Chapter 58

Private jet engines hummed beneath Vincent's feet as he prepared for takeoff, focused on making it home in time for the family lunch.

Brinley, however, wasn't in the best mood. Anxiously,she tapped her phone again and again, refreshing her email in anticipation. Only the night before, she'd pulled strings and spent a significant sum to contact a prestigious hospital. Finally, the awaited reply illuminated her screen, making her heart skip.

Feigning excitement, she leaned over and shook Vincent's shoulder. "Vincent! The doctor finally replied!"

He had barely slept over the past two days, having worked around the clock to close the acquisition deal. Being abruptly shaken awake, his eyes darkened with fatigue and annoyance. "What is it?"

Trying to sound as bright as possible, Brinley explained, "I've been reaching out to top heart specialists in Calveria. One of them just emailed me.They're willing to see me for a consultation."

Vincent's brow furrowed, still half-asleep. "Right now?"

"Yes, but I know you promised your grandmother lunch," she said, biting her lip. "Really, don't let me keep you. I can go alone if I have to. Family should come first."

Her words dripped with self-sacrifice, as though she was letting him off the hook.

For several moments, Vincent sat in silence,deliberating.Decision made, he spoke to the captain."Change our course. We're heading to the hospital."Turning to Brinley, his voice was gentle. "Your health is more important than anything else."

He figured a meal at home could always be postponed. This appointment, on the other hand,might be a rare opportunity. He couldn't afford to let anything happen to her.

Satisfaction flashed in Brinley's eyes. She wasted no time sending a triumphant message to Hannah.

Back at the Jones estate, following Sharon's harsh rebuke, Danica grew quiet, seeking comfort in another glass of wine.

With gracious warmth, Sharon smoothed over the earlier unpleasantness, ensuring Raymond and Margaret felt welcome. The meal soon settled into a peaceful rhythm.

By the time dessert was served, one chair remained conspicuously empty. Raymond finally spoke up. "ls Vincent not joining us?"

Hannah's hands fidgeted in her lap. Uncertanty clouded her features.

Setting her silverware aside, Sharon stood and offered a reassuring smile. "Let me see what's keeping him."

Before stepping away, Sharon caught Hannah's eye."Hannah, just make sure your parents are comfortable and have everything they need. No need to treat us with such formality."

"Okay." Hannah nodded.

Just as Hannah turned to ask if her parents wanted anything else to eat, a sharp laugh cut through the air.

Danica's voice rang out, dripping with scorn. "Do you really believe you're worthy of meeting Vincent? Just look at yourself-this wvhole thing is laughable." She took another deep swig from her glass.

With a steely glare, Hannah signaled to the staff."She's clearly had too much. Please take her upstairs."

"Understood." Obediently, two maids moved forward to help, but Danica jerked free, bristling. "I'm not drunk!"

A glare from Danica pinned the staff in place. "Think twice before you listen to Hannah. If you want to keep your jobs, don't take orders from her."

The two maids didn't dare to move, tension crackling in the silence.

Raising her voice for everyone to hear,Danica stood tall. "Since we're all gathered here,let me finally say what's been on my mind." Every eye in the room was on her as she spat out, "Your daughter, Hannah,is nothing more than a cheap knockoff-gaudy, tacky,and embarrassing for anyone to be seen with."

Margaret's hands balled into tight fists at her sides,all the warmth she'd felt from chatting with Sharon earlier draining away in an instant.

Years of teaching had trained Raymond to hold his tongue, but humiliation burned on his face as he tossed back his wine, silent and furious.

Hannah hurried to her parents, her worry growing as she saw her father's composure slipping. "She's just drunk," she said softly. "Please don't mind her.Normally... She's not like this."

Attempting to diffuse the situation, Hannah tried to guide Danica away from the table, only to be pushed aside.

Danica's eyes narrowed in contempt. "You think I wanted my son to marry her? Please. Your daughter was the one clinging to hm like a desperate hooker!When she first married into our family, she atleast knew her place, quiet, obedient, never making trouble. But now? She's mouthy and impossible to control. Thank goodness the marriage stayed under wraps. If anyone found out the great Jones family was linked to someone like her, we'd be a laughingstock!"

Turning her contempt on Raymond and Margaret,Danica added, "And you two, really, you really think you're fit to be related to the Jones family? Don't make me laugh."

A sharp gesture from her summoned the housekeeper. "Aubrey, scrub everything down after this. I want no trace of their poverty clinging to my dining room. Even the air feels dirty."

The coldness in Hannah's face deepened, but before she could respond, a glass of wine sailed across the table, landing squarely on Danica and soaking her dress.

Gasps echoed. Margaret, normally so gentle, had hurled it without a moment's hesitation.

For a moment, even Hannah was speechless-she had never seen her mother so fierce.

Raymond stared at his wife, wide-eyed. Decades together, and he'd never seen her lose control like this.

Danica erupted, shouting, "How dare you! What gives you the right to throw wine at me?"

Margaret met Danica's glare head-on, her voice ringing with conviction. "You deserve that throw," she declared, fury sharp in her eyes. "Back home, I don't even let my daughter do chores, but here, you treat her as if she's beneath you. You've gone way too far."

Leaning closer, Margaret gave an exaggerated sniff, a look of disdain curling her lips. "Funny, no matter how much perfume you wear, it can't mask that foul stench every time you open your mouth."

Danica bristled, words tumbling in disbelief. "You-"

"Oh, save it," Margaret snapped. "You think we're beneath you? Well, guess what? We look down on you too. A so-called prestigious family that treats their daughter-in-law like a servant? I wouldn't be surprised if your family business hits a dead end soon."

A scream erupted as Danica lunged, wild and furious,grabbing for Margaret's hair. "How dare you! I'Il tear you apart!"

But Margaret side-stepped with surprising speed,not even ruffled. "Tear me apart? You'd have to catch me first. Honestly, I'd rather be anywhere but this miserable house."

Crashing against the table, Danica yelped in pain,but Margaret didn't even look back. Both Hannah and Raymond stood in shock, unsure how to process the scene they'd just witnessed.

A swirl of emotions knotted Hannah's chest as she realized her mother had stood up for her. Never in her life had she seen her mother's sudden fierceness, so unyielding in the face of cruelty.

Margaret grabbed Hannah's hand and turned to Raymond, all business. "Well? Are you coming, or do you want to stay and be humiliated a minute longer?"

Raymond, trying to stay rational, stopped her for a second. "Aren't we waiting for Vincent?"

A shake of Margaret's head made her answer clear."After all that? What's the point?"

"Right," Raymond muttered.

With barely another glance at the house, the three of them left together, heads high and backs unbowed.

By the time Sharon hurried back into the dinìng room, the guests were gone, and Danica lay slumped at the table, reeking of wine and defeat.

Afterward, Hannah placed a quick call to Sharon to explain the abrupt departure and then drove her parents straight to the train station.

No amount of gentle pleading from Hannah could change her parents' minds. Both Raymond and Margaret were set on leaving Dorbarrow behind.

Hannah's heart felt heavy with regret. She knew she hadn't protected her parents from disappointment.Her thoughts swirled with self-reproach and sadness, but then a familiar voice broke through the haze. "Mrs. Jones, I finally managed to catch up with you."