Love at the Wrong Table
Chapter 2198 Not Repayment–Retribution
“Mr. Magnus is back!”
“Did you see his face? He’s changed!”
“What’s he doing here now?”
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The Zelinsky Residence, bustling as always, erupted with chatter. The sprawling estate housed plenty of family members and servants, and news of Magnus‘ return spread like wildfire. Everyone had an opinion, and curiosity ran high.
Magnus and his group were ushered into a side hall to wait.
“This is ridiculous! Are they really making us wait here I should just burn this place to the ground!” Quintus growled, slamming a fist onto the table.
While Hartie and Magnus stayed calm, Quintus couldn’t hold back his temper. The Zelinsky family had long been a thorn in his side. Quintus‘ resentment only deepened after his father was unfairly transferred and went missing.
Unbothered by the delay, Magnus calmly sipped his tea Maxwell was dead, and Magnus wasn’t here to play their games. He’d come to sever ties with the Zelinsky family once and for all–there was no need to
rush.
Hattie shot a look at Quintus, wondering if she should step in to calm him down. Before she could say anything, a sharp, arrogant voice cut through the room from the doorway. “Who’s bold enough to threaten burning down the Zelinsky Residence? Do you even realize this is the mayor of Zovince’s house?”
Blake sighed quietly, thinking Quintus had taken it too far. He thought, Threatening to burn down the mayor’s house? Reckless doesn’t even begin to cover it. That’s the fastest way to end up on the country’s most–wanted list. You’re not Emmanuel–a national hero with influence to shield him. You’ve got no such safety net, Quintus.
Annoyed by the interruption, Quintus spun around to face the speaker.
Standing in the doorway was a striking woman surrounded by a small entourage. Most of them were younger women, but a few older men were scattered among the group. At the center of the scene was Chiara, one of the famed Four Beauties of Zovince.
Her eyes burned with cold fury as they landed on Magnus and his group. It was clear she’d come looking for a fight.
“Hattie, back at last, huh? Did you come home just to talk about burning it down?” the woman leading the group sneered, her tone icy.
Despite his hot–headed nature, Quintus knew better than to dive into a family dispute. He stayed quiet for
once.
Hattie moved to respond, but Magnus raised a hand to stop her. They weren’t here for a debate–they were here to end things, not to waste time playing by the family’s rules.
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Still, Hattie’s reply was firm. “Aunt Megan, we didn’t come back to see you.”
Megan’s expression darkened at the coldness in Hattie’s tone. Once a prominent figure herself, Megan had
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Chapter 2198 Not Repayment Retribution
political gain, clearing the way for Freya to step in.
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For Hattie, Megan was a bitter memory. As a child, she ever quite understood why the Zelinsky family treated her and her brother so coldly,
It wasn’t until she was six–when Freya left the Zelinsky family, and Ezra remarried Megan–that everything clicked. The woman she had thought of as their mother wasn’t truly part of their family at all.
Their real mother had only used the Zelinsky name to serve her own ambitions, abandoning them once she got what she wanted. She left Hattic and Magnus behind in a household that felt more like a prison than a home.
Hattie’s childhood was marked by the wounds of Megan’s cruelty, masked as discipline. A lasting memory for her was the day when Megan’s dog bit her. Rather than worrying about Hattie’s injury. Megan’s initial concern was whether the dog was hurt when Hattie approached her.
Using the excuse of “doing it for her mother’s sake,” Megan insisted on rigid rules of behavior and forced Hattie to adhere to strict standards of respect and etiquette. Over time, Hattie’s instinctive response to Megan’s presence became automatic–standing up straight and speaking politely, whether she wanted to
or not.
Now as Hattie remained seated, Megan’s displeasure was clear. “How dare you sit there like that? This is the Zelinsky Residence! Who taught you to be so disrespectful to your elders?”
Ever the protective older brother, Magnus looked ready to speak, but Hattie shot him a look. Rising from her seat, she walked up to Megan with a steady, unflinching gaze.
Megan smirked, expecting her obedience.
However, Hattie’s following words shattered that illusion. “So, what exactly do you want from me? Should I bow? Bend over? Or would kneeling satisfy you?”
