Chapter 329: Teaching Evan Yeats a Lesson

Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Teaching Evan Yeats a Lesson

The surroundings plunged into an even deeper silence.

Evan’s pupils shrank the moment he saw Quentin, but he quickly took a bold step forward. "Quentin, she doesn’t have an invitation. I won’t allow her to attend the banquet!"

His oldest brother had always doted on him the most. As long as he explained the situation clearly, Quentin wouldn’t blame him.

To his surprise, Quentin’s expression remained icy. "You won’t allow it?"

Evan thought he hadn’t made himself clear. "Quentin, the Yeats family has a rule that no one without an invitation is allowed inside. Although Miss Lockwood is your guest, she doesn’t have an invitation. I’m just following the rules."

The surroundings were dead silent. After Evan finished speaking, he didn’t expect Quentin to let out a chuckle.

The smile carried a hint of sarcasm. Quentin had always doted on his younger brother and had never shown such an expression in front of him before, leaving Evan completely stunned for a moment.

Quentin parted his lips and asked calmly, "Did you need an invitation to attend this banquet?"

Evan was dazed and answered subconsciously, "Of course not. Why would a member of the Yeats family need an invitation to attend a Yeats banquet?"

Especially since he was from the main branch. His father was the current Head of the Yeats, and his grandfather was the former Head. Why would he need an invitation to his own family’s banquet?

Others, like the branch families, needed them. But Claire didn’t need one either, because she had lived in the main residence for a period of time and was implicitly acknowledged as Miss Yeats.

This was an unspoken truth everyone accepted. He wondered why Quentin would ask such a question.

Claire bit her lower lip, a bad premonition rising in her heart.

"Since you don’t need one," Quentin stated, giving no quarter and leaving no room for argument, "why does Estelle need one?"

Why would Estelle Lockwood need an invitation? Evan truly couldn’t understand. What kind of magic potion had this woman fed his brother?!

"Quentin! Because she’s an outsider!" Evan raised his voice. "She’s an outsider who has wronged Claire!"

Quentin said calmly, "I won’t comment on whether or not she wronged Claire; the truth will speak for itself. But as for being an outsider—"

Quentin’s eyes instantly turned ice-cold. "If Claire isn’t an outsider in your eyes, how could Estelle possibly be one?"

Evan was dumbfounded. "Brother, I really don’t understand what you’re saying. How can a Yeats family banquet let someone like her—"

"Aunt Eleanor’s biological daughter, Grandfather’s biological granddaughter, and our very own cousin is an outsider in your eyes."

Quentin had a ghost of a smile on his face. His tone was calm, yet his words felt like a vicious slap across Claire’s face.

"What? Has Claire still not told you about Estelle’s true identity?"

The venue descended into silence with an indescribable swiftness.

Claire’s mind went blank, as if she had been struck by a heavy blow. Cold sweat broke out across her skin, her heart pounding like a drum.

He actually said it.

Quentin had actually blurted it out in front of so many people!

He left her with absolutely no dignity, announcing to everyone in public that the real Miss Yeats had returned, and that she was nothing but a fake!

Why here?! Why in front of all these people?! Why?!

Evan was dazed for several seconds, completely unable to comprehend the meaning behind Quentin’s words.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand; it was that he didn’t want to.

What did he mean by... Aunt Eleanor’s daughter? Grandfather’s granddaughter? Their biological cousin?

He knew the purpose of the Yeats’ trip to Crestfall. He knew his cousin was still alive, and he was genuinely thrilled, joyfully preparing to welcome her return.

But how could this person be Estelle Lockwood?!

How could it be the same Estelle who had repeatedly bullied Claire?!

"You look quite shocked. It seems Claire really didn’t tell you."

Quentin’s eyes held a faint smile. "Knowing full well that Estelle is Aunt Eleanor’s daughter, knowing full well that she is the true Miss Yeats, you watched Evan block her at the door without saying a word, pretending you didn’t know. Claire, do you care to explain yourself?"

Despite his gentle tone, the words made Claire shudder uncontrollably. "Quentin, I... I’m not... I didn’t know. I also just found out..."

"Claire, don’t lie to me. Understand?" Quentin said gently. "Whether you knew about Estelle’s identity is no secret to me. Or would you prefer I bring out more evidence? If it comes to that, Claire, you’ll be the one losing face."

Claire’s expression froze.

She lowered her eyes delicately, tears welling up in them. "No... I knew Estelle was..."

"Based on age, Estelle is a year younger than you," Quentin reminded her gently.

Claire’s lips twitched, her face exceptionally stiff. "...Estelle. I knew my younger sister Estelle was Miss Yeats, I..."

"Hmm?" Quentin gestured for her to continue.

Evan finally snapped out of his shock.

First, he looked at Estelle in utter disbelief. Then, he subconsciously shielded Claire behind him. "Quentin, Claire did tell me. I was the one who forgot."

"Oh? So Claire already told you."

The last hint of amusement faded from Quentin’s eyes. Perhaps his younger brother had been raised a bit too ’innocently’ by the Yeats. "Since you knew Estelle’s identity, yet you still blocked her at the door and insulted her... Evan, you know what you have to do."

Evan naturally understood, but he still wanted to argue his case.

"Quentin, have you and Father even investigated what kind of person Estelle Lockwood is? Even if she is Aunt Eleanor’s daughter, are you sure you want someone with her character returning to the Yeats? She hasn’t even officially returned, yet she’s repeatedly humiliated Claire just because she’s jealous of Claire’s status.

"I didn’t know what she was jealous of before, but now I understand. She’s jealous that Claire grew up in the Yeats family, so she resorts to wanton insults. It has nothing to do with Claire that she was left wandering outside, yet she’s taking all her revenge out on Claire! Isn’t that too vicious and reckless?! Ah—!"

Evan felt a sharp pain in both knees and fell to the ground with a loud THUD. When he looked up, he met Quentin’s glacial gaze.

"Evan Yeats, have all the morals and decency our family taught you over the years gone straight to the dogs?!"

Evan refused to admit fault. "I can apologize, but Claire—"

"You can apologize?" Quentin chuckled and nodded. "Good. Since you’re willing to apologize, it shows you at least know you were in the wrong today. But as for the rest...

"Evan, it only proves that you have no brains. You believe whatever Claire says. The solid evidence produced by Grandfather’s, Father’s, and my own investigations can’t compare to a couple of tears from Claire.

"You even called your own cousin an outsider to her face, claiming that Claire is the ’sister’ you need to protect. Saying you have no brains is already giving you too much credit!"

Evan sprawled on the ground, his eyes trembling.

He felt as though everything around him was cold and heartless.

What did the looks in these people’s eyes mean? His oldest brother, who had always doted on him, was actually humiliating him over Estelle Lockwood!