?<strong>Chapter 674:</strong>


    Gavin, however, 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 ck, “But they’re already here. How can we possibly force them out?”


    Frustration etched itself onto Gavin’s face. He cursed under his breath, regretting the moment he opened the door.


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


    Seeing her obedience, the men ushered her toward a waiting car without further ado.


    —


    An hourter, the car pulled back into the familiar driveway of the Bensons’ residence. Elyse disembarked, the sight of the house failing to spark any warmth within her.


    The men in ck escorted her into a room.


    Inside, she found Felicia, along with Thea and ire Lipson. ire stood beside a well-dressed woman who bore an undeniable resemnce to her. It was clear — this was ire’s mother.


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


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


    Elyse furrowed her brow. “I can’t recall any mistakes. Why don’t you juste out with it?”


    Felicia’s smile vanished, reced by a steely glint in her eyes. She mmed the teacup down with a resounding thud.


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


    Elyse’s gaze flickered to ire. “You im I bullied you?”


    ire, intimidated by Elyse’s intense stare, cowered behind her mother, offering no response.


    Thea jumped in, “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’s theatrics, Elyse turned directly to ire. “In my view, she’s evidently acting guilty when she’s aware that I didn’t bully her.”


    ire flinched under Elyse’s scrutiny. Perhaps she had exaggerated the situation, but in the end, it didn’t change the narrative. In ire’s eyes, Elyse’sck of deference constituted bullying.


    Felicia’s fury boiled over. With a resounding p on the table, she roared, “How dare you! You bully a guest and refuse to apologize? I must handle it ording to the family rules!”


    Elyse, puzzled, watched as a maid brought in a long ruler. Her heart raced, wondering where this would lead.


    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 ept this.”


    Elyse’s defiance only ignited Felicia’s fury further, her piercing voice slicing through the air like a de. “Hold her down. This stubborn girl deserves to be taught a lesson. Does she really think she can act arrogantly in front of me?”


    Elyse’s expression darkened, feeling anger surge through her veins. She had simply wanted to visit the Bensons; she had never intended to be pulled back into the family fold.


    .


    .


    .