The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 776

The moment Vester entered, every pair of eyes in the hall turned to him.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, no one bothering to lower their voices.

“Isn’t that the third son?”

“Third son? Please, he’s just the bastard’s kid. Everyone knows Mr. Archer can’t stand him.”

“If it weren’t for that mistress of his dying and leaving him without a guardian, there’s no way Mr. Archer would’ve brought him back into the family. A bastard born to a mistress—what a disgrace for the Archers.”

“And on top of that, the guy’s crippled. A total waste. Mr. Archer treats him like a stray pet—barely worth the trouble to feed.”

“I heard his mother was the one who crippled him. Do you know why? She broke his legs just so Mr. Archer might pity her enough to see her one last time. Pathetic, isn’t it?”

“Honestly, what’s he even doing here tonight? Just an embarrassment.”

…

Mr. Archer’s face was practically green.

He used to be the subject of praise in these circles—young, brilliant, a prodigy in business.

But ever since he brought Vester home, the only thing people remembered was his affair and this disabled son.

How could he not resent them?

These two had ruined the reputation he’d spent a lifetime building, branding him with a stain he could never wash away.

A flash of something feral flickered in Vester’s blue eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

He continued, jabbing a finger in Mr. Archer’s direction: “Guess it takes two bastards to make one like me, huh?”

“You ungrateful wretch! I’m your father!” Mr. Archer was livid, surging forward as if to strike him.

But Vester was faster. He deftly wheeled himself out of reach, leaving Mr. Archer stumbling awkwardly in front of the entire crowd.