Gerald continued, “If you don’t get up, Miss Bracken, I don’t mind helping you.”Cynthia’s expression was sour. Yet, she still refused to move and held onto her chair in a death grip.“North, don’t get jealous over nothing, okay? I’m Gerry’s cousin!”Daniel tried to act as a mediator. “Mom, Cynthia just likes sticking close to Gerald. Enough, it’s just a small matter. Can’t Miss North sit somewhere else? Besides, everyone has already taken their seats. There’s no reason to move because of North now.”“I said that Cynthia has to move!” Giselle slammed her cutlery onto the table and yelled, “Don’t think I don’t know what your intentions are!”Cynthia’s expression became stiff as she met Giselle’s gaze. Finally, she felt a bit afraid. She unhappily stood up and switched seats with North.With Giselle in a bad mood, no one dared to cause any more trouble. The meal began peacefully.When North regarded the food on the table, her eyes suddenly lit up. There was shrimp! But shelling
Cynthia gulped. That was not what she had meant at all!Giselle could tell at a glance what Cynthia was up to. “Since you think no one welcomes you here, why don’t you get lost? This is my birthday banquet, not somewhere you can play the victim!”Cynthia felt angry and wronged. Why was this old coot so annoying?! She had not wanted to attend this banquet…That was right, this was her birthday banquet! Cynthia’s eyes sparkled as she suddenly thought of something. “North, today is Grandma’s seventieth birthday. Grandma adores you. I wonder what you brought for her as a gift?”North raised an eyebrow. Cynthia had really not given up.“Why aren’t you speaking, North? Could it be that you didn’t even prepare Grandma a gift?” Cynthia intentionally faked confusion. “But Grandma is always so thoughtful of you. Wouldn’t it be rude if you didn’t even give her a present?”After she said that, everyone looked over at North in curiosity.That was right. It would be rude for someone in North’
North swiftly made her decision. “Since you’re so curious, Ms. Bracken, then let’s have a look.”Cynthia snickered when she heard this. There was no way that country bumpkin had a Pete Reuben painting. She would be humiliated very soon!Not long afterward, the butler came back with both gifts.The attendees could not help but exclaim, “It’s really ‘Birds Among Clouds’!”“This is definitely by Pete Reuben. The strokes are thin and even, and the birds look so lifelike. Ms. Bracken’s gift is so generous.”Cynthia joyfully opened the container holding North’s gifts. “Don’t just look at mine, everyone. Let’s look at what treasure North brought for Grandma… Oh, what’s this?”Everyone instinctively looked over and became stunned.This painting… was unrecognizable.Pete Reuben was currently one of the most famous painters. His works were familiar to everyone gathered. Each of his paintings was etched deeply in their memories.Yet, North’s gift was not one of those.Daniel and Cynthia
One of the other elite ladies said to garner favor, “Eleanor, you can’t say that. If Ms. North really cared about Madam Bracken, she would never give her a fake. When it comes down to it, she doesn’t respect Madam Bracken at all!“See, Madam Bracken? She’s only an outsider. She will never treat you as well as Cynthia does!”The more inferior North was made to seem, the more Cynthia appeared to care for Giselle.Gerald’s eyes narrowed as he spun his phone in his hand. He had not intended to intervene in this, but now, he was going against his word.Although he knew very well that North could handle this herself, he could not stand watching his wife being bullied.If this matter was not dealt with once and for all, the same thing would only happen again and again. And if that was the case…Gerald glanced down at his phone and dialed a number.At the same time, Andrew ordered in disgust, “Come and take this fake away. Don’t let it sully Madam Bracken’s eyes! Ms. North, the Bracken
All the attendees were confused. How could Pete say that it was a fake without even looking at it?Cynthia was anxious. She wanted to grab the phone from Gerald’s hand. “Gerry, actually…”However, she was too late. Pete said ungraciously, “I gave ‘Birds Among Clouds’ to one of the youngsters in my family. The painting is still in North Aurope now. Who would dare give Madam Bracken a fake?”…Cynthia’s brain buzzed loudly as she stood frozen in place. She was done for. She was going to be mocked within an inch of her life! Why could Gerald not be a little more considerate? How could he get Pete to expose her in front of everyone?!Everyone was stunned.Just now Cynthia had righteously said that North had brought a fake. But now, Pete had exposed Cynthia’s painting as being a fake!But had Andrew not authenticated the paintings? Had Cynthia not spent a lot of effort to buy this painting from Pete?North blinked. “Oh, so Ms. Bracken’s painting is the fake. It was all just a ploy
Cynthia’s mind suddenly went blank. This was impossible. Absolutely impossible!If North was someone Pete knew, then what would become of Cynthia? She would be a joke!Pete faked ignorance and slowly said, “Mr. Gerald, why has it suddenly gone quiet over there? Did I say something wrong?”Gerald slowly smiled as he waited for Pete’s next words.As expected, Pete told everyone in a very natural yet sheepish tone who he meant.“Or perhaps she’s offended Madam Bracken? North is a little willful. I’ll need to trouble you to look out for her, Mr. Gerald.”…North!That name made Cynthia go deathly pale. She swayed violently, and it looked like she would fall at any second.Eleanor’s and Daniel’s faces were as white as a sheet. They were filled with terror.They were done for. If North was someone Pete knew, then her painting had to be real. In that case…“Uncle Pete,” North suddenly went forward and said dejectedly toward the phone. “I’ve brought the birthday present, and Madam B
Chasing North away was akin to offending Pete Reuben. Thus, there was no way they could let North leave.The faces of those of the Bracken family went pale. “Miss North, please come back. Let’s talk things through!”North turned around. Her expression was confused. “Really? Maybe you should ask Miss Bracken first if she’s alright with me coming back? She might ask me to leave again. That would be awkward.”Daniel had no other choice. He smiled sheepishly and said, “Miss North, Cynthia lost her temper just now. She didn’t really want you to leave. Cynthia, stop messing around. Apologize to Miss North.”North chuckled. The Bracken family was really interesting. They knew just when to bend so as not to break.Cynthia’s expression turned stiff. That b*tch had already been chased out. But now her own father was lowering himself to invite her back!However, with so many people looking at her, she would be in trouble if she did not apologize.Cynthia was resentful as she clenched her
Patricia was outraged. “North is no member of the Bracken family! Besides, the heart of the matter is that Cynthia simply loves you too much. How could you be so heartless? If the person North had put in such a place was me, would you have punished me too?!”Gerald replied slowly, “If you’d like that, Ms. Patricia, I can certainly make it happen.”“The world has gone nuts! You’ve gone crazy! You wouldn’t dare!”Patricia was overcome with anger. How could Gerald do this because of this vixen? And she was Estella’s daughter, too. How could her own son go against her?!Indeed, North was just as shameless as her mother!“Ms. Patricia, haven’t you always known what I dare and dare not do?”Gerald was playing with a dagger as he said casually, “I don’t care for anyone in the Bracken family, much less Cynthia. Or would you rather Cynthia come to an earlier end?”Patricia was shaking all over. “How could I have a son like you? You’re such a wretch! North, if you have any self-respect, y