Chapter 328: I Really Don’t Know, I’ll Have to Trouble You Two to Tell Me

Chapter 328: Chapter 328: I Really Don’t Know, I’ll Have to Trouble You Two to Tell Me

The guests at the entrance were taken aback, wondering what had gotten into Evan.

Estelle was just about to enter when she heard him. She halted and raised an eyebrow. "Is Mr. Yeats speaking to me?"

Evan pressed his lips together, utterly baffled. He couldn’t fathom how someone could be so shameless. "Today is the Yeats family’s banquet. After bullying Claire like that the other day, how do you have the nerve to show up?"

Estelle gave Claire a meaningful look. It seemed this ’good sister’ still hadn’t told her ’good brother’ anything at all.

"Why shouldn’t I have the nerve?"

Evan’s face flushed with anger. "You have the nerve to ask after what you did? Get out! The Yeats don’t welcome you!"

Estelle tilted her head. "But the one who invited me was Young Mr. Yeats."

Evan felt like Estelle was deliberately trying to provoke him. "So what? If my eldest brother invited you, it’s definitely only because he doesn’t know your true colors! If he knew you bullied Claire, he’d kick you out too!"

People around them began to look over. After all, no one wanted to miss out on some good gossip.

Surprisingly, Nathaniel—who usually protected Mrs. Sloan like the apple of his eye—was just standing quietly to the side, not saying a word.

Estelle asked curiously, "Oh? How did I bully Miss Yeats? Please, be specific."

Evan was furious. Having grown up carefree in the Yeats family, he had never been defied. Furthermore, since he didn’t have to inherit the family business, he had developed a naive and foolish disposition. When it came to arguing, he was no match for Estelle.

Infuriated by her few words, his whole body trembled. "You know exactly what you did!"

"I don’t know, actually," Estelle replied with a bright smile. "Could you two enlighten me and make it a bit clearer?"

Evan was left speechless.

It was probably his first time seeing someone demand that their own misdeeds be exposed in public. For a moment, he didn’t know how to answer.

Claire, however, slightly pursed her lips. "Miss Lockwood, our grievances are a private matter. My second brother is just standing up for me. Please go on in; it’s fine."

"That won’t do," Estelle said lazily. "If we don’t clear this up now, my reputation will suffer later. If you two genuinely feel I’ve wronged you, you’d better speak plainly.

"After all, mistakes must be pointed out to be corrected. Mr. Yeats keeps saying I’m awful but refuses to say exactly how. It’s rather perplexing."

Evan found this utterly absurd. "You’re the one being shameless, so I..."

"Second Brother!" Claire knew this matter absolutely could not be made public. The others weren’t like Evan, who believed her unconditionally. Right now, she felt as if she were stranded on a high pedestal, unable to step down. "Second Brother, Miss Lockwood, the banquet is about to start. We should..."

"Claire, you don’t need to plead for her!" Evan said angrily. "She’s the one who wronged you!"

Estelle maintained her beaming smile. She watched them for a moment before speaking casually.

"I just thought about it, and I honestly can’t figure out where I’ve wronged Miss Yeats.

"Was it when Miss Yeats spread a rumor that I was wearing a knockoff, only for me to expose that the one wearing the knockoff was actually her, leading her to play the victim?

"Or was it when Miss Yeats deliberately bribed an employee to spill oil on the stairs, then ’accidentally’ pushed me down them, and my subsequent police report landed her in jail?

"Or perhaps there are some other grievances I’m completely unaware of?

"I’m truly in the dark here. Would you two mind telling me?"

The entire entrance to the banquet hall fell completely silent.

The gossiping guests couldn’t help but swallow hard. Good heavens, Miss Lockwood, when you drop a bombshell, you really go all out! This was way too direct! It was practically calling out Claire by name and exposing every scandal she wanted to keep hidden!

Claire’s face instantly stiffened.

Evan, however, furrowed his brows. "Nonsense! In that knockoff incident, Claire was just looking out for you. As for pushing you in the stairwell, Claire already said she didn’t do it on purpose. You’re the one who called the police and blew things out of proportion. You were in the wrong from the start."

Estelle gave Evan a meaningful look. "Whatever you say, Mr. Yeats."

Claire gritted her teeth, her whole body trembling. Although Evan was still defending her, she knew that once Estelle exposed everything, the other guests would look at her differently. Anyone with half a brain could figure out what had really happened, especially since she had been taken to the police station...

"I did hear that Miss Yeats was taken away by the police a few days ago. I didn’t know what happened at first, but now... yikes."

"I think Miss Yeats was held at the station for seven days before she was released. If she was truly just ’careless,’ how could she have been locked up for so long?"

"Uh, I know some inside info. The employee who spilled the oil had proof that Claire bribed her. Besides, the police wouldn’t arrest someone without solid evidence. I have no idea why Evan is spouting such nonsense."

"Keep your voice down! They’re part of the Yeats family. Are you trying to disrespect Mr. Yeats by yelling so loudly?"

"So what if I disrespect him? Like I’d ever bow down to an idiot like..."

"Alright, just keep it down!"

Yet, every single word of these murmurs reached Evan’s ears. His face flushed red and his body shook. Fists clenched tightly, he wished nothing more than to charge over and argue on Claire’s behalf. But he didn’t know how to argue. He usually spoke softly and politely. Now, he could only open his mouth, unable to utter a single word.

Finally, Claire managed to force a stiff smile. "I... I was in the wrong before. Please don’t be angry, Miss Lockwood. My second brother just feels sorry for me. Everyone, let’s head inside."

Hearing the phrase ’My second brother just feels sorry for me,’ Evan instantly snapped back to reality.

Yes, Claire only had him. If he didn’t help her, who would?

So Evan blocked Estelle’s path once again. "No! Estelle, you are not allowed to attend the Yeats family’s banquet! Even if you say my eldest brother invited you, you don’t have an invitation. As a member of the Yeats family, I forbid it!

"Moreover, as part of the Yeats family, I have the right to deny entry to any guest!"

He wasn’t wrong. This banquet was an intimate gathering for the Yeats family; the main figures were the Yeats, and the other guests had to defer to them. Evan was the second son of the Head of the Yeats. Though he wouldn’t inherit the family business, he was at least a legitimate young master of the main bloodline. His words carried significant weight.

If he didn’t let Estelle in, she couldn’t enter—unless Young Mr. Yeats appeared right now to rebuke his own brother and defend her.

The scene fell into a stalemate once more.

Estelle let out a soft chuckle. "As a member of the Yeats family, you forbid me from entering?

"Mr. Yeats... you certainly talk big."

Evan furrowed his brow. "But I’m not wrong. I’m just following the rules! You don’t have an invitation!"

"Mhm," Estelle nodded, then looked toward a certain direction with a bright smile. "Young Mr. Yeats, your brother says I don’t have an invitation, so I’m not allowed in."