Chapter 674:

Gavin bristled. “This is preposterous! She has no right to send goons to kidnap you. You’re not going anywhere. Stay put!”

Elyse gestured toward the men in black. “But they’re already here. How can we possibly force them out?”

Frustration etched Gavin’s face. He cursed under his breath, regretting opening the door.

Elyse set down her violin with a sigh. “I can go with them,” she said, surprising Gavin and the men in black.

Seeing her obedience, the men ushered her to a waiting car.

An hour later, the car pulled into the Bensons’ driveway. Elyse disembarked, feeling no warmth at the sight of the house. The men escorted her into a room.

Inside, she found Felicia, Thea, and Claire Lipson. Claire stood beside a well-dressed woman who resembled her—Claire’s mother.

Elyse met Felicia’s gaze defiantly. “What can I do for you?”

Felicia sipped her tea. “There seems to be a misunderstanding, Elyse. Did you forget?”

Elyse furrowed her brow. “I can’t recall any mistakes. Why don’t you just say it?”

Felicia’s smile vanished, replaced by a steely glint. She slammed her teacup down.

“You publicly bullied Claire! You came back for a single day and already caused a scene with your arrogant behavior!”

Elyse’s gaze flickered to Claire. “You claim I bullied you?”

Claire, intimidated, cowered behind her mother, silent.

Thea interjected, “You deny bullying her? Look at her! She’s scared of you, hiding behind her mother like a child. What did you do to her?”

Disregarding Thea, Elyse turned to Claire. “She’s acting guilty knowing I didn’t bully her.”

Claire flinched. Perhaps she had exaggerated, but it didn’t change the narrative. In Claire’s eyes, Elyse’s lack of deference was bullying.

Felicia’s fury boiled over. Slamming her hand on the table, she roared, “How dare you! You bully a guest and refuse to apologize? I must handle this according to family rules!”

Elyse watched as a maid brought in a long ruler. Her heart raced.

Felicia pointed at Elyse. “Hit her palms. She bullies and denies it. Hit her palms.”

What? Hitting her palms?

Elyse’s face paled. “I did nothing wrong. Why should I be punished? I won’t accept this.”

Elyse’s defiance ignited Felicia’s fury. Her piercing voice sliced through the air. “Hold her down. This stubborn girl deserves a lesson. Does she really think she can act arrogantly in front of me?”

Elyse felt anger surge. She had simply wanted to visit the Bensons; she hadn’t intended to be pulled back into the family fold.