Chapter <b>95 </b>
The surrounding guests turned to look, whispering among themselves.
Thalia took a deep breath<b>, </b>closing her eyes momentarily. When she opened them again, they were filled with cold fury. “Grace, you did that deliberately, didn’t you?”
Grace excelled at ying the innocent victim. Her lips formed a perfect pout as she adopted a wounded expression. “Thalia, you were clearly the one not watching where you were going when you bumped into me. How can you use me of doing it deliberately? This is your family’s event–why on earth would I dare to intentionally collide with you?”
At that moment, Charlotte and Victoria, having spotted Thalia, were walking toward them.
“Oh, do stop the theatrics<b>, </b>Grace,” Victoria said bluntly, giving Grace a rough shove. “Everyone knows you’re green with envy. You deliberately spilled that wine on her to humiliate her in front of everyone.”
Grace’s eyes instantly welled with tears. <b>“</b>How dare you make such usations?”
Victoria retorted indignantly: “Your behaviour at the riding grounds and at South Downs has already proven what you’re capable of. Do you honestly think we’re all blind?”
Grace appeared on the verge of tears. “What have I done?”
Victoria gave her a cold stare. “With all these people present, do you really want me to spell it out?”
“What’s happening, Grace?” Lady ckwood approached, having heard themotion.
Grace rushed to Lady ckwood’s side, clutching her arm with a wounded expression, choking back sobs as she said: “Grandmother, they’re all ganging up against me.“
Thalia gave a coldugh, finally losing her patience and confronting Lady ckwood directly. “With Lady ckwood protecting you, who could possibly bully you?”
“Grandmother, you see how she’s treating me?” Grace sniffled, tugging at the elderly woman’s sleeve.
Lady ckwood exploded in anger: “Thalia Winters, don’t you dare go too far!”
“I’m going too far? Lady ckwood, is this how you’ve raised your granddaughter? You use me ofcking manners and propriety–perhaps you should take a good look at what your granddaughter has been doing!” Thalia responded, then calmly instructed a nearby attendant: “Check the security footage.”
The colour drained instantly from Grace’s face.
She had specifically checked earlier and was certain there were no cameras in this area.
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Thalia’s piercing gaze swept toward her, seeming to read her thoughts. With a cold smile, she said: “Did you <b>think </b>there weren 7any security cameras here? Use that pathetic brain of yours–<b>this </b>is a massive banquet hall with countless guestsing and going. Of course there would be surveince.”
Thalia gestured around the room. “There, there, and over there–all security cameras. For aesthetic purposes, they’ve been designed to blend <b>with </b>the decorations, but they’re using the most advanced technology avable with 360–degree coverage and no blind spots, Let’s see how you try to weasel your way out of <b>this</b><b>.</b>”
Lady ckwood responded furiously: “Check the footage then! My Grace would never lie, I want to see how you’ll apologise when you’re proven wrong!*
Grace felt cold sweat breaking out across her back, her heart pounding with anxiety,
The security footage <b>would </b>be disastrous. She had deliberately bumped into Thalia to ruin her gown<b>. </b>
Why should Thalia look so stunning tonight, with Asher’s gaze constantly fixed on her?
Why should <b>Thalia </b>be the centre of attention the moment she arrived?
She couldn’t bear <b>it</b><b>! </b>
<b>If </b>the security footage revealed that she had deliberately collided with Thalía, even Grandmother would no longer defend her.
They absolutely could not check that footage.
Just then, Grace caught sight of Asher approaching from the corner of her eye.
She immediately bit her lip with a remorseful expression and apologised: “Thalia, I’m so dreadfully sorry. It’s entirely my fault. Please don’t be cross.”
“What’s happening here?” Asher asked as he approached Thalía.
Upon seeing Asher, Thalia immediately understood the situation and a mocking smile yed at her lips. “Now I understand your sudden apology–Asher has arrived.”
Grace wept delicately, tears streaming down her face. “I’m truly sorry<b>, </b>Thalía. I identally bumped into you. I’ll rece your gown–please don’t be upset anymore, will you?”
She had adopted an extremely humble posture, appearing utterly pitiful.
Thalia saw through her act, recognizing that Grace was performing for Asher and Lady ckwood’s benefit. “My goodness, you’re quite the actress, aren’t you? If I don’t ept your apology, I’ll appear unreasonable and harsh.”
Lady ckwood pointed an usatory finger at Thalía, turning to Asher as she <i>spoke</i><i>: </i>“Asher, just look at her behaviour, bullying Grace right in front of us!”
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Asher frowned, lowering Lady ckwood’s pointing hand. “Grandmother, let’s wait for the security footage.”
Grace panicked.
She redoubled her performance, crying with increased vigor, as <b>if </b>suffering some tremendous injustice.
The surrounding guests murmured among themselves.
Though they spoke softly, somements reached Thalia’s ears due to their proximity.
“Isn’t Miss Winters supposed to be the future Mrs. ckwood? Why is she arguing with Lady ckwood<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“It seems Lady ckwood strongly disapproves of this prospective granddaughter–inw.”
“Well, the elderlydy clearly dotes on her granddaughter. Though Grace is only adopted<b>, </b>she’s been raised in the family for over a decade. Naturally, she’s closer than an outsider. Thalia hasn’t even married into the ckwood family yet–she can hardlypare to the ckwood’s adopted daughter.”
“Grace may be adopted, but she’s still publicly recognized as the ckwood family’s daughter. After Thalia marries in, Grace will be her sister–inw. If she’s already offending both her sister–inw and Lady ckwood, will she even have a ce as the future Mrs. ckwood?”
“Precisely. Thalia should really temper that entitled attitude of hers. Using her family’s wealth to bully others is simply despicable. Is she looking down on Grace because she was once the housekeeper’s daughter?<b>” </b>
“This is truly excessive. Someone identally bumps into her, and she’s making such a fuss. It’s just a gown–with her family’s wealth<b>, </b>what’s the big deal about one dress?”
“Offending Lady ckwood over a mere gown–the consequences far outweigh any satisfaction. Thalia clearlycks perspective.”
“What do you think the ckwood heir will choose?”
“That’s obvious–he’ll side with Lady ckwood and Grace. Lady ckwood is his grandmother, and Grace is the sister he’s know for over a decade. Is that even a question? His engagement to Thalia is a business arrangement, a marriage of convenience. There’s no genuine feeling between them.”
“Exactly. In our social circles, these arranged marriages never involve real emotion. The young Mr. ckwood will undoubtedly favour Grace.”
“Hmm, Lady ckwood seems absolutely furious. Do you think this engagement will actually proceed?”
“Highly doubtful.”
Thalia heard thesements, as did Grace and Asher.
Grace kept her head lowered as she wiped away tears, appearing to cry while only she knew that she was hiding the
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smile that yed at her lips.
However, Asher suddenly raised his voice, his eyes cold with fury. “Who says I would side with Grace? Who says this marriage won’t proceed?”
His voice rang out loudly, filled with anger, ensuring everyone present heard him clearly.
Instantly, all the whispered discussions ceased.
Even the orchestra dared not continue ying
The banquet hall fell into an eerily tense silence,
Under the astonished gazes of the assembled guests, Asher took Thalia’s hand in his. Each word he spoke resonated with absolute conviction: “This is the woman I love deeply, Marrying her has been my wish for many years. I specifically sought this arrangement with Uncle Randolph–not for any business interests.”
O(4)