Chapter 988

The brat was utterly incorrigible! The elders needed all the rest they could get, yet Briley had disrupted their slumber for no real reason!

The more Jonah thought about it, the more furious he became. He slammed his cane against the floor.

“Briley!” he roared. “You have inconvenienced everyone, rousing us at such an ungodly hour and causing unnecessary panic and sorrow! To repent for your thoughtless actions, you shall kneel here and reflect for the rest of the night!”

Briley felt an acrid taste on her tongue. She was supposed to kneel in the hall for everyone to see? It was a fate worse than death!

But Jonah’s word was as good as law, and the other elders were already looking at her expectantly. She had no way out of this.

Despite the resentment that bubbled in her chest, she forced a smile and spoke through gritted teeth.

“I understand. I am very sorry. I was wrong.”

Swallowing her pride, she slowly sank to her knees. The cold, hard floor had her legs aching immediately, but the pain was nothing compared to the suffering of her ego.

Jonah watched her kneel and nodded in satisfaction. He went on to yawn loudly, clearly exhausted from the night’s kerfuffle.

“All right. I’m sure we are all relieved to have Sadie back, safe and sound. It’s late. We should all head home and catch some rest.” He waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal.

The rest of the elders murmured in agreement, and one by one, they rose from their chairs, helping each other as they hobbled out of the hall.

As they passed by Briley, many, if not all, took a few seconds to sneer or smirk at her.

? ?ν[?]

Sadie glanced at Briley as well, though her eyes were now devoid of any emotion.

Still holding Averi, she ushered Isabel out of the hall and into the main living room.

As soon as they were alone, Isabel whipped around and grabbed Sadie by the arms. She inspected her daughter-in-law from head to toe, her face filled with concern.

“Sadie, are you really okay? You’re not hurt anywhere? I was so scared when I got the news!”

Only after confirming Sadie was unharmed did Isabel finally exhale in relief, the crushing weight of worry lifting from her chest.

Some of the elders were Isabel’s trusted allies.

The moment news reached her about Briley assembling the elders, alarm bells rang in Isabel’s mind.

Briley never made moves without calculating personal advantage—a gathering this significant could only spell trouble.

Isabel’s heart had lurched painfully at the thought that Sadie might be in peril, prompting her to race over with Averi in tow.

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