The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1097

“Is that your idea of a negotiation?” Allanson’s fingers slowed as he rolled the prayer beads, his gaze sweeping over the crowd of tough-looking men filling the hall. The smile on his lips was cold, tinged with mockery. “With a lineup like this, I almost thought you were staging a heist.”

Franco didn’t even blink. “If talking doesn’t work, stealing works just fine for me. Wouldn’t be the first time the Isle of Veil got flipped upside down.”

He reached for an orange on the table and handed it to Anthony, who peeled it without missing a beat and offered the segments to Charlotte. The whole family looked relaxed, almost lazy, as if they were lounging at home instead of facing down a standoff. No one seemed the least bit nervous.

It was the other side of the table—Allanson and Aloys—whose faces were dark, their expressions ugly in a way words couldn’t capture. So many years had passed, but Franco’s rebellious streak was still alive and well.

“Don’t forget, you’re the one who came to me for help. Show a little respect,” Allanson said, his patience running thin. His eyes turned icy. “If you think you can actually take down the Isle of Veil, I’d like to see you try.”

With just Solenia? How naive.

Franco only shrugged, taking a slow sip of tea. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Allanson grunted, his gaze landing on Charlotte as she popped an orange segment into her mouth. His voice carried the weight of age and bitterness. “The antidote…I could give it to you.”

“Dad!” Aloys blurted out before Franco could answer, his voice sharp. “Just because the antidote’s useless now doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way.”

He shot Charlotte a look full of calculation. The gene mutation research had failed because they didn’t have enough test subjects. Now, suddenly, there were two. Grabbing even one would be a game-changer.

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