Chapter 1985
Having chosen the shoes and settled the bill, she walked through the other door of the store,
intending to browse a bit more before leaving. However, she unexpectedly encountered someone
she thought she wouldn''t see again so easily.
There she was, the very woman she had pped just the day before, nowfortably seated on a
bench, trying on a pair of sandals adorned with crystal chains.
Their eyes met, and an unmistakable mutual distaste hung in the air.
Cicely cast a cursory nce at the sandals the woman was trying on and couldn’t help but smirk.
Noticing Cicely, Danielle''s expression darkened. She stood up and walked over to a full-length
mirror to check out the sandals on her feet.
“Don''t see you hit the mall much. What brings you here?” It was a clear dig at Cicely.d2
Cicely paused, arms crossed, boredom etched on her face as she turned to face Danielle through
the mirror. “Stalking you, obviously.”
Danielle looked up, meeting her gaze in the reflection.
Cicely chuckled softly, “Is that the answer you wanted to hear?”
Frowning, Danielle didn''t respond. Cicely gave her a sidelong nce, then turned and walked over
to a disy case, picking up another shoe to examine. “What I''m doing here is none of your
business. We don’t need to pretend niceties or acknowledge each other. Isn’t it nauseating to even
try?”
She ced the shoe back on the disy and walked out without a backward nce, leaving
Danielle staring coldly after her in the mirror. The two sales associates standing by Danielle
exchanged awkward looks. The Ellis family’s feud was well-known, but to witness such disdain in
public was something else. Indeed, as ady raised in the Ellis family, this frank and arrogant
temperament of Cicely’s couldn''t be adequately mimicked by anyone else.
Danielle caught sight of the gaze of the two sales associates through the mirror, and a wave of
embarrassment suddenly washed over her.
...
As they got into the elevator, Cicely casually asked, "Where is tonight''s banquet being held?"
Following behind her, Issac replied, "At the Watson family''s vi hotel by Imperial Bay."
Cicely arched an eyebrow, "That''s quite an extravagant choice of location."
Issac didn''t respond.
"Is it hard to get in?" Cicely asked.
Issac nced at her from the side, "You might need your father''s help to get an invitation."
Cicely frowned, "How prestigious does an event have to be that my father needs to get involved?"
After a few seconds of silence, she walked out of the elevator, "Alright then."
With that, she pulled out her phone and dialed Creighton.
By the time Cicely reached home, Creighton was waiting for her in the living room. On the coffee
tabley a ck, gold-embossed invitation.
“Thanks, Dad,” Cicely said, picking up the invite with a half-smile.
Creighton pursed his lips. “You know it’s just going to be a headache for you, right? Why go?”
“To broaden my horizons at a fancy shindig? Never been to one like this.”
Creighton sighed, resigned. “Just don’t cause any scenes. Keep the family drama private.”
“As if I’d make a scene,” Cicely scoffed, though her words carried little conviction.
Seeing that Creighton had stopped speaking, the butler couldn''t help but add, “Although the Ellis
family hasn''t directly involved itself with the entertainment industry, the myriad of intricate
connections inevitably leads back to us through others. The social elite circles in P City aren''t
extensive, after all.”
“If the script auction at the banquet seeds, it could directly catapult P City''s economy to new
heights. Aside from significantly boosting average ie at grassroots levels, the craftsmanship
involved, costuming, and particrly the substantial investments required for constructing various
film and television sets, all are majorponents. Once these behind-the-scenes operations kick
into high gear, it would inevitably concern the Ellis family, emphasizing the crucial significance of
this banquet.
“It hase to my attention that Mr. Diaz had a keen interest in attending this banquet but intended
to rely solely on his merits. Regardless of perspective, he''s only been in a leadership role for two
years, and he''s still enrolled in school. Relying on his individual efforts alone, it''s virtually impossible
for him to gain easy ess to the banquet."
In truth, Cicely hadn''t initially attached much significance to the banquet. Now, hearing Brody''s
exnations, she was struck by how naive she had been.
Cicely’s interest piqued. “Seth wanted to go and got rejected?”
“He didn’t even know how to get an invitation, let alone get turned away,” Creighton said with a hint
of irritation.
Cicely''s brow furrowed as she nced at the invitation in her hand. She had gotten ess with just
a phone call.
Sensing Cicely''s current confusion, Brody decided to add more, "Actually, Sir has been waiting for
Mr. Diaz to approach him for help, but..."
Before he could finish, Cicely understood what he meant. Seth didn''te to ask her father for
help.
Her somewhat lethargic mind was perhaps a bit foggy. Various messy thoughts in her mind were
bumping against each other, like entangled pieces of string bing increasingly knotted. Her
complexion wasn''t great.
The butler, sensing her confusion, added, “Mr. Diaz is bringing Danielle to the event for a reason.
Perhaps he had his exnation.”
Tired, Cicely excused herself. “I need some rest.”
As Cicely ascended the stairs, Creighton and the butler exchanged worried looks. “Are we sure
about letting her go? She smashed Mr. Diaz''s car just yesterday,” the butler asked Creighton.
“If I forbid her, she might level the house in retaliation,” Creighton muttered, half-joking.
The evening approached, and luxury cars snaked their way to the Watson family''s vi at Bayview
Haven. While the vi''s exterior suggested beachside leisure, its interior revealed opulent seclusion.
Guests arrived, invitations in hand, passing through tight security, a testament to the exclusivity of
the night’s event.
As the Maserati rolled smoothly into the parking lot, the driver’s side door swung open, revealing a
crisply pressed trouser leg followed by a tall, lean figure standing by the car. Under the glow of the
streetlights, his face was striking yet aloof, his eyes sweeping casually across the passenger side.
After a quick adjustment of his shirt cuffs, he strode over to the other side and opened the door.