Megan’s face twisted in anger. “What is this attitude? Have you forgotten everything I’ve done for you after your mom abandoned you? I raised you–this is how you repay me?”
“Forget? Not a chance!” Hattie’s response was quick and firm.
Megan was already beginning to smirk, confident she still had control over Hattie. Before she could savor her moment, Hattie landed a sharp slap across her face.
The room fell silent.
For a moment, even time seemed to stop. Then, a faint, triumphant smile spread across Hattie’s face. That felt amazing. That is exactly why I came back today.
“How dare you!” Megan shrieked, clutching her cheek, her voice shaking with rage.
* Hattie deliberately replied, “How dare I? This slap is for everything you’ve put me through. Did you think I
came back for a friendly reunion?”
Megan’s anger boiled over. “You’re out of control! Someone shut her up!”
The guards stepped forward but paused when Blake moved to stand protectively in front of Hattie.
Blake’s reputation preceded them–he had once been one of Ezra’s most trusted men, and only a handful
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Chapter 2198 Not Repayment Retribution
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of individuals, like Aiden or the legendary Earth Hamer Birch, had ever matched his skill. With Birch long gone, Blake stood in a league of his own.
These guards were used to intimidating regular folks, ut facing Blake was a whole different game. Plus, as for the imposing presence backing Hattie? They weren’t about to take that risk.
“What are you waiting for? Do I have to tell you twice? Megan barked, trying to regain control.
Before the guards could act, Quintus smashed the table before him with a swift kick, sending splinters flying. “Finally! Let’s see some action–1 could use the workout!”
The guards quickly backed off, clearly out of their depth.
Megan’s face twisted with desperation and helplessness and Hattie felt years of pent–up resentment begin to melt away for the first time.
Then Blake’s voice cut through the tension. “If you know what’s good for you, stay out of this. When the real players talk, you lackeys keep quiet.”
Suddenly, a cold voice rang out from behind the crowd. “So, you’re saying it’s our turn now?”
It was Chiara.
The moment she spoke, Blake tensed slightly. He knew precisely who Chiara was–and how dangerous she
could be.
“Move aside, lackey,” she commanded, her tone sharp and icy.
Blake raised an eyebrow, smirking. “I’m not looking for a fight, Ms. Lannister. But if you even think about touching Ms. Hattie, don’t expect me to stay quiet.”
Chiara’s gaze turned even frostier, her piercing eyes locking onto him like daggers.
Sensing the rising tension, Blake decided to hold his tongue. Though standing by, Quintus also stayed quiet. He wasn’t foolish enough to provoke Chiara, not with her intimidating presence and reputation.
Chiara turned her icy gaze to Hattie and Magnus. “Now that you’re here, didn’t it cross your minds to come and see me first?”
The Zelinsky family was infamous for its drama, and having two of the Four Beauties in the family only fueled the intrigue. The tension between Chiara and Hattie, however, was no secret.
While their relationship had always been strained, this was the first time they’d clashed head–on. Nearby servants couldn’t help but sneak glances, eager to witness what promised to be an explosive confrontation.
“We’ve come to see Father. Since you’re here, I suppose there’s no better time for that chat,” Hattie replied coolly. She remained resolute, even though she often felt like she didn’t belong with the Zelinsky family.
Chiara’s lips curled into a cold, almost mocking smile. “Fine. Let’s talk.”
Chiara’s jaw tightened, her voice sharp and cold. “Since we’re all here, let’s put it out in the open. Tell everyone how you made a deal with Emmanuel to have my husband killed!”
“What?!” The room erupted into chaos.
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Chapter 2198 Not Repayment–Retribution
Several Zelinsky elders immediately jumped in, their voices filled with anger and disbelief.
“Hattie, is what she’s saying true?”
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“Why would Emmanuel break into the Zelinsky Residence and kill Maxwell, someone who had no quarrel with him? Were you behind it all?”
“You’re both smart, no doubt, but why would you use your intelligence to destroy your own family? It’s disgraceful!”
Hattie kept her expression calm, pressing her lips together as she waited for the shouting to subside. She let them finish venting before even attempting to respond.
Before she could say anything, Magnus stood. Gently placing a hand on hers, he gave her a reassuring look, silently telling her to let him handle it.
