Masked In Nobility: Secrets Of Mrs. Chavez by Selina Gorges

Winona bit her lip, her fingers gripping the frtightly, turning white with tension. She forced herself to lift her

head, her voice trembling slightly, with a hint of tears. “Mr. Paben, | don’t understand what you mean by asking

this. Everyone knows the truth. Why are you going out of your way to ask again? | know you've always had

issues with my teacher, but you shouldn’t chere to stir trouble and embarrass him. You're being too much.”

Winona's tactic of redirecting blworked perfectly. Upon hearing her words, Richard shot up from his seat,

furious, and began to accuse Cole. “That's enough, Mr. Paben! If you've got an issue, take it up with me. What

kind of man takes it out on a student?”

Winona lowered her gaze, hiding the triumph in her eyes.

Cole’s brow furrowed slightly, displaying no concern for Richard's anger. He maintained his unwavering gaze on

Winona and spoke with conviction, “Allowto inquire once more, are you absolutely certain that Cyanbird

gave you this painting?”

Everyone turned to look at Winona on the round platform. Winona silently cursed Cole in her heart. She had

encountered Cole before during her exams at the Art Association. All the judges had passed her, except for him,

who gave her the lowest score, preventing her from passing level five. And now, out of nowhere, he was

questioning her about this painting.

‘Could it be... that he’s really discovered something? No, that’s impossible. Back when | was in Mysonna, the

underground seller assuredthat no one would ever find out. Could it be that Mr. Paben is just trying to trick

me? Yes... | need to stay calm... Everything's fine... It'll be fine. By this time, she had no way out. “Yes, this

painting was a gift from the master Cyanbird a few years ago when | was in Mysonna. He greatly admired my

work and character and gifted it tospecially.”

Winona’s firm response made everyone present feel that Cole was being unreasonable. Even if he had conflicts

with Richard, he shouldn't be taking it out on a young girl. Many people began to speak up for Winona.

The first to speak was Robert. “Mr. Paben, you heard Winona’s answer, didn’t you? The whole of Seacrity knows

that master Cyanbird gave this painting to her, and the private seal on the painting can’t be fake, right? Are you

being so aggressive to bully the Carter and Chambers families? Winona is already engaged to Victor and will be

my daughter-in-law of the Carter family, so we won't let you slander her like this!” Robert's words were a clear

announcement of Winona and Victor's engagement to everyone present.

Zachary frowned slightly. ‘Who Winona is engaged to no longer concernsas her “father.”

Nellie, her eyes reddened, also stood up to reproach Cole. “Mr. Paben, Winona is still just a child. How can you

question her like this in front of so many people? This is the Chambers family, not the Art Association, and you're

not one of our invited guests. | hope you leave immediately.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd below started to act as righteous defenders again.

“Mr. Paben, you'd better leave quickly. It's not right to ruin their happy day like this.”

“Exactly, you're not young anymore. What's the point of bullying a young girl?”

“Leave... just leave, no one here wants you...”

In the corner, Yvette opened her eyes. She first glanced at Jeremiah, who was closest to her, then looked towards

the noisy round platform in the distance.

Jeremiah immediately looked down at Yvette, his eyes dark and bright, his voice soft and unusually tender. “Did |

wake you?”

Simon, Wyatt, and Sienna also turned to look at Yvette at the stime... Wyatt got goosebumps from

Jeremiah'’s voice. “That can’t be the iron-blooded Major General anymore, right? In front of Yvette, Jeremiah is

like one of those so-called cute puppy types? A cute puppy? Oh my... | can’t even imagine. That's too terrifying!”

Sienna from Argrol University casually sat down beside them. “Hey... Yve... you slept soundly, didn’t you? It's

been a lively scene up here. Sguy barged in just now, claiming to be the vice president of the Art

Association, Cole. He's questioning Winona about that painting. From what he said, it seems like there's some

issue with it.”

Yvette’s beautiful eyes were still slightly lazy, though there was a coldness deep within them. Her upturned

eyelids carried a wildness as she stretched and lazily glanced at Cole, who was being surrounded by the crowd.

Her voice had a bit of drowsy languor. “The painting is fake.”

Sienna exclaimed in shock, “The painting is fake?”

The power of that shout silenced the bustling garden once again. The crowd had been so focused on criticizing

Cole that they had forgotten about the line of big shots seated there. What had Sienna just yelled? “The painting

is fake?” “What's going on? Could it be that Sienna knows sinside information?’

Cole turned to look at Yvette’'s side, his eyes suddenly shining brightly, and his hands trembling with excitement.

However, everyone was too focused on the other side to notice Cole's strange behavior.

Sienna realized her voice had been too loud. ‘But it’s not my fault! The boss made such a shocking statement! |

could believe if someone else were making stuff up, but if the boss says the painting is fake, then it must be

fake! If that's true, then this is a big deal...

“Sienna, why did you say the painting is fake? Do you have any evidence? You can’t just make claims like that.”

“Yeah, | think you're only accusing Winona because you're close to Yvette. Did Yvette put you up to this? Don’t

let yourself be used as someone's pawn.”

sok

Egged on by these comments, the crowd turned their eyes to Yvette, now filled with suspicion. ‘Could Yvette

really have prompted Sienna to step in and frWinona?’

Winona stepped down from the

platform, her expression showing

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she'd clearly suffered a major blow.

Tears streamed down her face as

q “

she cried sorrowfully. hy-ags you

helping,quisidets bl €? Why?

Ever Since you cback to the

family, have | done anything to upset

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you? I've always made concessions

for you and never dared to make you

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angry because you're my half-sister.

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I've always wanted to get along with

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you, but you've never givena

chance. Today is the most important

day of my life, and you had Sienna

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speak up for you. You're going too

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far!” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Winona’s words evoked deep sympathy from the crowd, especially from Victor, who rushed to her side, glaring at

Yvette as though they had sdeep-seated grudge.

Yvette, her legs crossed, rested her

hands on the chair, tapping

rhythmically with Se hand Her

Spe calm Gnd eep, with a

ischievous smirk on her face, her

features so stunning that people

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couldn't look directly at her-both

seductive and untamed. The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

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Yvette's demeanor left the crowd

‘ ye

breathless. ‘She... she's just 100 1

beautiful, Her breathidking beauty

O ,

Ee rer Gre s hearts, and even

those who had just been accusing

her were now left speechless. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

Sitting beside her, Jeremiah casually handed Yvette a glass of orange juice he had poured. Yvette took it without «

hesitation, took a sip, and then, amidst the stunned gazes of everyone, finally spoke.