Chapter 592

chapter592

Winona was the daughter of the influential Zelinsky family from Zovince. Since moving to Yeringham, she had raised two sons with William Verkade. The eldest, Gautier, had always been astute and composed, a constant source of stability. Hubert, however, was a different story—a pampered youth who preferred a life of indulgence over responsibility. He lacked his brother's maturity and frequently relied on his family to resolve the complications caused by his reckless behavior.

To the public, Gautier was the standard-bearer of the Verkade legacy, while Hubert was often viewed with dismissal. Most assumed Winona’s pride lay with her eldest son. In reality, Gautier’s reserved nature meant he rarely shared his inner thoughts, whereas Hubert’s constant need for guidance had drawn ten times more of her attention and emotional energy. To Winona, Hubert was the one who needed her most, making him the silent favorite.

Tonight, Hubert was a shell of his former self, sobbing in his mother’s arms. “Mom... they’ve ruined me! The Quillens... they subjected me to such public humiliation, and it was all broadcasted! I can never show my face in Yeringham again!” The experience had been a shattering blow to his ego. Beyond the physical exhaustion, the psychological sting of being mocked by the city's elite burned within him.

“How could this happen? How dare the Quillens treat a member of our family with such blatant contempt!” Winona’s voice shook with a mixture of grief and predatory rage. Her eyes were bloodshot, her entire frame trembling as she clutched her son. This was the raw, protective instinct of a mother seeing her child broken by a rival power.

“We can’t let this stand!” Hubert’s voice cracked, his face twisted in a mask of bitterness. “I want to see the Quillens pay for this. I want to see Emmanuel lose everything!”

Gautier watched the scene from the shadows of the living room, his expression unreadable. He made no move to join them, nor did he offer words of comfort. To him, Hubert’s current predicament was the inevitable result of a series of poor choices. As he turned to leave, he found his father, William Verkade, standing behind him.

“Dad,” Gautier acknowledged.

William, clad in a long overcoat, carried an air of unfathomable depth. He looked at his eldest son with piercing eyes. “You were at the Quillen residence with your brother. How did a formal event devolve into this?”

“I left early,” Gautier replied with a faint, bitter smile. “The atmosphere was cold from the start. I paid my respects and departed, but Hubert insisted on staying to pursue his own interests with Mackenzie. This was the result.”

William frowned, then walked past Gautier to address the crisis in the center of the room.

Upon seeing her husband, Winona immediately demanded action. “William, you must restore our family’s honor! Hubert has been disgraced. I will not rest until the Quillens feel the weight of our retaliation!”

“I understand,” William replied, his voice low and heavy. There was no retreating now. By subjecting a Verkade to such public derision, the Quillens had effectively declared open war. If the Verkades did not respond with overwhelming force, their standing in Yeringham would be permanently compromised. “We will have our revenge. If we cannot surpass them, we will ensure that both our houses are brought to ruin together!” He struck a nearby table in a rare display of outward fury, the sound echoing through the hall.

Gautier remained silent. He knew better than anyone that raw emotion did not equal strategic power. The Verkades had attempted to undermine the Quillens for years, yet Mackenzie and her family remained as formidable as ever. As the family prepared for a final, desperate confrontation, Gautier wondered if the cost of this vendetta would ultimately be more than the Verkades could afford to pay.