Chapter 350
Following right behind Eleanor Hastings, with the Royal butler personally leading the way, and they still got stopped at the door? Seriously, what kind of messed?up luck was this?
Fiona Douglas cursed silently under her breath.
Behind her, a few whispers floated up, laced with mockery. Great. Just what she needed.
Her brows tightened in irritation as she asked, “Why can’t I go in p>
Martin Douglas’s face went completely dark.
Fiona was his little sister. Someone blocking her at the entrance wasn’t just embarrassing her—it was basically slapping the entire Douglas family in the face. And the slight feeling of prestige they’d just gained from being personally welcomed by the butler? Gone in seconds, replaced by simmering anger.
He shot a cold glare at the staff member who’d stopped Fiona, then turned to the butler. “What’s going on p>
The butler paused.
Was this junior… questioning him?
Given his position in the Palace Residences, people usually treated him with utmost respect. And now some youngster dared to talk to him like this?
His sharp eyes narrowed.
If Martin weren’t related to the old lady standing beside them, the butler would’ve had someone drag him out already.
Under Martin’s clearly annoyed gaze, the butler shifted his attention to the attendant at the door.
That attendant was personally trained by him—cautious, reliable, the kind he trusted to check invitations. Someone like that wouldn’t stop people for no reason.
He asked, “Why did you stop them p>
The attendant leaned in and whispered a few sentences into his ear.
The butler’s expression tightened.
He turned, his gaze sweeping past Fiona and Martin—cool, distant.
But when he faced Eleanor Hastings, his tone softened noticeably. “Madam, you and these two are p>
The old lady, sharp as ever, caught the shift in their expressions instantly. She spoke calmly, almost detached. “The Royal family’s rules are the Royal family’s rules. Just follow them. No need to concern yourselves with me p>
The butler let out a tiny breath he’d been holding. No wonder the Hastings family ran so smoothly—Eleanor Hastings really knew what was what.
Since she wasn’t making things difficult, his attitude toward her softened even more. He leaned forward slightly and explained, “This order came directly from the young lady. We can’t go against it p>
Eleanor knew exactly who that “young lady” was.
Her sweet, quiet granddaughter?in?law never liked meddling in anything. If she was willing to give a direct command, then Fiona Douglas must’ve messed up badly enough to tick off her precious Lisette Cavendish.
Sure, she liked Fiona. But compared to Lisette? That little bit of affection instantly didn’t matter at all.
Lisette was the Hastings family’s granddaughter?in?law. Eleanor would shield her without a second thought.
Whatever warmth she had for Fiona vanished. She told the butler, “Do as you see fit p>
“Yes, ma’am p>
He bowed respectfully, then turned to security. “Please escort Miss Douglas out p>
Fiona froze, completely thrown off. She stared at Eleanor, disbelief written all over her face, her lips trembling. “Auntie… why are you letting them treat me like this? Weren’t you the one who liked me the most p>
Eleanor’s voice turned icy. “Then you should ask yourself what exactly you did to Lisette p>
“Lisette Cavendish p>
Fiona hadn’t expected this at all. Of all reasons for Eleanor to abandon her… it was because of Lisette?
How? Why?
The answer hit her like a punch, and her chest tightened painfully.
She grabbed Eleanor’s hand, shaking her head hard. “Auntie, don’t listen to her nonsense. I never hurt her. She’s the one who kept cornering me. And her friend Scarlett Graham—she literally paid people to go after me and had someone smash my shoulder p>
She rubbed her shoulder, eyes red with hurt. “It still hasn’t healed p>
But Eleanor Hastings was famous for being fiercely protective of her own. No matter how genuine Fiona sounded, no matter how pitiful her tears, Eleanor didn’t budge an inch.
She had only one rule:
Her granddaughter?in?law was never wrong.
“Even if what you said is true, you must’ve messed with her first. Lise would never target you for no reason p>
Fiona Douglas blinked hard. p>
Was the old lady’s eyesight going bad so badly that her heart went blind with it? She didn’t even bother to ask a single thing before jumping in to shield Lisette Cavendish like it was a reflex?
That sting hit Fiona right in the chest, sharp and cold. Her voice trembled as she said, “Aunt Eleanor, you watched me grow up. You know exactly what kind of person I am. Lisette has only been married into the Hastings family for a little over a year. She spends most of her time in Veridia and barely stays with you p>
“And yet you believe her over me p>
Eleanor Hastings just replied with a calm, almost lazy, “Yes. I believe her p>
Fiona stared at her, stunned. Seriously p>
Her mind short-circuited. “What on earth did Lisette Cavendish feed you all? Why are you guys defending her like you’ve been brainwashed p>
While Fiona was tangled up in heartbreak and indignation, desperate to hold on to whatever place she had in the old lady’s heart, Martin Douglas focused on something completely different.
“Butler,” he said, noticeably more polite than before, “could you tell us what exactly my sister supposedly did wrong p>
The butler answered in a flat, practiced tone. “She offended Miss. Miss personally ordered that she is not allowed to set foot inside the Palace Residences p>
Fiona froze. Miss King p>
She stared blankly for a moment, trying to make sense of it. “I’ve never even met Miss King. How could I possibly offend her? Sir, are you sure you didn’t mix something up p>
Her confusion looked painfully real, not the least bit like she was pretending.
Martin knew his cousin well. Growing up as an acknowledged daughter after years of being the “secret one,” Fiona had learned early how to read the room. She’d never provoke someone she couldn’t afford to cross.
And the Royal family? They sat at the absolute top of Sion’s social pyramid.
Unless she had a death wish, why would she pick a fight with them?
So he echoed the doubt. “Could there be a mistake? We came all the way from Aurelian after receiving His Majesty’s invitation. We’re here to celebrate His Majesty and Miss King. Why would Fiona offend her p>
The attendant shook his head immediately. “Miss’s order is absolute. Fiona Douglas is not allowed inside. I checked the guest list carefully. Among all the guests, there is only one person named Fiona Douglas p>
“Which means her p>
His finger pointed straight at Fiona Douglas.
That single gesture made her heart do a hard, uncomfortable thump.
For a second she just stared, stunned, then something suddenly clicked in her mind.
Yesterday, Lisette Cavendish had casually told her, “Book a flight back to Aurelian. You don’t need to show up at tomorrow’s banquet p>
That steady, almost too calm tone… Fiona only now understood there was something off about it.
Wait… could it be p>
Fiona’s eyes flew wide open. She stammered, disbelief written all over her face. “Lisette… she—she’s… the old master’s goddaughter p>
The words barely left her mouth before she shook her head hard.
“No p>
“No way p>
“Impossible p>
Three rejections in a row—she just couldn’t wrap her head around it.
Watching her twisted, suffocated expression, the butler let out a mild, polite smile and shook his head. “No, she isn’t the old master’s goddaughter p>
He didn’t even get to finish before Fiona jumped in, almost shouting, “I knew it p>
Relief hit her so fast her shoulders dropped, but her face was still stiff, almost frozen.
Her lips twitched, and her smile came out crooked. She muttered to herself, trying to convince her own heart, “I knew it was impossible. Lisette Cavendish getting that kind of luck? Please. The old master’s goddaughter? How could it be her p>
That goddaughter was rumored to be the potential heir of the entire Royal House—someone who might one day inherit everything.
And Lisette Cavendish? Why her?
Fiona had barely managed to lift the corners of her mouth when the butler spoke again, this time emphasizing every word.
“The old master’s goddaughter is Miss Scarlett. The person you’re talking about… is the old master’s biological daughter p>