?Chapter 580:


    “You keep putting on an indifferent act,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “I know you’re dying of envy. Brendon saves all his grand gestures for Ynda, and you get left with scraps.”


    Finally, Christina shifted her gaze and offered Katie a measured smile, idly swirling her ss as she replied, “So what if the rituals are grand? Bethel didn’t even bother showing up for their engagement party, did she?”


    The casual remarknded with unexpected force, causing Katie to stiffen. “That’s not true! Grandmother wasn’t feeling well, and that’s the only reason she stayed away,” she replied, her defensiveness poorly masked.


    Every effort had been made to convince Bethel to leave the hospital for the celebration, but she’d dug in her heels. Despite the doctor’s clearance, Bethel had tly refused, even threatening drastic action if anyone tried to move her. Faced with her stubbornness, the Dawson family had been left with no option but to release an official statement, ming her absence on health concerns.


    “Funny, because Bethel herself told me she’d chosen to stay away due to her dislike for Ynda,” Christina replied, her smile never fading.


    Katie’s eyes zed. “Don’t talk nonsense! She’s my grandmother. Why would she confide in you?”


    A deliberate pause preceded Christina’s next words. “Regardless of what you say, the Dawson family estate belongs to me.”


    “Keep dreaming!” Katie snapped, her patience finally snapping as she hurled her wine toward Christina in a fit of rage.


    With practiced ease, Christina shifted to the side, letting the ssh miss herpletely.


    Luck, however, was not on Lorraine’s side. Wine sttered across her pale dress, staining the fabric with a vivid, unmistakable splotch.


    A gasp came from Yvonne, who stared at Lorraine’s ruined outfit in disbelief. “Lorraine, your dress! What a disaster!”


    Katie wilted beneath Lorraine’s piercing re, realizing her mistake toote.


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    Words tumbled out as she tried to cover her tracks. “It was an ident, Miss Reynolds. I swear I didn’t mean to. Please don’t be upset.”


    No one dared to underestimate Lorraine, not with Celine as her godmother. Crossing her could mean serious trouble.


    “Save your apologies. This dress is ruined, and an apology won’t fix it,” Lorraine replied, her tone sharp. “I’m supposed to meet Tianater and be her protégé. Is this how you n to sabotage me?”


    Anxiety flickered across Katie’s face. She never imagined Lorraine intended to make Tiana her mentor at this event. With Lorraine’s connections to the Miller family, seeding in this would be monumental.


    Uncertainty gnawed at Katie. Had the Miller family and Tiana coordinated the meeting for Lorraine tonight?


    Not wanting to offend Lorraine, Katie scrambled for a solution, blurting out, “I have a brand-new designer dress, delivered from Allison’s atelier some days back. It’s custom-made, and we’re about the same size. It should fit you perfectly.”


    Letting Lorraine wear that gorgeous dress stung. Katie had been saving it for her own debut, not wanting to steal Ynda’s thunder today, but still hoping for the right moment. But now, that moment was gone. The dress would make its first appearance on someone else. Reluctance was clear in her voice, but she had no choice but to offer it, hoping to keep Lorraine from making a scene.


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