance.
they didnât shift the tide now, they wouldnât get another