Chapter 224
Chapter 224 Even Your Grandfather
A collective gasp echoed through the Crown Banquet of the Harmonfield Hotel.
No one had expected Ruby Quinn, the prized daughter of Draconia's most influential family, to rip a necklace off another guest-especially not in front of a crowd. Her actions reeked of entitlement, her expression one of icy disdain.
Yet, no one lifted a finger to stop her.
Ruby's lineage cast a long, dark shadow.
She belonged to the powerful Quinn family of Brookhaven. Her father, Kyler, known as the Southfist King, commanded respect and fear alike.
And her grandfather, Ronald-a martial legend-had once fought a hundred of Draconia's finest warriors alone.
His prowess and authority had never been contested, even as illness claimed him.
In the Quinn family, loyalty and indulgence knew no bounds. Ronald adored his grandchildren, especially Ruby and her brother Sam.
Whatever they desired, Ronald would ensure was within reach, bending rules and tradition alike to grant them anything their hearts wanted.
With that kind of lineage behind her, Ruby moved through life with the ease of the untouchable.
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Slowly, murmurs began to spread through the crowd, words masked behind raised hands and furtive glances. "Ms. Silva is in for it now."
"To cross Ruby Quinn? She'll be lucky if she's allowed back into Harmonfield at all."
"Did she even know who she was dealing with? It's suicide, challenging Ruby like this."
"And Mr. Neville-he seems completely enchanted by her. They make a fitting pair, don't they?"
"If the Nevilles and Quinns unite, who would dare stand up to them? Ms. Silva's brought this upon herself, the poor fool."
***
Each murmur seemed to add to Ruby's smug satisfaction.
With the Eternal Moonlit necklace held high, she let the light catch on its shattered fragments, a cold smile tracing her lips. She leaned toward Vera, her words sharp. "If I can't have it, neither can you." She let the necklace fall, crashing against the marble, the delicate gems scattering across the floor, cutting through the silence.
Ruby's gaze dropped to Vera, taking in the torn sleeve and the livid mark across her neck. And her smile only grew wider.
"If you think you can take it from me, I'll just destroy it!" Ruby spat, her laughter ringing harshly in the hall.
Still unsatisfied, she lifted her foot and crushed the necklace beneath her heel, the gems scattering like shattered dreams. Vera stood in stunned silence, her mind reeling from the audacity of Ruby's actions.
This exceeded all her expectations.
She remained rooted in place, surrounded by a crowd that whispered and pointed, clearly enjoying her downfall.
Jason's brows furrowed, taken aback by Ruby's callousness.
He struggled to find his voice.
Beside him, Anthony exhaled slowly, his tone grave.
"Sir, I think we may have invited trouble."
Jason turned to him, bewildered. "What kind of trouble?"
"If we don't manage this situation with Ms. Silva properly, the Nevilles could face serious repercussions."
Jason's demeanor hardened. "Mr. Anthony, that's absurd! The Nevilles stand at the pinnacle of the martial families. Who would dare challenge us?"
Anthony shook his head and leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "The man who purchased the Eternal Moonlit necklace, Mr. Ramsey ... He is not someone the Nevilles can afford to antagonize." "And yet here you are, supporting Ruby in her attempt to humiliate Ms. Silva. This escalation won't end well for us."
Jason felt a chill run down his spine.
He recalled his grandfather Tristan's warning before his departure for Harmonfield: if he ever encountered Mr. Ramsey, he was to avoid provoking him at all costs.
But Jason had never fully grasped the significance of Robin's identity.
His grandfather's cautions had not registered deeply with him.
In his eyes, the Nevilles were invincible, the most formidable family around.
Who could ever threaten their supremacy?
Perhaps his grandfather had grown overly cautious in his old age, or he had simply been protective, anxious about Jason's first real foray into the world.
So what if he had unwittingly stepped into a conflict?
One day, he would lead the Nevilles, and he had no intention of retreating from anyone.
Jason observed the shock etched on Anthony's face and smirked. "Mr. Anthony, you're being overly cautious. What can this Robin do? If he dares challenge us, we'll crush him!" Anthony's mouth fell open in disbelief. His young master had no idea of the peril he was inviting.
Only those who had truly faced Robin understood the depths of his power.
The name Divine Drakebane resonated with a significance that few could fathom.
It wasn't merely a title; it was earned through bloodshed and ferocity.
In years past, countless elite assassins and top sects had thought they could take down Robin.
They had ended up as nothing more than remnants, scattered in the aftermath of his wrath.
Anthony recalled the ruin of the Phoenix Vanguard.
The horror of that day haunted him.
To label Robin as Divine Drakebane was to underestimate him; he was a relentless force, a slayer that craved chaos!
The Nevilles stood no chance against such an adversary.
"Sir, please don't act rashly!" Anthony pleaded. "If you persist in this manner, you could bring disaster upon the Nevilles!"
"You need to approach Ms. Silva at once. Apologize and rein in Ruby before things spiral further out of control. Make our position clear!"
Jason's tone turned icy. "Enough! Mr. Anthony, are you telling me to cower? I am the future head of the Nevilles. I will not bow to a family as insignificant as the Silvas!"
His words echoed throughout the hall, capturing the attention of everyone present.
Anthony faltered, taken aback. He had hoped to reason with Jason, but the young man was already marching toward Vera.
"Ms. Silva," he called out, his tone dripping with condescension, "this unfortunate event speaks volumes about your ignorance."
He acted as though he were a judge, condemning Vera for her perceived failings.
Anthony could only shake his head in dismay; he had missed the chance to intervene.
