Chapter 114

Chapter 114:

“If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll have security drag you out.” The butler’s voice cut through the air like a sharpened blade. Authority dripped from every word, leaving no doubt that defiance would be met with swift consequences.

Gilbert’s disbelief morphed into anger. Was this butler serious? Since when did the servants dictate terms to guests? His eyes narrowed as he clenched Jenna’s hand, dismissing the butler’s threat with a contemptuous glare. They were going inside, whether he liked it or not.

But before Gilbert could take another step, the butler snapped his fingers. In an instant, a squad of burly security guards materialized, surrounding the couple on all sides, their presence as imposing as a wall. Without a word, they seized Gilbert and Jenna, manhandling them with practiced efficiency and unceremoniously tossing them out onto the gravel driveway.

Guests continued to arrive, their elegant attire contrasting sharply with the disheveled pair now sprawled on the ground. Jenna’s meticulously chosen outfit was smeared with dirt, her humiliation as palpable as the dust clinging to her clothes.

The onlookers stared at them, a mix of shock and disbelief painting their faces. “Isn’t that Gilbert from the Santos family?” one guest muttered in disbelief, his eyes widening at the sight of Gilbert being thrown out.

“And that girl—she’s Jenna from the Chapman family, right?” another whispered, equally bewildered by the scene.

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“Did they somehow cross the Johns family?” A few more guests joined the hushed speculation, trying to piece together the reason for this public disgrace.

As Gilbert listened to the murmurs around him, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Desperately, he tried to salvage his dignity, turning to those who recognized him. “It’s not what it looks like! The Johns family’s staff are completely out of line—acting all high and mighty!”

His voice carried a mix of frustration and indignation, but to the others, his words sounded almost laughable. How could the staff bully someone of his status? The very idea seemed preposterous.

Jenna, feeling the weight of the stares and whispers, could barely hold back her tears. Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at Gilbert, her voice small and pitiful. “Gilbert, this is too much! They’ve gone too far!”

Gilbert gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, Jenna. I’m calling my dad right now. I’m not letting Madisyn get away with this!” His expression darkened as he yanked out his phone and quickly dialed, his fingers trembling with anger.

But the moment the line connected, he was met not with sympathy but with a thunderous roar. “Gilbert, you idiot! What did you do this time?”

Gilbert’s mouth went dry, his words stumbling out in a rush. “Dad, why are you screaming at me?”

“Why?” His father’s voice thundered through the phone, each word laced with fury. “Dane just canceled our partnership! We didn’t have many deals with them to begin with. Are you trying to ruin our company? I sent you to that party to represent the family, and this is what you did?” The sheer anger in his father’s voice was almost tangible, hitting Gilbert like a physical blow.

Gilbert stood there, reeling, his mind scrambling to make sense of what had just happened. He tried to respond, to explain himself, but before he could get a word out, the call ended with a sharp click. The silence that followed was deafening. He stared at his phone, stunned.

Jenna, who had overheard the conversation, was equally stunned. “I don’t understand. How?” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Gilbert, isn’t Dane Glenn’s son? Why would he… Wait! I think I get it now!”

Her sudden shift in tone caught Gilbert’s attention. He turned to her, desperation in his eyes. “What do you mean, you get it?”

A cold, calculating look crossed Jenna’s face. “Dane did this to defend Madisyn,” she said with certainty, her eyes narrowing. “He’s punishing you because of her.” The more Jenna pondered her theory, the more convinced she became. “Madisyn must’ve wormed her way into Dane’s good graces to take control of Natural Beauty, which is under the Johns Group!”

Jenna believed she had nailed the reason behind their humiliating expulsion. But as Jenna reveled in her revelation, Gilbert’s expression darkened. He was staring intently at a news article on his phone, a serious look settling on his face.

“What are you looking at, Gilbert?” Jenna leaned in, her curiosity piqued.

“Take a look at this. Why is everyone calling Madisyn ‘Madisyn Johns’?” Gilbert muttered, his voice tinged with unease.

Johns…

The name echoed ominously in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine as a sense of dread began to take hold.

Jenna, however, dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. “Gilbert, I think you’re overthinking it! My former mother’s family name was Johns before she got married. Madisyn must be using her maiden name,” she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. “What, do you really think Madisyn somehow magically became Glenn’s daughter?”

Gilbert exhaled softly, feeling slightly reassured by her words. It seemed too far-fetched to be true, after all. But despite his efforts to dismiss it, a persistent worry clung to him. The thought of Madisyn becoming Dane’s kept woman unsettled him deeply, twisting his stomach in knots.

Noticing the lingering tension on his face, Jenna quickly tried to calm him. “Relax, Gilbert. Madisyn’s always with that pretty boy. All we have to do is let Dane know, and he’ll get rid of her in no time!”

Meanwhile, Dane remained completely oblivious to the plots forming at the gate of the house. When he heard about what had transpired earlier, his response was swift and merciless. He immediately commanded his security team to permanently bar anyone from the Chapman and Santos families from entering the Johns property. He also directed his assistant to cut all ties with the Santos family’s business, effective immediately. How dare the Santos family mess with his little sister? They must have lost their minds!

Dane turned around with a warm smile. “Madisyn, most of the guests have arrived. Would you like me to introduce you to them?”

Madisyn nodded, following Dane obediently into the living room. The villa’s living room buzzed with excitement as guests clustered around Kristine, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.

The previous welcome banquet had been an intimate affair, limited to those closest to the Johns family, leaving many unaware of Madisyn’s return. Today, they naturally assumed the celebration was just another tribute to Kristine’s endless string of accomplishments.

“Kristine, you’re amazing! So young, and already winning awards left and right!” one guest exclaimed with admiration.

“Definitely, Kristine’s been outstanding since she was little. She’s a real role model for us younger ones,” another added.

Amid the flood of compliments, Kristine’s smile faltered slightly, a hint of discomfort showing.

“Actually, you might be mistaken,” she began, hesitating as she tried to set the record straight.

“It wasn’t Kristine who won an award this time—it was our newly found sister, Madisyn,” Dane announced as he entered the living room.

Surprised, everyone turned to look at Madisyn. Some guests recognized her immediately, their faces lighting up with delight.

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