"Hmm," Edward Quinn responded indifferently, his gaze sweeping across the hall. As it passed over Mabel Quinn’s face, he paused slightly, then narrowed his eyes as if scrutinizing something.
For a moment, Mabel Quinn felt as if she was being seen through completely.
Fortunately, such a gaze lasted only a brief moment before moving away.
"Francine, you wouldn’t believe it! Mabel Quinn actually brought some no-name brand scarf as a birthday gift for Granny Taylor. If Granny wore such a cheap item, it would be so embarrassing!" Alessia Quinn purposely shouted, seemingly eager for everyone around to hear.
Francine Howards merely smiled faintly and directly approached Mabel Quinn. "What a coincidence, meeting you again."
"It is quite a coincidence," Mabel Quinn smiled slightly as well, somewhat surprised to encounter Francine Howards here.
"I came today invited by Alessia to attend Mrs. Quinn’s birthday banquet." Francine Howards paused before continuing, "Didn’t Kyle accompany you?"
"He has a mission today," she replied.
Francine Howards said nothing further and turned to leave, while Alessia Quinn, seeing Francine walk away so easily, felt unwilling and quickly followed, saying, "Francine, are you just going to let Mabel Quinn off like that?"
"Let her off?" Francine Howards raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything she has done that I can’t let go?"
Alessia Quinn was taken aback. "But she became Mr. Kinston’s girlfriend so easily. Aren’t you angry? Clearly, you and Mr. Kinston are the perfect match! What skill does Mabel Quinn have? Who knows what seductive tricks she used. Francine, you can’t just let her be so smug."
Alessia Quinn wanted to incite Francine Howards to also target Mabel Quinn.
Francine Howards chuckled, "If she can become Kyle’s girlfriend, that is her skill. As for being smug, some people are smug for a moment, and others might be smug for life. Who can say for sure?"
Understanding Alessia Quinn’s intentions, Francine thought Alessia’s approach was the dumbest. If belittling Mabel with a few insults could make her leave Kyle, then Mabel wouldn’t have become Kyle’s girlfriend in the first place.
At the end of the banquet, Mabel Quinn unexpectedly received an invitation to meet with Edward Quinn in the Quinn Family’s reception room, where not only Edward was present but also Christopher Quinn and Alessia Quinn.
Edward Quinn stared fixedly at Mabel Quinn, exerting a nameless pressure on her.
But before she could speak, Alessia Quinn eagerly complained, "Uncle, I went personally to apologize to Mabel last time, but she was so rude and ignored me!"
"Is that so?" Edward Quinn asked.
Mabel Quinn took a deep breath, lifted her head, and said, "Since Alessia came to apologize, it means she was in the wrong, and it’s up to me whether to forgive her or not. Is there a rule that says I must forgive? Besides, I never needed Alessia to apologize from the beginning, she herself mentioned compensating for stepping on my dress, so she should just fulfill that."
Christopher Quinn frowned. They were the main branch of the Quinn Family, and normally those from the side branches would grovel in their presence. Even with Kyle Kinston backing Mabel Quinn, as Alessia’s father, Christopher still felt that Mabel’s behavior not only embarrassed his daughter but also himself.