C11 Discovering the Identity

Old Madame Munro's words were a masterstroke, elevating the Munro family while subtly belittling Ondine. It was a piercing remark that struck deep.

Ondine's face remained composed, but the forced smile betrayed a hint of embarrassment, and her clenched fists revealed her struggle to contain her fury.

She was able to keep her anger in check because she had thought things through thoroughly. She was biding her time, waiting for the day she would officially become part of the Munro family to settle scores with the old lady. There was no need to rush; the future was long. For the moment, avoiding any misinterpretation by others was paramount.

"Mother, how can you say such a thing? Ines is actually..."

Ondine tried to defend Ines's reputation, still smiling as she parried with Old Madame Munro. But before she could finish her plea, her efforts and hopes were dashed.

"Miss Slater, you can eat whatever you like, but you can't just say anything you please!" Old Madame Munro retorted coldly, her gaze cutting through Ondine. "You're not a wedded daughter-in-law of the Munro family, so there's no need for you to call me 'mother'!"

The guests buzzed with shock, the scene even more electrifying than when Ilyana had made her entrance.

The noblewomen who had been fawning over Ondine now whispered among themselves, their flattery turning to schadenfreude and scorn.

"So, Ondine isn't really a Munro daughter-in-law! And her daughter, I wondered why she had the surname Su instead of Munro. Now it all makes sense!"

"No wonder she mentioned raising a child elsewhere and spoke of a lack of upbringing. I couldn't understand why the old lady of the Munro family seemed so cold toward the child with Ondine. It all adds up now..."

"Impossible! Besides Ondine, I've never seen Daxton with any other woman!"

"Well, if Old Madame Munro says it, it must be true!"

"What role does she play, then?"

"What else could it be? To put it politely, she's a lover, but in reality, she's just a mistress!"

The disdainful remarks continued unabated within the elite circles, where looking down on others was all too common!

Ondine's smile became strained and frozen on her face.

She could never have imagined that Old Madame Munro would reveal such a private matter in front of so many people.

Didn't she have any regard for the Munro family's reputation?

Watching the unfolding scene with an impassive gaze, Ilyana held her hands before her, her stunning features emanating a frosty aloofness. Her slightly narrowed eyes were as chilling as ice flowers blooming in the snow, exuding a coldness that could freeze one to the bone.

Deep inside, she was utterly unmoved, even feeling a hint of amusement.

In her past life, she had never seen Ondine so humiliated.

After all, this was the first time she had witnessed Ondine's composure shatter.

To outsiders, Ondine always exuded grace and elegance, her inherent sense of superiority keeping her head held high like a proud swan.

Remembering the suffering she had endured in her previous life, Ilyana's grip tightened involuntarily, her eyes blazing with a crimson fury.

But it wasn't enough, still not enough; she hadn't reached her goal.

Merely losing face in public was too trivial, far too lenient.

Today, she would not let Ondine off the hook so easily. She was determined to see Ondine's reputation utterly destroyed, leaving a legacy of infamy for ages to come!

...

"Mom, why would you say such a thing in front of so many people?"

Daxton's protective instincts were in full force, altering even the tone of his voice.

Old Madame Munro responded with a sharp rebuke, "Are you questioning me? Do you think that if I don't speak up, no one else will know?"