Chapter 201

The crowd eagerly piled on, exaggerating Matthias' alleged misdeeds. They were certain Russell was on their side, given that he had proposed this banquet in the first place.

"Enough! Silence! All of you!" Russell's unexpected outburst stunned the room into silence.

Then, his gaze swept over Dalton and the others, his voice seething with anger as he said, "How dare you! Mr. Lowell is my honored guest and the most esteemed visitor to New Avalbourne.

"You, the so-called elite of our city, not only failed to host Mr. Lowell properly but dared to accuse him of wrongdoing? You've ruined his evening. You should be ashamed!"

Russell's words hit like a thunderbolt, leaving Dalton and the others frozen in shock. They could not believe their ears when Russell said Matthias was his guest, and he even addressed Matthias so respectfully. Not only that but apparently, he was also New Avalbourne's most honored visitor.

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. They had assumed Matthias was a nobody from