Danielle stepped out, shing Seth a muted smile. Her hair was expertly coiffed, and her makeup
was of the finest touch.
Noticing a valet approaching, Seth took a step back, opting to close the car door himself. Danielle
felt a twinge of disappointment as she sped her purse and fell into step beside him.
While presenting their invitation at the entrance, Danielle instinctively slipped her arm through
Seth’s. The staff nced at them both, weed them with a nod, and let them pass.
Danielle held her breath, focused entirely on Seth, dreading any sign of impatience or annoyance,
but he remainedposed all the way to the vi’s grand hall.
It was only after checking her arm in his, that the stiffness in her smile rxed.
The pair stood out at the reception—too young amongst a sea of veterans who had spent lifetimes
earning their ce. Some had traded youth and more to w their way up in society. How could
theypete with those born atop the summit?
However, in their memory, wasn''t that young man the boyfriend of the little princess of the Ellis
family? How could hee here with another woman?
The silencested just for a moment before the previous lively atmosphere quickly returned.
Whispers floated around, mentioning the Ellis family heiress, the temperamental princess of P City,
Cicely.
Ray, who had been waiting for Danielle to arrive, approached as soon as he spotted her. “Danielle.
You look stunning.”
Her smile faltered slightly as she gripped Seth’s arm tighter and leaned in closer to him.
Ray’s gaze darkened, unabashedly scrutinizing Seth. They were ssmates, though not in the
same field, and Seth’s rtionship with Cicely was well-known throughout P City. Ray couldn''t
fathom why Seth would show up with Danielle instead of Cicely.
Danielle was the woman Ray was pursuing, the one he had impressed with an invitation to tonight''s
event. Yet here she was, on another man’s arm.
Ray’s frustration simmered beneath the surface.
Even Danielle was ufortable with Ray''s disrespectful stare. To deflect, she smiled and started
a conversation. "Thank you for the invitation. Without it, I wouldn''t have had the chance to meet so
many esteemed directors and actors."
Every man likes to be admired, and Ray was no exception. "Just the beginning," he beamed.
"Come, let me introduce you."
As Ray moved closer, Danielle instinctively tried to dodge, but Seth stood firm.
Ray''s attention remained on Seth, and after a few seconds, he chuckled, hands in pockets, exuding
confidence. "Why are you here with Danielle?"
Seth''s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "It was quite unsafe for a youngdy to be
here on her own. She was like a sister to me, I felt it was my duty to apany her," Seth
exined.
Danielle was stung by what Seth had said. She knew Patty had sent Seth to protect her and
possibly discourage Ray''s advances. Now what Seth had said had no effect on Ray''s pestering of
her.
Upon hearing this, Ray paused for a moment, turned to look at Danielle, and something seemed to
sh through his mind. He blinked awkwardly and surprisingly remained silent.
Seth turned to Danielle, suggesting softly, "This is a rare opportunity. Why not spend some time with
him and meet some industry veterans?"
Danielle hesitated, "What about you?"
"I''ll wander. Just stay in the hall, and I''ll be within sight," Seth reassured her, his voice unusually
tender.
Danielle let go of Seth’s arm reluctantly. Ray quickly offered his, and after a moment, she epted
it.
Ray stole onest nce at Seth, then led Danielle into the crowd. After a few steps, she nced
back to see Seth smiling reassuringly, allowing her to rx and return the smile.
A server carrying a tray of drinks brushed against Seth, prompting a soft exmation of concern
from Danielle, but Seth simply shook his head in forgiveness, and Danielle turned away.
As Ray and Danielle mingled, heplimented her, "You look beautiful, Danielle. I''ve never seen
you dressed like this before. You seem different."
Her smile stiffened once more, "Thank you."
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Ray''s gaze lingered on Danielle as they walked, and she felt increasingly ufortable.
"Here, Danielle, this is Director Suarez, of the stage y ''The Maiden.'' You must be familiar with his
work."
Danielle snapped back to reality, her eyes lighting up with a mix of awe and excitement as she
faced the man before her, whose hair had silvered with age.
"Mr. Suarez, it''s a pleasure to meet you. I''m a budding stage actress, and I absolutely adore your
y ''The Maiden.''"
At that moment, Ray gged down a passing waiter and ordered two sses of wine. The waiter
lowered his tray and handed the two wine sses to Ray. Without missing a beat, Ray handed one
of the sses to Danielle.
Seth withdrew his gaze and made his way to a corner nearest the door, casting an indifferent eye
over the glitz and mour of the party''s attendees.
Beneath the handsome and gentlemanly exterior, what kind of power-hungry and dirty heart was
wrapped up?
Everyone was the same. Including himself.
Danielle seemed to bepletely swept away by Ray''s presence, her demeanor radiating
happiness. She genuinely loved the theater.
*
Cicely slept deeply in the afternoon, woke up a bitte, and by the time she dressed and finished
her makeup, it was a bitter than she had expected.
Fortunately, when they arrived, the banquet had not been going on for long. After Isaac parked the
car, Cicely had already handed the invitation to the staff.
As they were about to be let in, Issac''s voice came from behind her, "Miss, do you want me to
apany you?"
Cicely nced at him and smiled, "Issac, you look dashing tonight."
Issac wasn''t sure why she suddenlyplimented him, but he soon got his answer. "You say that,
but what if people think you''re my boyfriend?" Cicely''s smile widened, "He''s also here, and even if
he doesn''t get the wrong idea, others will talk. It could make him ufortable."
Issac furrowed his brow, "He''s brought Danielle with him tonight. As for people talking, you''re
probably already the subject of their gossip. If that''s the case, you showing up alone is only going to
make you the one who''s ufortable."
For once, Issac''s words carried an unexpected weight of emotion. He was upset, even angry.
Cicely was taken aback.