Morton Manor is located in the northwest corner of the wealthy district of Chaos City. It covers a vast area and its gray and white architectural style exudes luxury. However, the square architectural style and the single color also make it look somewhat serious and rigid.
As dusk settled, the servants in the manor moved in and out with solemn expressions, their footsteps silent and there was not a single word exchanged between them as if they were staging a silent play.
In a luxurious hall, a dozen or so people dressed in fine clothes sat around a long, round mahogany table. Each person had a plate of pan-fried steak in front of them, accompanied by caviar. However, everyone's hands were neatly placed under the table, and no one spoke, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.
The crystal chandelier above was lit with oil lamps, illuminating the entire hall. Several servants stood by with their hands clasped, their expressions somewhat serious.
Jeffrey sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over his wife, Denise • Marquez, who sat beside him. He paused for a moment at his second son, Cyril, who sat beside his wife with his head slightly bowed, then glanced past his daughter in law and landed on his eldest son, Lance, who sat a little further away with a straight posture.
The eldest son, known for his stubbornness in the Chaos City, didn't dare to meet his gaze. Jeffrey frowned, glanced at his eldest grandson Miji sitting next to him, and finally landed on the girl wearing a veil at the end of the table. He said with some displeasure, "If you can't even take it off while eating, then don't sit at the table. We Morton family members are never fears the gaze of others."
All eyes turned to the girl sitting in the corner.
"Sister Gloria is probably worried that her stunning beauty will scare us. I haven't seen that beautiful sister for many years." Sitting next to Cyril, Hetty curled her lips, her words tinged with sarcasm. The sixteen or seventeen years old girl was quite pretty and wore heavy makeup.
"Yes, I remember sister was so pretty when she was little." Her younger twin sister, Henny, sitting next to her, nodded in agreement. The two looked almost identical, their eyes fixed intently on the girl in the corner.
"That's right. Sister in law used to say that she was naturally beautiful and would definitely be one of the most beautiful women in Chaos City when she grew up. Now, why doesn't she even dare to see people?" Aurora, sitting in the middle, said with a smile. Her bright red lipstick made her face, which was covered with countless white powders, look even paler and more frightening. She was only thirty years old, but there were already many fine lines at the corners of her eyes.
The girl wearing the veil visibly stiffened, her hands clenching into fists at her sides, yet she remained silent.
The gentle-looking noblewoman sitting beside her looked at her with concern and anxiety, her lips moving but not daring to speak.
"Father, Gloria has been used to wearing a veil since she was a child. It's her freedom, and I think you should respect that." Lance raised his head to look at Jeffrey, meeting his eyes without backing down in the slightest.
"Freedom?" Jeffrey's smile was tinged with sarcasm. His expression suddenly turned cold, and he slammed his hands on the table, leaning forward slightly as he looked at Lance and raised his voice a few decibels: "I gave you what you call freedom, and then you ran off to become a poor school teacher, making me the biggest joke in Chaos City. Everyone's saying behind my back that I, Jeffrey, have a good son. He's given up his inheritance to play with a bunch of little brats. Now, you dare to talk to me about a girl's freedom? Women in this world are nothing but appendages to men! If they can't get married, they don't even have the value of being appendages."
Cyril glanced at Lance, a smile playing on his lips, but quickly looked away, his eyes still lowered, appearing obedient and docile.
Aurora, Hetty, and Henny looked at Gloria with schadenfreude, as if the woman Jeffrey was talking about had nothing to do with them.
"Teaching and nurturing students is a noble cause, a career I love, my choice, and my freedom." Lance stood up abruptly, looking intently at Jeffrey, then glancing back at Gloria, his voice rising slightly as he said, "As for women, they are not anyone's appendages. They have their own thoughts and are capable of doing the same things as men. The world is prejudiced against them, and we, the so-called fools you speak of, are here to correct this world's erroneous views!"
Gloria, who had been looking down, suddenly looked up at Lance's profile. A light seemed to shine in the purple eyes under the veil. Was this the real reason why her father, who had given up his status as the heir of the Morton family to become an ordinary Common Language teacher at Chaos Academy, was doing this?
"Arrogant! You think you can change the world's opinion?" Jeffrey withdrew his hands and leaned back in his chair, looking at his eldest son, on whom he had once placed so much hope. A deep disappointment flashed in his eyes, but his smile grew even more mocking. "Don't talk about changing the world's opinion. If you weren't born into the Morton family, you wouldn't even have enough money to pay for your daughter's medical treatment. What makes you think you can change the world?"
"Big Brother, Father's health isn't good, so please don't upset him." Cyril said to Lance with a sincere expression, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"I…" Lance clenched his fist, but couldn't finish his sentence. After a moment of hesitation, he sat back down in his seat, feeling somewhat helpless. Yes, if he hadn't been born into the Morton family, how could an ordinary teacher like him have the money to pay for Gloria's medical treatment?
Gloria's hands trembled slightly, and the flame that suddenly rose in her heart grew brighter and brighter. A power was breaking free from her long-bound mind, striving to break free of those shackles.
Miji, somewhat worried, reached out his little hand and took Gloria's hand, gently shaking his head. At only ten years old, he didn't understand what the adults were saying, but he knew that his grandfather was angry. At this time, it was best for no one to speak, or they would definitely be scolded.
"This world will never change. The Aden Square Merchants' Union will forever dominate the economy of Chaos City. The rich will always be rich, and women will ultimately be nothing more than appendages and decorative objects." Jeffrey turned his gaze away from Lance, picked up the knife in front of him, and said in a low, confident voice.
Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief and picked up their knives and forks.
"Grandpa, I believe Father's words. Women can do everything that men can do. We don't have to be just pretty faces. We can do whatever we want. I will not be anyone's appendage. I want to be an independent and free person." At this moment, Gloria, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up and said in a soft but firm voice.
Everyone froze, their hands still, and they all wore expressions of disbelief. They never expected that Gloria, who was usually so obedient that she never uttered a word, would dare to contradict Jeffrey on the spot. This was almost impossible in the Morton family.
Lance also turned around and looked at Gloria with a surprised expression, as if he was seeing his daughter for the first time.
"Sorry, I'm full." Gloria said in a slightly flustered manner, moving her chair and running towards the door.