?Chapter 1674:


    Once everyone had finished talking about Lilith’s pregnancy, Sandra spoke up. “Everyone, my birthday ising up. I’d like to throw a party.”


    She spoke clearly and gave everyone time to respond, picturing them transferring her a hundred million each and watching her fortune grow. But she suspected it was only wishful thinking.


    As she feared, the others simply kept eating as though they hadn’t heard a word from her.


    Only Shepard nced up at her. “Okay. Book any five-star hotel you like and invite your friends. Giselle and I won’t be there.”


    With those words, he transferred her twenty million dors.


    The disappointment hit Sandra hard. Lilith had been handed a huge sum just for her pregnancy, but Sandra’s own birthday, something she felt was truly worth celebrating, had earned her only twenty million.


    A heavy sense of disappointment weighed on Sandra, pressing down like a storm cloud that refused to move.


    No matter how hard she tried to fit in, it seemed the Harpers never saw her as one of them. That realization stung more than she cared to admit.


    She caught the fleeting look of disapproval Giselle gave Shepard. Giselle clearly wasn’t pleased that he had transferred money to her.


    Sandra’s gaze drifted to Ernst, who continued to eat calmly, as though the thought of offering her something never even crossed his mind. Beside him, Brenna showed no inclination to do anything, either. And Giselle… Well, she could barely stand to look at her. Expecting generosity from someone who could hardly bear her presence felt foolish now.


    It seemed her father was the only one willing to give her money. The thought offered littlefort. It deepened the resentment inside Sandra.


    Her mother had been right all along. The richer people were, the tighter they clutched their wealth.


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    Atst, with determination, she lifted her head and asked Shepard, “Dad, may I have the party at home?”


    Shepard chuckled softly, though the sound carried an edge of authority that couldn’t be mistaken. “Sandra, having the party at home isn’t out of the question. But we don’t know your friends, and they might feel ufortable here. Besides, we’re short on staff at home, and I doubt we could host them properly. It’s better to hold the party at a restaurant, somewhere you can rx and enjoy yourself. Make it as grand as you wish. If the money isn’t enough, just tell me.”


    Sandra stared down at her te and pushed her food around with her fork, growing more frustrated. The way her father had said that sounded like he didn’t treat her as part of the family.


    “All right, Dad,” she said, her tone even, though her mind echoed with her mother’s words. She must never forget why she was here. If they wouldn’t give her affection, then she should take whatever she could get from them. It wasn’t love she could count on in this house. Only money.


    With that thought in mind, Sandra looked up again and sighed heavily. “But Dad, I don’t think twenty million is enough.”


    It didn’t seem fair. Lilith had been given a hundred million without question, while she was handed a mere fraction of that.


    Shepard exchanged a brief nce with Giselle, a silent conversation passing between them. Then, without a word, he took out his phone and began tapping on the screen. A momentter, he looked up.


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