Ellis seemed as though he hadn’t heard the gossip and rumors, but Mary noticed that his grip tightened around his fork.

Mary understood him.

Ever since he was young, Ellis had been a troublemaker, dubbed the Demon of Clance, and his reputation had never been good.

He never cared about what others thought of him.

If these words could agitate him, it was merely because he also felt embarrassed.

A bitter smile suddenly tugged at the corners of Mary’s lips.

She clenched her fists tightly and suddenly looked toward the third table, saying in a cold voice, “Is the food that the Olsen family prepared to entertain you all not to your taste?”

The people at the third table who had been whispering to each other immediately shut their mouths, looking toward her in fear.

Mary kept her gaze fixed on them. “If it’s not to your liking, you may choose not to eat, or you may leave. The door is right there. I won’t be seeing you out.”

Several women suddenly looked at each other, feeling at a loss.

Victoria immediately said, “Mary, what’s wrong? Has something happened? These ladies are relatives of our family, though distantly related… but after all, we share the same Olsen surname…”

Mary immediately looked at her. “Are you deaf? They were just bad-mouthing me over there. Did you not hear it? Is this how you protect the reputation of the Olsen family?”

Victoria was choked by the scolding, and her face paled on the spot.

She clenched her fists in grievance, then looked toward Ellis and said softly, “Ellis, did I make Mary angry? I really didn’t mean to…”

Ellis slowly raised his head. Those eyes that were usually commanding and condescending now revealed an unusual depth.

He said slowly, “So, are you deaf?”

Victoria was taken aback.

Ellis then turned coldly toward the third table. “Since my wife has issued an eviction order, we won’t keep you.”

He said deliberately and methodically, but after those words, he suddenly raised his voice. “Why are you not leaving?!”

The women at the third table jumped in fright, shivering all over!

The girl who was on good terms with Victoria was actually a distant relative of the Olsen family. Their current family head was a trusted subordinate of Uncle Olsen, so they held a certain status within the Olsen household.

That was why their family could sit at the third table at an Olsen banquet.

Under Ellis’s gaze, the young woman sheepishly stood up and said, “Cousin Ellis, I was… I was just kidding… Dad, I really didn’t say anything!”

Her last words were said to the main table.

The person she spoke to was just joking with Uncle Olsen a moment ago. His name was Joseph Olsen. He was from a collateral branch of the Olsen family. Still, by serving Uncle Olsen and helping the Olsen Group reach greater heights, he now held a prominent position within the Olsen family.

Upon hearing this, he couldn’t help but look toward Uncle Olsen, pleading, “Well, Mr. Olsen, my daughter has said some nonsense. I’ll teach her a lesson when we return home! She didn’t have any bad intentions; she just has a loose tongue…”

Uncle Olsen heard this and said nothing.

Sitting beside him, Keira said indifferently, “Really? It seemed that your daughter was mocking me just a moment ago. Yes, that’s right. She also called me an illegitimate daughter, asking if I was from the first branch or the second.”

These words made Uncle Olsen’s face instantly darken.

Joseph’s face also paled.

Having followed Uncle Olsen for so many years, he naturally understood where Uncle Olsen’s bottom line lay! That man was particularly defensive of his own!

Ellis was his junior and Joseph was close to Uncle Olsen; hence his own daughter would also be considered Uncle Olsen’s junior.

Uncle Olsen wouldn’t normally intervene in such verbal disputes. After all, they were all youngsters! But if his daughter mocked Uncle Olsen’s biological daughter…

Joseph couldn’t help but wipe the sweat beads from his forehead, feeling as if there were thorns at his back! He swallowed nervously.

Uncle Olsen looked toward him. “I need you to give me an explanation!”

Joseph immediately stood up and, without hesitation, rushed over to his daughter, and then slapped her across the face.

“Slap!”

The harsh slap landed on the girl’s face, not only making an impact on her but also letting everyone present understand the importance Uncle Olsen placed on his daughter.

After delivering the slap, Joseph secretly glanced at Uncle Olsen and, seeing his expressionless eyes still focused on his meal, it was clear that Uncle Olsen wasn’t satisfied.

Joseph immediately raised his hand again and gave his daughter another harsh slap.

The girl’s cheeks swelled up on both sides. She cried inconsolably and looked at her father. “Dad, why won’t you stand up for me? Why are you helping them?!”

“Slap!”

Joseph, without needing Uncle Olsen’s approval this time, slapped her face again with force! She was spoiled to the point of being uncontrollable! He angrily pointed at her and scolded, “Why are you involved in those idle chit-chat? Why did you gossip about Miss Olsen?! You’re so stupid!” He moved forward and kicked her!

His daughter was kicked to the ground, in such pain that she couldn’t stand up. The entire banquet hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone watched them in disbelief. Nobody said anything, yet at the same time, everyone understood that this was Uncle Olsen establishing authority for his daughter.

During the silence, the daughter lying on the ground was already consumed with rage. Since she dared to mock Keira, she certainly had an arrogant and domineering personality. Now furious, she broke into a torrent of abuse. “Dad, what are you doing?! If you want to be Uncle Olsen’s dog, do you expect me to be that illegitimate daughter’s lapdog too? I’m telling you. She’s not worthy!!”

She cried while looking at Keira. “That woman is already married once and even has a child. Later, when her husband abandoned her, what’s the use of her returning to the Olsen family? She’s nothing but a pretty object and an empty head! A second-hand woman with a child like her will never find a respectable family in the future!

“What does it matter if she’s Uncle Olsen’s biological daughter?!”

Almost as soon as these words fell, the Olsen family butler suddenly rushed in. “Uncle Olsen, the Horton family has sent someone to propose a betrothal!!”