Chapter 65

65
I tightened my grip on the hand by my side, composed myself, and silently got off the car.
“Ah!”
However, as soon as my feet touched the ground, my knee, in excruciating pain, couldn’t bear the weight, and I clumsily fell to the ground.
Reynaldo looked down at me, his handsome face devoid of any expression in the dim light.
He must have thought that I was pretending to be pitiful.
I gritted my teeth and struggled to stand up.
He didn’t say anything and turned around to walk towards the front
hall.
I endured the pain in my knee and limped behind him.
His figure was tall and broad, but it also exuded a chilling hostility that kept people at a distance of a thousand miles.
I always kept a distance of one meter from him, not daring to get close. nor daring to drift too far away.
The banquet had not yet officially begun, and the guests were temporarily gathered in the foyer.
Once Reynaldo and I passed by, someone sneered, “Oh, look at
Reynaldo, he’s become successful and thinks he’s different. Now he wants all of us to wait for him.
The speaker was a glamorous lady dressed in a very elegant manner.
Winston tugged at her and said. “Mom, don’t say that. Big brother must have been delayed by something.”
I understood in my heart that she was Reynaldo’s stepmother, and she indeed seemed difficult to get along with.
No wonder Reynaldo had such a difficult childhood.
The noblewoman hummed. “Of course, what could be more important than his grandmother’s birthday banquet? It’s surprising that the old lady still favors him in every way.”
“Alright, alright, you just say a few words less.” spoke a middle–aged man, presumably the head of the Humphrey family.
He shouted at Winston. “Go and fetch Grandma, and inform everyone that the banquet has officially begun.”
“No need, I’ll go call Grandma.” Reynaldo suddenly spoke up.
Reynaldo’s father, Ronan, glanced at him displeasedly, indicating that even though he had become successful. Ronan still didn’t like him.
And from the expressions of the other members of the Humphrey family, it can also be seen that they had previously disliked Reynaldo.
At this moment, they did not kick Reynaldo while he was down for being late, probably fearing his current influence.
I had heard earlier that the Humphrey family was still enjoying the
fruits of their ancestors‘ estate.
By Ronan’s generation, the family’s economy gradually deteriorated.
That is also why, at that time, my family looked down on the
Humphrey family.
Now Reynaldo has become successful, and everyone knows him in the business world.
The Humphrey family probably had quite a few people trying to curry favor with him..
Just then, someone immediately rushed towards him with a pleasing smile and said. “Reynaldo, your grandmother is resting upstairs. You should go and check on her quickly.”
“Hold on.” The lady interrupted instantly, snorting at Reynaldo. “You arrived so late; your grandmother is almost getting sick with anger. You going to see her now, aren’t you afraid of actually making her sick? It’s better to let us, the Hudsons, go up and call her.”
Reynaldo glanced at Winston with a light laugh and said, “Him? Are you sure it’s him that Grandma wants to see now, and not me?”
The lady’s face turned angry: “You…”
“Never mind, Mom. Big brother is right. Grandma indeed likes him the most and the person she wants to see the most is also him.”
After Winston finished speaking, he looked at Reynaldo and said. “Grandma is upstairs, you should go up.”
With that, his gaze fell on me again, and he smiled gently at me, saying, “Ralda, you’re here too.”
Reynaldo glanced back at me, with a cold sneer.
I hung my head, pursed my lips, and remained silent.
After Winston greeted me, it seemed that the members of the Humphrey family only then noticed my presence.
In an instant, various unpleasant taunts came al me.
“Oh, isn’t this the high and mighty Ms. Duffy?”
“Yeah, didn’t she threaten to never set foot in the Humphrey family for the rest of her life?”
“Hey, I heard their family hit rock bottom. She shamelessly came over tonight, could it be that she wants to gain some benefits?”
“Didn’t you see that she came with Reynaldo? It’s obvious that she must have begged Reynaldo to bring her along.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. she has her day too. Wait and see, we will make her suffer later.”
The voices of distant relatives were filled with mockery and venom.
I hung my head and listened silently.
My task tonight was to let them insult me as they pleased, until Reynaldo was satisfied.
“Don’t all of you speak like this about Esmeralda.”