The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress (Citrine) novel Chapter 508

In the end, it was the Glenwood family’s staff who carried Talbot over to a nearby sofa.

About ten minutes later, the Glenwood family's fish had all been caught. The fish had to be eaten before the effects of Vitaflux wore off, so the lucky guests who managed to catch one hurried over to apologize to Talbot before making their exits. The remaining guests stayed behind at the birthday banquet, casting envious glances at those who were leaving.

After the chaos finally settled, Theo Glenwood and his sister, Kali, arrived fashionably late, followed by Hastings Cooper, who was lugging an elaborate birthday present.

Ever since Kali’s hospitalization, things between her and Hastings had gone ice-cold, and even Theo’s friendship with Hastings had suffered. The only reason Kali and Theo were late today was because they’d gone to the Cooper family’s estate, where Theo had spent ages convincing Hastings to come to the Glenwoods’ to celebrate the old man’s birthday.

Kali had no idea what had happened while she was gone. The moment she stepped into the room, she bounded over to Talbot, who was slouched on the sofa, and greeted him with a bright smile. “Dad, where’s Grandpa? It’s such a wonderful day—why isn’t he here?”

“Get off,” Talbot snapped coldly.

His back had already been killing him, and Kali’s enthusiastic hug landed squarely on his sore spot, sending a fresh jolt of pain through him.

Talbot’s expression darkened, his mood as black as thunder. He shoved Kali away from him, and she tumbled awkwardly onto the floor.

Between everything that had happened today and the fact that he hadn’t managed to catch a single fish, Talbot was already at the end of his rope. He certainly wasn’t about to put on a pleasant face for Kali.

He scowled at her, his voice sharp. “If you’re here, then act like it. Stop making such a scene—have a little dignity, will you?”

Talbot’s temper was notoriously unpredictable. Kali had assumed that, since it was the old man’s birthday banquet, her father would indulge her. She hadn’t expected to barrel straight into his bad mood.

She could feel the guests’ eyes on her, some of them openly amused at her embarrassment—especially Citrine Carmichael, who was among them.