After Neal delivered his ultimatum, he angrily hung up.


    Wendy squeezed out a few tears and said, "Zach, I''m not pretending. I just didn''t expect..."


    Zach was clearly frustrated by the misunderstanding, but when he saw the tears welling in Wendy''s eyes, he couldn''t bring himself to me her for the mistake she hadn''t meant to make.


    "You didn''t know, so I won''t hold it against you," he said with a helpless smile. With that, he tossed the bouquet to the ground and crushed it beneath his foot.


    If the woman he intended to propose to hadn''t even bothered to show up, what was the point of keeping the flowers?


    Wendy stared at the scattered rose petals, feeling as if her own heart had been trampled.


    Did Zach really despise her that much?


    Her sorrow quickly turned to anger. She couldn''t just sit back and do nothing.


    Even if Zach didn''t love her now, she believed that once she reached Serena''s level, he would eventually return to her.


    ...


    A few dayster, the Larson family''s charity g took ce as nned. Luxury cars lined the entrance, and the venue buzzed with an elite crowd of high- profile guests.


    Zach had used his connections to secure an invitation to the charity g.


    Just before they entered, his friend, Christopher Tate gave him a piece of advice. "I went through a lot of trouble to get you an invitation, but I''d suggest you avoid making any hasty connections tonight. Just focus on the charity."


    "Why?" Wendy asked, standing next to Zach. "Isn''t this just another typical charity g? What''s the big deal?" She didn''t quite understand.


    Christopher nced at her with mild curiosity before raising his champagne ss with a chuckle.


    "It''s about knowing how to y the game. The Larson family is making a major announcement tonight. Just don''t cause any trouble or rush into pitching business deals. Tonight is aboutworking, not hustling."


    Wendy was still puzzled.


    The Larson family was powerful and influential. If they had something important to announce, why would they do it at a small charity g?


    She was about to ask another question, but Christopher had already lost patience and walked off.


    Zach seized Wendy''s arm.


    "We''re here today to earn the Larson family''s support, so don''t cause any trouble," he warned.


    "I''m just trying to gather some information to help you," Wendy said, pouting slightly as she nudged Zach''s arm in mild frustration.


    However, Zach was too absorbed in dealing with an important matterto notice Wendy''s flirtatious gestures. m Without a word, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.


    At the Larson family''s charity g, neither Hugh nor Serena could be found.


    At previous public events, Hugh was always seen with Serena. So, why was this time any different?


    He scanned the venue, searching for any sign of them.


    Meanwhile, Wendy wasn''t just sitting by. She faintly heard the mockingughter of a few socialites in the background.


    "Even though this is a charity g, expecting women of our status to perform on stage is beneath us."


    "But that pianist, I heard she''s a rising star from abroad. Pairing with her might not be such a bad idea."


    ет


    "If you like the idea so much, why don''t you go up there and y the violin yourself? That way, people can say your family raised someone just to entertain others."


    The group of socialites gathered together,ughing mockingly. None of them were


    willing to lower themselves by performing in front of the crowd.


    Wendy nced at the men in the


    audience, each wearing a custom-tailored suit, with cufflinks


    and


    one-of-a-kind. She had never seen designs like those before.


    So what if it was ttery? As long as it earned their favor, that was all that mattered.


    Without hesitation, she lifted the hem of her gown and stepped forward.


    "May I take the violinist''s ce?"