The birthday celebration was held at a vi nestled in the hills, and once it was over, it would be inconvenient for her to head home alone.


    Isadora nned to give her a ride when they left togetherter.


    Victor gently rubbed her slender fingers, clearly worried about her going back by herself. "If you need anything, let me know."


    Colby grinned. "The bond between Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald really is something special."


    Not wanting to seem clingy in front of everyone, Isadora replied, "Got it. I''ll let you get back to your business talk."


    Upstairs, in one of the vi''s third-floor rooms-


    Olivia stormed in, fuming, and immediately threw a pillow across the room.


    "I can''t believe this! I''ve never been so humiliated in my life! Ugh!"


    Andrina followed behind, picking up the discarded pillow. "Alright, Olivia, calm down."


    "The Fitzgeralds are the richest family in Capitolion-even your grandfather has to show Victor some respect. Why did you have to go and provoke that woman just now?"


    Olivia pressed a hand to her stinging cheek, her chest tight with anger as she sat on the bed. "I just can''t stand women like her!"


    "Why should everyone tiptoe around her, just because shetched onto Victor? She''s nothing but a gold-digger!"


    Andrina shrugged. "That''s how the world works. If you''re so upset, go find yourself a powerful man who''ll protect you, too."


    Olivia shot back, "All the best men in Capitolion have already been snatched up by her. What am I supposed to do now?"


    "That''s why you should behave yourself, Olivia," Andrina said, her tone warning. "We nearly lost all dignity out there."


    "Mom, my face is still burning and you keep siding with that vixen! Are you even my mother?"


    A maid entered, handing Andrina a warm towel-wrapped egg, which she gently pressed to Olivia''s face. "I''m telling you this because I am your mother. That woman''s pregnant-she''s the golden ticket in the Fitzgerald family right now. There''s no sense in going head-to-head with her and making things worse for ourselves."


    Olivia cupped her swollen cheek, eyes wide with indignation. "Why should she get everything?"


    Andrina knew her daughter had been spoiled and still didn''t understand


    how the world really worked. "Because she''s the legitimate Mrs. Fitzgerald. That''s all there is to it."


    "Victor must be blind, letting that woman seduce him. Mom, I''m just as beautiful—


    if I''d met Victor sooner, maybe I''d be Mrs. Fitzgerald today."


    Andrina tried to soothe her. "Yes, yes, you''re my gorgeous girl. I''ll find you a wonderful match. Besides the Fitzgeralds, isn''t Magnus from Wainwright Holdings still single?"


    At that, Olivia sprang to her feet. "Magnus? He''s that vixen''s ex! I won''t settle for her leftovers."


    Andrina hesitated, surprised to realize Isadora had managed to capture the attention of the two most powerful men in Capitolion.


    "Alright, forget Magnus. Maybe I''ll arrange a chat with the Fawcett family instead-they''re old money,


    frespected, and a good fit for


    your background."


    Olivia didn''t seem interested.


    Right now, Victor was the only one she wanted.


    Why should she settle for anyone else? The only reason Isadora had any status


    was because of the baby-take that away, and she''d have nothing.


    Olivia pressed the warm egg to her cheek, her mind already plotting. She wasn''t about to let those two ps go unanswered.


    "We''ll talk about itter," she said dismissively.


    Andrina finished tending to her, reminding her once again not to stir up any more trouble, before heading to the next room to change.


    Of course, Andrina was furious too.


    Her precious daughter had been pped, and she''d had to swallow her pride and apologize to Isadora.


    But the Fitzgeralds and the Walshes were simply in different leagues.


    Andrina had weathered her share of storms; there was no point in picking a fight with "Mrs. Fitzgerald" anding out worse for it.


    It was far more practical to focus on how she and Olivia could secure arger share of the family fortune at Legacy National Bank.


    As for the Fawcett family-Olivia was at the right age now.


    If she could marry well, it would boost her status within the Walsh family, and


    maybe, with the right husband, she''d finally learn some restraint.


    Andrina already had a n in mind. Tomorrow, she''d invite Mrs. Beaumont for afternoon tea to discuss it.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!