?Chapter 282:


    Rosanna’s chest rose and fell like a ship caught in a violent squall, her breathing ragged as she fought to hold herself together, her eyes shimmering dangerously with unshed tears.


    But she couldn’t cry. No— she wouldn’t hand them her humiliation on a silver tter.


    By now, Charles could no longer sit idle. He quickly ordered Gavin to dispatch someone to shut down the livestream. Rosanna’s disgrace was staining the Ward family’s reputation, dragging it through the mud for all to see.


    Surely there had to be some misunderstanding. It had to be the work of that venomous Maia, conspiring with Pattie from MCN to set Rosanna up.


    They needed to get to the bottom of it fast — before the livestream spread the scandal even further.


    But chaos had already consumed the banquet hall. Guests stood frozen, unable to tear themselves away from the unfolding disaster.


    The crowd hadpletely blocked the way, making it impossible for Gavin’s people to reach the stage, let alone stop the cameraman. Worse still, many guests had already whipped out their phones, broadcasting the scene live, making the idea of stopping the stream a lost cause.


    This was supposed to be Rosanna and Gavin’s big day — their engagement party — but now, every camera, every gaze, every whispered conversation, was focused on Maia instead.


    It seemed like fate itself had a twisted sense of humor: every time Rosanna tried to trip Maia up, she ended up slipping t on her face. The emcee stood at the front, sweat pouring down his face like rain in a summer storm, the situation spiraling hopelessly out of control. In all his years hosting events, he had never faced a debacle like this.


    Taking a shaky breath, he forced himself to speak into the microphone, his voice cracking awkwardly. “Um… the auspicious time has passed. Shall we proceed with the engagement ceremony?”


    All eyes shifted toward the Morgan and Ward families.


    Stay connected gα?ησv????s


    Sandra’s face burned crimson with fury and humiliation, but she refused to let the banquet copse in front of everyone. Raising her voice, she cried out, “Of course!”


    She yanked Rosanna’s arm urgently, hissing, “Rosanna, no matter what happens, you must get engaged today.”


    Turning to Pattie, Sandra mustered a smile so false that it nearly cracked her face. “Ms. Miller, this dress was purchased by Miss Cooper as a gift for Rosanna. MCN never said you couldn’t buy a dress for a cklisted client, correct?”


    There was some twisted logic in her argument, and a few people nodded thoughtfully.


    Pattie lifted an eyebrow slightly; her aim had been achieved. The whole room now knew that Rosanna had been cklisted by MCN, and doubt clung to her like a shadow.


    Seeing no need to push further, Pattie said nothing more.


    Rosanna’s body trembled with pent-up rage and humiliation. She was teetering at the edge of copse but forced herself to breathe deeply, clutching Vince’s arm for support.


    Her nails dug into her palm until they broke the skin, blood welling up — but she barely felt the pain. She carved today’s shame deep into her heart, vowing that she would never forget the humiliation Maia had caused her.


    Vince, still dazed by the chaos, was about to step forward with Rosanna when a cool,posed voice called from behind them, slicing through the noise like a de.


    “Wait.”


    Vince turned and saw Maia standing calmly among the crowd, her eyes steady on him.


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