?Chapter 17:


    As Ellie prepared to walk away, something caught her eye. A striking diamond ne graced Demi’s neck, each stone impably cut and shimmering.


    Ellie’s voice dropped subtly, unnoticed by others, as shemented, “Your ne is quite stunning.”


    This ne had been a bespoke creation by Ellie for Baylee, only to vanish from her home. Now, it adorned Demi’s neck, revealing that Litzy had taken it.


    As Demi touched the ne, she boasted, “It’s a top-notch diamond ne, designed by a renowned master. My family treasures me; my mother had it made especially for me.”


    Demi had spotted the ne at the Gordon family vi and yfully persuaded Litzy to gift it to her.


    “Such beauty! It’s no wonder I was captivated by your ne,” one of the guests remarked.


    “Demi, you’re so lucky to have such a caring mother,” Dani and other celebrities chimed in, showering her withpliments. The buzz drew the attention of others in the fashion circle, curious about a piece designed by a prominent designer.


    Ellie observed quietly as the group admired and discussed the ne. Suddenly, a voice cut through the chatter, “Wait a minute! Isn’t that the ne Ellie made for Baylee?”


    Demi, always alert to mentions of Ellie, forced a strained smile. “Please, don’t spread rumors if you’re uninformed. I’m a Gordon, and this ne was custom-made for me,” she stressed.


    The emphasis on “me” was intentional, an attempt to distance Ellie from the Gordon family.


    “Jesus!” Hearing this, the woman who had just spoken burst intoughter along with her friends, as if they’d heard an amusing joke. Ellie, leaning against the bar, watched the unfolding drama with a detached gaze, her chin resting in her hand.


    Jerome leaned against the railing on the second floor, his eyes scanning the bustling crowd below.


    His gazended on Ellie, unmistakable even in her understated ck attire.


    Ellie tried to blend in, but her natural grace made her stand out. Each movement she made was effortlessly elegant.


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    Jerome quickly snapped a picture, sending it to Kaiden with a yful message. “Hey! Look who I found!”


    In his study, Kaiden looked at the photo with a raised eyebrow, replying with a simple question mark. That question mark meant he was asking where Jerome had seen Ellie.


    Jerome, with a smirk, texted back, “She’s at the Fashion Ceremony you’re skipping out on. Why note here and join in on the fun? You might even see some drama. Well, your wife looks like she’s nning something.”


    “nning something? Again?”


    Kaiden clenched his jaw, feeling a stir of curiosity.


    The Fashion Ceremony suddenly seemed less tedious. Maybe he should drop by, albeit begrudgingly?


    Meanwhile, in the banquet hall…


    “I am spreading rumors?” The woman’sugh was tinged with sarcasm. “Everyone knows that Ellie’s gifts to Baylee are always personalized, often adorned with initials of their names painstakingly carved into them.”


    “Here’s a small ‘EG’… And there’s a ‘BC.’ So it is personalized!”


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