Chapter 317  317 We hear you


    "I believe it''s time we address this matter. Don''t you agree, Madeline?" Reaves posed the question with a calcted charm, recognizing that Madeline would likely want to take the lead in initiating this sensitive topic. By bringing it up first, he aimed to position himself favorably in her eyes.


    "Well..." Madeline began, her voice faltering as she grappled with the unexpected turn of events. Reaves had seized the moment to delve into the dramatic conversation she had intended to broach herself, leaving her momentarily off bnce.


    Around the expansive table, the other members awaited her response, their expressions caught in a delicate dance between curiosity and a tinge of embarrassment.


    Each of them had yed a role in the usurpation of the Russell n''snds following the demise of Madeline''s husband. The Howard family, in particr, had dealt the Russels a severe blow, seizing the lion''s share of their territory.


    Now, faced with the prospect of the Russels regaining power, the heads of the other ns bowed their heads in a collective unease, never foreseeing a day when the Russels would reim their former stature.


    "Yes, Madeline, go on," Reaves encouraged, his eyes fixed on her as he awaited her response.


    Madeline, still grappling with the unexpected spotlight on her, took a moment to collect herself. She silently acknowledged the twist of fate that had thrust the discussion into the open, recognizing that she would need to address the matter head-on.


    "Well, I think we should talk about it," Selina interjected, rising from her seat to address the assembly. The heads of the other ns turned their attention to Selina, intrigued by her unexpected involvement. Madeline, though initially surprised, inwardly expressed gratitude for the support.


    Selina, with an air of quiet determination, continued, "Firstly, it''s imperative that we return what rightfully belongs to its owners. In this case, Madeline, as the head of the Russell family, is the rightful owner of thends that were wrongfully taken from her."


    Selina''s gaze swept across the assembly, locking eyes with each guest as she asserted her position. There was a resolute fire in her eyes, a clear indication that she was prepared to go to great lengths to ensure a fair negotiation. Madeline, although caught off guard, marveled at Selina''s strength, grateful for her friend''s timely intervention.


    Reaves, perceptive as ever, sensed the undercurrents of tension in the room and seized the opportunity to guide the conversation.


    "Selina makes a valid point," he remarked, his tone measured. "Restitution is a matter we can''t evade any longer. It''s time to address the consequences of past actions and seek an equitable solution."


    Murmurs bubbled through the assembled aristocrats like a soft current, echoing against the opulent walls of the grand banquet hall.


    The weight of Selina''s words hung in the air, each sybleced with usation. As the rumblings of dissent murmured through the gathering, the faces around the table contorted with difort.


    "Stole is not a word I would use," one man interjected, attempting to deflect the sharpness of Selina''s im. His words were quickly seconded by a chorus of agreements from hispatriots, a united front against the usation.


    Reaves, the shrewd orchestrator of the evening, stepped into the verbal fray. "Whether stolen or forcefully taken, we all know what Selina meant," he asserted, his voice cutting through the emerging discord like a de. His neutral tone resonated with authority, momentarily quelling the dissenting voices.


    Selina, undeterred, acknowledged Reaves with a nod of gratitude. "Thank you, Reaves. As I was saying, it is important to return things back to the right owner, and now that the rightful owner," she pointed emphatically at Madeline, "Madeline is here, then all ''lost'' property should be restored as well."


    Selina''s words lingered in the air, a challenge thrown before the assembly. The aristocrats exchanged uneasy nces, their eyes flitting between Selina and the coveted properties they held. The term ''lost'' hung in the air like a question mark, its meaning weighted with implications of unjust acquisitions.


    Calvin of the Klein Family, a figure of authority and influence, rose from his seat to address Selina''s proposition. His voice, smooth and calcted, cut through the ambient murmurs, demanding attention.


    "We hear you, Selina," he acknowledged, his eyes locked onto hers. "And we understand what you are trying to say, however, it seems you are forgetting something." He pivoted to face the rest of the gathered guests, his demeanor exuding a quiet confidence that resonated across the room.


    Selina, poised and unyielding, inquired, "What am I forgetting, Calvin?"


    Calvin, with an air of diplomatic finesse, began toy out his counterargument. "We all know that most of us here have some of the ''lost''nd you talked about.


    The problem now is that part of the former Russel family''snd has been integrated into my family''s holdings, making it challenging to separate as an independent entity." He emphasized theplexity of the situation, inviting empathy from the other guests.


    A murmur of agreement rippled through the assembly, a wave of consent echoing Calvin''s perspective. A voice from the table punctuated his words with a supportive, "Yes."


    "I am sure you understand my point," Calvin continued, his gaze sweeping across the room. "I have invested a significant amount in thesends, and they have already be an integral part of my estate.


    Separating them now would not only jeopardize the value of thend but disrupt the intricate bnce of my holdings. I cannot afford such a disturbance."


    "Yeah," someone else chimed in. The collective nodding of heads signaled solidarity with Calvin''s stance. The rest of the heads at the table echoed his words, each contributing to a symphony of dissent. They were unified in their determination to retain thends they had acquired, reluctant to relinquish the spoils of past conquests.


    "Calvin is right. It would affect us all," another head proimed, raising his voice to emphasize the gravity of the situation.


    Selina''s countenance tightened with frustration. The unfolding scenario painted a clear picture—these ns, who had profited from the Russel family''s misfortune, were unwilling to relinquish their ill-gotten gains.


    Madeline was well prepared for this. She knew that the ns would not willingly want to release thends to them but she remained quiet as he watched the scene. She watched Reaves. She knew that Reaves wouldn''t let her take a big loss. "Heis trying to gain my favor, I am sure he has something nned unless he wouldn''t have called this meeting or brought this up"


    Sure enough as she expected Reaves began to address the rioting guests. "Well, I understand our grievances, people. I cannot say I do not agree that it would be difficult for us to separate our personalnds from those that are for the Russel house," he conceded.


    "Exactly," a voice from the assembly echoed, finding sce in Reaves'' acknowledgment of their concerns.


    "But I have a solution," Reaves continued, and the room hushed in anticipation. Calvin, a prominent figure among the ns, voiced the collective curiosity, asking, "What solution, Reaves?"


    Reaves, with an air of calcted diplomacy, unveiled his proposal. "We have a vast expanse of barrennd in the suburbs."