These words caused a flicker of panic to surface on Darien's face.
Mollie hesitantly glanced at Darien.
Mollie's friends exchanged looks, their gazes flitting between Ellie and Darien...
One of them asked, "Mollie, what's going on here? Is your boyfriend pretending to be some kind of rich heir?"
Mollie immediately turned to Darien: "How could that be possible! Brother Darien, just look at this servant's daughter from your house—utterly outrageous! How can she just say whatever comes to mind?"
Darien immediately stood up, walked straight to Ellie, and grabbed her arm in one swift motion: "Ellie Cobb, have you had enough?"
Ellie withdrew her arm.
Nearby, Kiera and Erin wanted to step forward to help her but were stopped by Gavin.
Gavin spoke directly, "The children of the Cobb family don't need anyone else's help."
Kiera: "..."