Vera shot back with a scornful laugh. "You think being a Neville grants you the right to bully me? How absurd!"
Jason's anger ignited at her defiance.
Jason had never before experienced such blatant contempt directed at him.
Ruby surveyed the unfolding drama with a smirk. "Ms. Silva, I truly don't know what to say. How dare you speak to Mr. Neville like that? You're just a thankless little brat!" Vera's fury ignited. "Ruby, you and he are nothing but trash!"
"How dare you insult me and Mr.
Neville?" Ruby's hand flew through the air, landing a sharp slap on Vera's cheek that reverberated throughout the hall. "Today, I will not only destroy this necklace, but I will also make sure you pay for your insolence!"
"Guards!" Ruby shouted, pointing at a group of senior disciples from the Brookhaven Martial Alliance. "Strip this wretched girl of her clothing in front of everyone!"
A collective gasp echoed through the crowd.
What is Ruby thinking?
The senior disciples from the Brookhaven Martial Alliance stood frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.
After an agonizing pause, they approached Vera, compelled by Ruby's fierce glare.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
Anthony sighed heavily, stepping protectively in front of Vera.
"Ms. Quinn, what on earth are you doing?" He asked, urgency creeping into his tone.
Ruby shot him a furious look. "Mr. Anthony, get out of my way. This doesn't concern you!"
Meanwhile, Jason seethed, still simmering over Vera's earlier defiance.
He shoved Anthony aside. "This is a matter for Ms. Quinn. Mind your own business!"
As the four senior disciples reached for Vera's flowing dress at Ruby's command, a powerful voice thundered from outside.
"Stop!"
The command sliced through the tense air, flooding the hall with an intense brightness as sunlight poured in through the entrance.
In that radiant light, a figure emerged.
Robin stepped forward, his coat billowing around him as he draped it over Vera's shoulders.
Vera stood frozen, disbelief etched on her face.
At the moment when everything seemed lost, Robin had arrived like a beacon of hope.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, blending relief with joy.
She clung to Robin tightly, whispering, "Robin, so you're the hero who comes to my aid in my darkest hour?"
Robin blinked, momentarily thrown off by her whimsical words.
"If
you
want to think that, I suppose
so," he replied, a hint of amusement in his smile.. He glanced at Vera, now teetering on the edge of
entrusted her to Daphne aler
overwhelming emotion, and
Rita,
who had come alongside him.
Robin didn't flinch as he sent the four disciples crashing back, his movements sharp and efficient.
He turned to Ruby, his voice low and unforgiving. "Give me an explanation, or Brookhaven Martial Alliance won't have walls left standing."
The entire hall fell silent. Guests shifted back, whispers buzzing among them.
"Who does he think he is, talking like that?"
"Isn't he the one who brought Ms. Silva that necklace?" Another voice joined in, curious.
"Strange-I've never heard of him in Draconian circles."
"He came with Daphne," someone else noted. "Maybe he's her bodyguard?"
"Seriously? Daphne's risking all this by stirring trouble with the Brookhaven Martial Alliance?"
...
Ruby blinked in astonishment before letting out a hard laugh.
"Who are you fooling, acting like you're someone important?" She smirked. "I thought I'd lost you, but here you are, making things easy. So, did you bring the Violet Wyvernroot?" "Hand it over," she sneered, "and get on your knees. Apologize now, and I might spare your life."
Robin's response was a hard, resounding slap across her face. "And who do you think you are that you'd dare to challenge me like this?"
The crowd gasped, eyes wide.
"Did he just strike Ms. Quinn?" one whispered, horrified.
"He'll regret that!" another warned under his breath.
"Ronald and Kyler won't let him leave in one piece," came a hushed reply.
"Someone hit Sam a while ago for some reason. Ronald was going to mobilize everyone he had to kill the guy."
"Ruby probably has never been hit before in her life."
...
Ruby stood frozen, her hand pressed to her reddened cheek, her expression clouded with fury. "You dare hit me?" Her voice wavered with anger.
Robin met her gaze, unflinching. "Yes, I dare."
Without hesitation, his hand came down once more, sharp and unforgiving.
The Crown Banquet hall fell so silent that the faintest breath could be heard.
Every gaze fixed on Robin, expressions of shock and awe written across each face.
Finn, who had loyally remained at
Ruby's side, Snapped out of his stunned state and stepped forward, positioning himself between her and Robin. His voice shook as he
stammered, "Who ... who do you
think you are? How dare you-"
"Out of my way," Robin's voice was sharp as steel as he thrust his hand out, sending Finn sprawling back across the room.
Without a second thought, he struck Ruby once more across her face, the blow resounding through the hall.
The crowd fell into a stunned silence.
Ruby herself was dumbfounded, struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
She had never, in her wildest dreams, imagined that someone would dare raise a hand against her.
"You-you actually hit me?" Her voice quivered with rage. "I'll make you pay for this-I'll kill you!"
Robin's eyes glinted with a cold, unshakable resolve. "You lack the power," he replied, striking her once more. "Tell me, who gave you the nerve to trample on what I claimed as mine?"
Ruby's face twisted with fury as her cheeks flushed in humiliation. Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper.
"You'll regret this. My father and grandfather will have you torn limb from limb!"
Robin's face remained impassive. He pressed a hand firmly on her shoulder, leaning close. "They'll be the ones kneeling if they dare come here."
With that, he pushed her down, and with a sickening crack, the marble floor fractured beneath her knees.
Blood spattered across the polished stone, staining the scene in vivid scarlet.