"That won't do at all. My wife knew you'd be dropping by, so she prepared all sorts of delicacies. If you leave before dinner, she will likely have a terrible time this festive season," replied Steven.They entered the house while chatting.Evelyn had just stepped into the living room when she saw a familiar figure in front of her.Winnie wore a beautiful red dress and stood by the door as she looked at Evelyn. The former smiled and greeted, "Evie, Merry Christmas."Evelyn stopped short.Dumbfounded, she stared at Winnie.She wondered if Steven was referring to the Larkin family when he said that the entire extended family was there.She also wondered if Bonnie had brought everyone to Steven's house for a vacation.Evelyn was a little surprised, but she grinned and asked, "Winnie, is the entire family here?"Winnie smiled and nodded. "Yeah," replied Winnie. "This is my grandma's childhood home, and it's been years since she came back. It just so happens that I'm free, so I b
Just moments ago, Evelyn threw up for what felt like an eternity. Her mind was still in a daze.Bonnie's question came as a surprise, and she didn't know how to respond. When she saw Bonnie tearing up, her heart stung for a bit.The excuse Evelyn prepared beforehand got stuck in her throat. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn't say it.Seeing how hesitant she was, Bonnie became even more convinced.The latter held the former's hand and said, "I knew it, Evie. You are such a sweet child. There is no way the angels in heaven wouldn't bless you with a baby. You don't plan on telling Warren about this, do you?"It was no wonder that Bonnie was the head of the family.She was quick to deduce what Evelyn was thinking.Evelyn felt a little lost."I'm sorry, Grandma. I don't want the baby to get hurt. If Iris and Clara find out about this, they will surely come up with some scheme to hurt me."Getting an affirmative response calmed Bonnie down.She wiped the tears off her
The four prominent families that were eligible to attend the party were the Hoffmans, the Xaviers, the Miles', and the Potters.Everyone from those families had gathered, so there were more than 200 guests present.Despite the crowd, Evelyn still noticed a familiar figure as soon as she got out of the car.Clara hugged her uncle, Harry, by the arm. She smiled and made her way over.Jazzie gritted her teeth in anger. "Why is that woman here? I feel nauseous just looking at her."Evelyn smiled calmly and said, "It's likely she has something up her sleeves. We should be wary."She had just finished speaking when she heard Clara's giggle."Uncle, this is the Ms. Jefferson I told you about. She is a famous lawyer in Bramston City. You can assign any legal case to her. It'll be like giving Warren a hand and helping him keep an eye on his ex's career."A few short sentences were all it took for Clara to make it clear that Warren and Evelyn were broken up. At the same time, Clara made
"Ms. Sullivan, you can be careless with what you eat but not what you say. When was I ever under your control?" Warren stood tall and composed with a blazer draped over his arm. He wore a tailored suit vest and a meticulously chosen black shirt. His features were stern and his eyes deep-set. Each step he took seemed to thin the air around him as he strode toward them with a commanding presence. He reached Evelyn's side and draped the blazer over her shoulders. The coldness in his eyes melted instantly into warmth and affection as he looked at her, his voice soft and husky. "Why are you wearing so little? What if you catch a cold?" Evelyn looked at him in surprise. "Why are you here?" Warren gently ruffled her hair before turning his gaze to Clara, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "How would I hear such a delightful joke if I didn't come? Ms. Sullivan, how many times do I have to tell you? There was never anything between us, so how could she take anything from you?
Jazzie let out a cold laugh. A hypocrite like Clara should be an actress with that level of performance. She sneered lightly, "There's plenty of wine here. If you want to drink, go ahead. No one's stopping you." Clara's eyes filled with helplessness as she looked around at the crowd, her voice pitiful. "As long as you forgive me, I'd be willing to die if it means making things right." With that, she picked up another glass and downed it. Just as she was about to continue, Jack suddenly interrupted with a stern voice. "Jazzie, enough. She apologized. Even if you don't consider her feelings, you should consider Anthony Miles'. Drink the wine, and let's put this matter to rest." Jazzie knew that pushing the issue further would seem petty, especially with an elder intervening. Without hesitation, she picked up her glass, ready to drink. But then she saw a glint of calculation in Clara's eyes and realized she almost fell into Clara's trap. If she drank the wine, it would expose Ev
Facing Jack's interrogation and the crowd's ridicule, Jazzie silently cursed Clara. She knew Clara was here to stir up trouble, but she hadn't expected her to be so devious. Clara had revealed her "pregnancy" in front of so many people. Jack had always valued a lady's reputation highly. Such a public spectacle would undoubtedly anger him. The Hoffman family was a prominent, noble household. Not only that, but she was his only granddaughter. Her marriage was a top priority for the entire family. Now, she was being accused of being pregnant out of wedlock. Deciding there was no turning back, Jazzie raised her chin and proclaimed, "You've always pushed me toward an arranged marriage. How could I dare tell you the truth? Even dating had to be done in secret, let alone having a baby." Jack's brow furrowed deeply. "No matter who the man is, bring him to me. If he's unsuitable, I won't agree to the marriage even if you're pregnant." Seeing Jack wasn't too angry, Jazzie smiled. "Don'
Clara gazed at her reflection in the mirror. A mischievous smile curved her lips as she noted the subtle resemblance to Evelyn.If she donned this attire and applied makeup resembling Evelyn's, she doubted Warren would remain sober enough not to mistake her for her rival. Picturing the fallout of her plan, Clara couldn't help but smirk in triumph. As she discarded her stained dress and prepared to dress herself in a fresh gown, the room plunged into darkness, sending a shiver down her spine. Memories of the chilling night she spent guarding the family mausoleum flooded back, rendering her unable to sleep without lights until now. Just as she contemplated seeking help, the lights flickered back to life. But her moment of relief was fleeting. Just as she stood clad in nothing but her undergarments, the lights dimmed once more, accompanied by eerie wails reminiscent of that ominous night. Clara knew this was no mere coincidence; someone was behind it. Summoning her courage, she h
Chet strode into the room, his form wrapped in a gray cashmere coat. His usually refined demeanor was now tinged with an icy severity. Approaching Clara, he roughly hauled her up from the ground. His voice was cold as he declared, "You've brought disgrace upon the Miles, yet you dare invoke Mom's name. Go back and reflect on your actions!" Without mercy, Chet dragged Clara out. Sally sensed that something was amiss. Chet had always been gentle and kind, especially toward his sister, Clara, whom he cherished since childhood. Why was he so harsh and merciless today? What did he mean by those words earlier? Sally immediately grasped Harry's hand and said, "Harry, let's head back. I feel something's wrong with Chet." Harry nodded. "I'll just say goodbye to the guests and leave." The two hastily exited the banquet hall, only to witness Chet tossing Clara into the car while questioning her intensely. Chet's neck veins bulged, his eyes burning red with intensity. His voice was