“Looks like Adrien isn’t that lucky after all.” Abel walked toward her and draped his arm over her shoulder. “Emma, this banquet is getting boring. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Emmeline gently pushed him away. She knew Abel wanted to protect her, but she was worried that his intervention might worsen the situation.

The three boys were pouting. They would never forgive anyone who spoke ill of their mother, even if that person was their great-grandfather!

“Yes, Mommy. There’s no point staying here. Let’s go home.”

“Situation report! The Ryker family is a no-go.”

“We love you, Mommy. You’re the best mommy to all of us, it doesn’t matter what other people say!”

Emmeline hugged the three boys tightly. “Alright, let’s go home.”

“I’ll give you a ride,” Abel said.

Adrien stepped between him and Emmeline. “She’s my wife, and they’re my children!”

Abel sneered. “You don’t deserve to be a father.”

“The three boys can’t leave!” Julianna grabbed Sun, Moon, and Star. “They’re my grandchildren. They can’t leave!”

“But Granny,” Sun said, “Great-Grandpa doesn’t like our mommy, so we can’t stay here. We’ll be going home with Mommy.”

“We are here to assess the situation,” Moon said, “And it looks like this place isn’t up to par. We should leave with Mommy.”

Oscar said sternly, “You three are descendants of the Ryker family. You cannot leave with an outsider!”

“No!” The three boys cried out together. “We only want Mommy! We don’t care about the Ryker family!”

Oscar was furious. “But your mother doesn’t meet my requirements! I can only ask her to leave!”

“Mr. Ryker, you’re getting ahead of yourself,” Emmeline said coolly. “I’ve never wanted to marry into the Ryker family, and I gave birth to the children. No one can decide their fate without my consent!”

“You are in no position to speak like that here! I’m the one in charge!”

“I’m not beneath you! I don’t have to listen to what you say!”

“Show some respect, young woman!”

“I’d give you some respect if you deserve any!”

“Security! Take her down!” Oscar roared angrily.

“Grandfather!” Abel spread his arms and stood in front of Emmeline. “You can’t treat Emmeline like that. What did she do wrong?”

“Hmph! I’d rather not separate the mother from the children because it’s better for them to stay together, but I can see that this young woman is extraordinary.”

“Oh?” Emmeline smirked, though alarm bells rang in her head. “How am I extraordinary?”

“The gown you are wearing,” Oscar said, “Is the pièce de resistance of a world-renowned designer. If you’re not extraordinary, you wouldn’t have come into ownership of a priceless item like that.”

Emmeline laughed. “Heheh, I made this gown with my own hands. It’s only an imitation. How could you have been mistaken?”

“What?”

“An imitation?”

“She made it herself?”

Everyone was shocked.

Emmeline continued, “That’s right. I saved up money to buy the materials and spent two years stitching this gown myself. As much as it resembles the original, it is missing the Ocean’s Heart diamond. I had to replace it with a worthless glass bead.”

Everyone turned their gaze toward the trinket on her collar. Just like what she said, it was a glass bead with no luster.

Emmeline smirked. “Any more questions, Mr. Ryker?”

“…”

Oscar was feeling embarrassed, though he maintained his composure. He smiled kindly and said, “I must have been mistaken!”

“Can I leave with my children now?” Emmeline asked.