[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-mother-is-the-villain":3,"chapter-my-mother-is-the-villain-my-mother-is-the-villain-chapter-23":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","My Mother is the Villain",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1163347,1508,"Chapter 23: Guests","my-mother-is-the-villain-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>At night, the courtyard of the Russell Clan was already filled with tables adorned with luxurious dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sudden banquet, and the invitations were limited to those within the city and its surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his room, Victor could see that quite a number of guests had already arrived—nobles who were, in truth, merely subordinates of the Russell Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Musicians and dancers had been prepared, while lower-ranking clan members were assigned as servants due to the lack of time to recruit proper attendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, it had indeed been a long time since the Russell Clan last held a banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth was, there had been nothing worth celebrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor only wanted that weapon. He made no effort to dress extravagantly, still wearing his simple robe as he finally stepped out of his room and headed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His appearance alone was enough to draw all attention, so there was no need to bother with luxurious clothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Victor!\" His grandfather immediately lit up upon seeing him, pulling him to stand by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, they welcomed the arriving guests one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, given their high status, it was the guests who showed respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s attention was soon drawn to a carriage more luxurious than the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agron. He saw that name written on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Alisa personally approached the carriage to welcome its occupant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a doubt, it was the mayor’s carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strength was evidently considerable. Being a subordinate clan to the Russell Clan did not mean they were treated poorly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A handsome middle-aged man stepped out of the carriage with a bright smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to exchange a few pleasant words with Alisa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he did not immediately enter the Russell Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he glanced back at the carriage and gestured for someone else inside to come out as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t come alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pair of long, slender legs stepped down from the carriage, revealed by the slit of a dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People couldn’t help but look toward the carriage—even the young men of the Russell Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What appeared was a woman in her twenties, with long, straight black hair, neat and flowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked elegant in a form-fitting blue dress with a lace-trimmed waist, which accentuated her slender figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her oval-shaped face looked both beautiful and sweet. Even as she pressed her lips together, as if burdened by her thoughts, she remained captivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor instantly recognized her as Ella Agron—the mayor’s daughter, who had once been in a romantic relationship with Lukas Hernandez.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was indeed pleasing to the eye. No wonder Lukas had given up so quickly when faced with Victor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Margaret had said that the woman was now his concubine—so what was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, being a concubine was still a high position if one belonged to a man of powerful background.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For subordinate clans, it was quite common to offer their most outstanding daughters as concubines to the most promising young masters of a superior clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, such arrangements did not always go smoothly. Matters of arranged relationships often came with complications—especially when it involved becoming a concubine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mayor had to pull his daughter along, as she clearly seemed unwilling to enter the Russell Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he looked at Victor, the mayor was visibly startled, realizing that the Russell Clan had not been exaggerating about their young master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ella, who appeared reluctant, was also stunned when she saw the young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mayor quickly broke into a bright smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like mother, like son. It seems this era still belongs to your Russell Clan,\" he said to Paul, who stroked his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paul smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tom, you flatter us. Please, have a seat and enjoy the banquet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, but before that, there’s something you may not know,\" the mayor replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? What is it?\" Paul asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady has long requested that my daughter become your son’s partner. As such, tonight, I will leave my daughter in your clan,\" the mayor calmly announced, shocking many who heard him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply avoided directly calling her a concubine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, given the difference in status between Victor and Ella, the latter could only become the former’s concubine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A noble clan would never accept an unequal marriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ella’s face turned pale upon hearing her father’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been sold off just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"NO!\" she suddenly shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paul, who had been smiling, froze at her outburst, while the mayor’s face flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to speak, Ella forcefully shook his hand off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You—!\" The mayor gasped, not expecting his daughter to still dare resist after arriving at the Russell Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, when had she ever shouted like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring her father, she looked at Victor and suddenly calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Victor, I apologize. I cannot accept this relationship. I hope you will not be angered or blame my clan,\" she said with a bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you may not want me after you hear this. I have already lost my virginity. I have been with another man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A collective gasp spread among the crowd as they realized Ella had come with a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, most people already knew she had been involved with a man from the Heavenly Lightning Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It just hadn’t been made official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unofficial relationship was not a serious issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by openly declaring that she was no longer a virgin, it would be humiliating if Victor still chose to take her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Victor, yet he showed no particular expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would he say? He merely looked at Ella calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t matter,\" he finally said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, Ella seemed to let out a sigh of relief. After all, he could have easily made an issue out of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, theirs would have been the only official relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I mean, it doesn’t matter that you’re not a virgin,\" Victor suddenly added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had been ready to praise Victor for his magnanimity were left stunned, mouths agape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he wasn’t forgiving—he was simply indiscriminate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mayor, who had been panicking, immediately became delighted, even patting his daughter on the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quick, quickly thank the Young Master for his kindness! Promise him that you will be a good and loyal partner forever,\" he said loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>",1049,"2026-06-03T12:49:08.808Z","2026-06-03T12:49:16.024Z",1,"novelbin.me","79b24dd8c348806920da810a7a0279d214bfd8e1f57f97a5089f542882d8c0aa","my-mother-is-the-villain-chapter-24","my-mother-is-the-villain-chapter-22",74,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-mother-is-the-villain-cover.jpg"]