Chapter 55
1 quickly left the restroom and returned to the gala hall, where I saw Jess on stage delivering a speech. He spoke confidently, detailing the history of the Dazzle Groups and its upcoming project, which would be their first in the country.
Spotting Karlynn in the crowil, I walked over to her. She was glowing with excitement. “Looks like your chat with Mr. Bird went well?” I teased.
n party Beaming with pride, Karlynn whispered, “Ms. Hinton, you can start thinking about where to host the celebration
Her self–assured grin made me feel a
feel a little more at ease.
On stage, Jess raised his voice as he announced. “And now, we will reveal the partner for the Dazzling Project
n with a
a smile, he declared.
The event assistant went on stage with a tray, from which Jess took a sealed envelope and opened it. Scanning the room. “The partner for the Dazzle Group’s first project in the country will be
the Madden Giroup?”
The hall erupted in applause
omer in Enchester. Nevertheless, in
The result wasn’t a surprise. The only real conteisler against the Madden Group had been Maple Media, a newcomer was obvious that the Dazzle Group would choose a more established partner.
I instinctively looked around, but York was nowhere in sight. Regardless, I let out a long, deep breath. The end of this six–month project, which had turned out well, was such a relief.
you” Jess walked over to us and extended his hand, saying cheerfully. “Ms. Hinton, I look forward to working with yo
“Likewise.” I shook his hand with a smile, noticing his gaze darting around the room. Before he could ask. I added, “If you’re looking for Mr. Madden, I suggest asking someone else. I wouldn’t know.”
Caught off guard, he scratched his head awkwardly and glanced at Diana, who stood not far away. “Well, you are his ex–wife. I’d rather not get involved with certain shady individuals,” he said wryly.
Raclynn chimed in. “Exactly? Mr. Bird, I completely agree. Great minds think–alike.”
Jess laughed heartily. “You don’t beat around the bush, and I like that, Ms. Novak”
The two of them hit it off so effortlessly that I was left feeling like a third wheel
“I’m starving. I’ll grab something to eat,” I said, making up an excuse to slip away.
The gala’s spread was as lavish as expected from a company of the Dazzling Group’s wealth. Top chefs from Enchester had been gathered for the event, and the array of delicacies made my stomach growl.
An exquisite tiramisu caught my eye, and I reached for it, only for a slender hand to beat me to it Glancing up. I saw Diana deliberately drop the cake onto my foot. Unable to reset in time, I watched as the creamy topping splattered, staining both my shoe and foot
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. My hand slipped.” Diana smirked, shrugging her shoulders. She leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Cinderella without her glass slippers is just a nobody. But you’re no Cinderella, Natalia. Stay away from Quinn, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”
I stared at her coldly. “I guess those slaps I gave you last time didn’t get through to you.”
Narrowing her eyes, Diana snorted. “I’ll settle the score, and you won’t know what hit you,” she taunted
She was provoking me, certain that I wouldn’t cause a scene at such an event. I had no interest in feeding into her nonsense. With the event winding down, I decided it was time to leave.
But just as I turned to leave, a loud commotion crupted near the entrance.
Skylar stormed into the hall, shouting furiously. “Natalia, you bitch! Get out here now.”
My head spun Why was she here?
The smug look on Diana’s face suddenly made sense. This was her doing, another one of her schemes to humiliate me. Before I could react, Skylar spotted me. She charged forward, grabbed my collar, and raised her hand to slap me.
1 caught her w
wrist and shoved her back firmly. “Take this outside,” I warned in a low voice. “Don’t make a scene here”
“You’ve got something to hide, don’t you?” Skylar snarled, dramatically dropping to the floor and bursting into tears. “Natalia, how could you be so heartless! You poisoned our mother! And yet here you are, partying like nothing happened while she lay in a coma at the hospital”
The room buzzed with whispers as the guests exchanged curious glances..
I clenched my jaw in frustration. Skylar’s sole purpose was to humilate me in public. “I’ve never done such a thing.” I said firmly.
Chapter 53
Karlynn rushed to my side and defended me. Tve worked with Ms. Hinton years. She’s always been a devoted daughter and would never harm
A guest chimed in. “That’s right. Leven saw Ms. Huston attending her father’s birthday party recently. Why would she poison her own mother! What motive could she possibly have?”
ur parents‘ real
Skylar glared at me and said sharply, “Of course, she’d have no reason to poison her biological mother. But Natalia isn’t even our daughter–she’s adopted!”
The room fell silent. Even Raelynn looked stunned. I could feel the weight of countless eyes on me.
Skylar face twisted in a scowl, her voice dripping with malice as she continued to malign me. “After getting kicked out by the Madden family, she held a grudge when our mother berated her. That’s why she poisoned her, that’s her motive
Her accusations were absurd, but she painted me as a villain so convincingly that it was impossible to refute everything at on
once
Frowning, I stepped forward to drag Skylar outside, but she pushed me away. She sneered and said, “You’re scared now, aren’t you? Dad said you’re no longer a part of our family, but out of kindness, we found your biological mother”
My blood ran cold. “What did you say?”
At that moment, a haggard middle–aged woman stepped forward from the crowd, rushing toward me. She stared at my face intently before exclaiming. “You’re my daughter! You look just like me when I was young”
She reached out to touch my face, but I recoiled.
Tears welled up its her eyes as she choked out. “You’re not going to acknowledge me as your mother?
“It was my fault back then–1 shouldn’t have abandoned you. But you have to understand, I had no choice back then. I didn’t even know which of my clients was your father. I regret it so much, my dear daughter. Can’t you forgive me?”
I was dumbfounded. And then it hit me.
It way her voice I had overheard speaking on the phone in
in earlier. This was all part of Skylar’s plot to humiliate me
