Chapter 170: A Name to Be Tarnished

Taylor had no idea Yunice and Rylie were the same person. From her perspective, Yunice was a discarded fiancée—rejected by the Powell family, then handed off to their illegitimate son as some kind of emotional dumping ground. She’d been through so much that Taylor couldn’t help but take a bit of interest in her.

Now that everyone had arrived, Jackson—seated in the highest seat—finally gave his verdict with a grim face.

“Mr. Owen, by rights, the trouble your sister stirred up should be yours to take care of. But her mistake lies in poisoning the Powell family’s future granddaughter-in-law. As the wronged party, the Powell family will be the one to handle this matter.”

Owen and Lily both looked up. “The Powell family’s future granddaughter-in-law?”

Wasn’t that supposed to be Elsie?

Owen argued, “Elsie is Paul’s fiancée! Your family has known this from the start!”

How could they let their own future granddaughter-in-law be tied up and humiliated like that?

Linda smiled politely. “Mr. Jackson and Mr. Gerardo are both present. Let’s not make wild accusations, Mr. Owen. The Powell family has never formally agreed to a marriage with the Saunders family.”

What do you mean never agreed? Elsie and Paul’s relationship was practically common knowledge!

Owen was about to speak again when Linda went on, “But with the Kendall family, we did send a matchmaker and write a formal betrothal letter two months ago. Would you care to take a look?”

Owen froze. The implication was clear. Paul and the Kendall family had followed a traditional, proper engagement process—matchmaker, gifts, everything official. But Elsie had only given herself away, with no promises exchanged in return.

Owen’s mouth went dry. He couldn’t let Elsie be cast aside like this. The Saunders family couldn’t afford that kind of disgrace!

He spoke coldly. “If you’re determined to twist the truth and deny Elsie’s relationship with Paul, then we’ll accuse Paul of assault.”

Everyone in the room turned to look at Owen. Owen grabbed Yunice and shoved her forward. “Elsie’s the victim. My sister is the witness!”

Yunice suddenly found herself the center of attention, every eye falling on her like a floodlight. In that instant, she was dragged back to years ago—when her relationship with Paul had been exposed at a banquet.

The following text is unintelligible and has been omitted.

Yunice, meanwhile, noticed Lily staring at her. Her mother’s eyes were bloodshot, but that look—full of resentment and indignation—wasn’t aimed at the Powell family. It was aimed squarely at Yunice.

She actually believed Linda’s twisted logic. She blamed Yunice for all of this. If Yunice hadn’t dragged the family name through the mud with her scandal, Elsie would’ve never ended up being misunderstood like this.