Sarah''s eyes widened slightly. "Serena, you-"


    "If you really want toe inside, that''s fine. I''ll just call Dad right now and ask if he gave you permission to be here today." Serena paused mid-step and nced


    back.


    Sarah''s face flushed red, stopping Serena from calling Howard. She knew that Howard didn''t agree for her toe.


    The reason was simple. Her presence here was just inappropriate.


    Cole was not officially hers, and Regina was still his fiancée, soing here was nothing short of asking for trouble.


    She couldn''t let Howard know about it.


    Sarah racked her brain, searching for Serena''s weakness, but before she could speak, Serena''s calm voice cut through the tension.


    "If you don''t belong here, don''t make a fool of yourself. There are plenty of cars at home, just pick one and get lost."


    With that, she stepped into the lounge with Natalie and shut the door behind her.


    Regina, clearly satisfied with Serena''s response, waved at security to throw Sarah out.


    Then, she suddenly smirked.


    "That homewrecker is annoying, but I have to admit, her sister''s got some backbone."


    "She''s still Mr. Larson''s wife. About the biddingter..."


    "Business is business. I don''t mind Serena, but deals are settled through skill, not sentiment."


    Regina shot a cold nce at the assistant who had spoken as she warned her, "Stop assuming you know what I''m thinking."


    "Understood."


    Sweat beaded on the assistant''s forehead as she hurried to follow her inside.


    Meanwhile, in the corner, Serena remainedposed, watching Regina''s shifting expressions with narrowed eyes.


    Born with a silver spoon, Regina certainly carried herself with the arrogance to match.


    ...


    40 minutester, the bidding event was about to begin.


    Guests arrived one after another, most of them familiar faces in the bidding circle. Small groups formed as people sat together, chatting casually.


    Regina was in high spirits, engaging in lively conversations with the others.


    Serena, who rarely appeared at events in Javerton City, sat quietly in a corner, resting.


    Knowing she and Sarah were not on the same side, Regina remained polite as she approached her.


    "If I get engaged to Cole in the future, shouldn''t we get a little closer?"


    Some people in the room were aware that Serena was Hugh''s wife. Others had no idea.


    No matter how one looked at it, Regina was clearly trying to get on Serena''s good side.


    Several guests exchanged nces. If Regina had already made her choice, then the rest of them were likely just here for nothing.


    Serena could tell Regina was being deliberately vague, clearly trying to gauge her stance on the bidding. She was about to respond when the door swung open again.


    Zach entered with his assistant, Morton.


    Regina turned toward the door but didn''t recognize him.


    Her assistant said, "This is Mr. Zach Foster from the Foster Group in Yellowbrook City."


    Zach stepped forward and greeted her, "Ms. Arnold, nice to meet you."


    Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Serena and seemed a little surprised.


    The Arnold Group had only just established ties with the Larson Group. Their connection was growing closer by the day.


    Yet Serena, nothing more than a hidden mistress, dared to show up and bid for a project in broad daylight.


    Wasn''t she afraid of exposing herself to the Larson family?


    With the bidding about to begin and so many eyes watching, Zach kept things professional. He took his seat, making sure to maintain a proper distance from Serena.


    As the event was about to start, an older, well-established figure cast Zach a sidelong nce and sneered.


    "Hmph! The world really is going downhill. Even a bastard from some second-rate family dares to sit at the same table as us."


    Zach''s eyes darkened with rage as his fist clenched tightly. It had been a long time since anyone had the nerve to call him that.