Chapter 8

Stefan smiled gently, patting her back as if comforting a lost cat that had finally found its way home.

His sharp eyes sparkled with an unreadable light, which ultimately turned into a cold sword aimed at those who had harmed his precious granddaughter.

After chatting a bit longer, he returned to his study to arrange the details for the upcoming banquet.

Before he left, he instructed the butler to take Tatiana upstairs to rest.

"Miss, your room hasn't changed at all. It's still right next to the old man's, and he has someone clean it every day, just in case you suddenly come back and need a place to stay," the butler explained softly as he guided her up to the third floor.

Tatiana smiled, feeling a jolt of surprise in her heart.

She never expected that after all these years, while everyone believed shehad perished at sea, her grandfather still held firm in his belief that she was alive. She felt even more grateful for his love and care.

As she pushed open the door to her room, she was enveloped by the soft hues of pale yellow and moonlight blue wallpaper.

The moonlight blue vanity was neatly arranged with various cosmetics, and in the center of the room was a large, comfortable mattress on a two-meter bed, adorned with a giant teddy bear on a pink bedspread.

The floor was covered with a plush wool carpet that felt warm and inviting, even when she walked on it barefoot.

Everything was tidy, clean, and had a touch of youthful charm.

It was clear that the person who had decorated this room had put a lot of thought into it.

Tatiana walked in, gently stroking the soft fur of the teddy bear, and chuckled,"Grandpa still thinks of me as a little

kid."

Seeing her happy, the butler smiled back and said, "In the old man's eyes, you'll always be a child."

With that, he turned and left.

"

Yeah, always a child," she said with a soft smile as she lay down on the bed.

---

Three days later.

The banquet officially began.

The Gold family might not be the most prominent family, but the patriarch had a solid reputation in the business world.

Moreover, with the eldest daughter of the Gold family about to marry into the Constantine family, everyone who received an invitation was eager to attend.

Camille and Anna arrived at the venue with Dominic.

By the time they entered the banquet hall, it was already filled with young ladies and gentlemen, all holding glasses and chatting quietly with their friends.

"Did you know? My mom told me that today’s banquet is being held by the Gold family patriarch to celebrate the eldest daughter’s return to the family."

"The eldest daughter of the Gold family? Hasn't Anna always been with them? Why are they throwing a banquet? Isn’t that a bit unnecessary...?"

"You didn't know this, did you? Anna is a love child. The old man of the Gold family has never acknowledged her. Tatiana, the only daughter of the Knight family, but she passed away a while ago."

"Isn't Tatiana dead? How is she back?"

"Ah, the drama of the wealthy families, youknow how it goes..."

A few young ladies exchanged knowing smiles while sneaking glances at Anna, who had just been discharged from the hospital.

Even though she was feeling weak, she had come to see the spectacle.

However, she was caught off guard by their conversation. Anger bubbled inside her, and she felt like marching over to tear their mouths shut.

But with their superior family backgrounds, she dared not offend them. Instead, she silently vowed, *Just wait until I marry Maxim. Let’s see if you’ll still dare to gossip about me!*

At that moment, the bustling crowd suddenly fell silent, all eyes drawn to one spot.

Anna followed their gaze and saw a woman gently holding Stefan's wrist as she slowly made her way through the crowd.

Tatiana gracefully entered the banquet hall, like a peony bud ready to bloom, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

Conversations came to an abrupt halt as people turned to watch her approach. Her fair, delicate skin and perfectly shaped lips wore a subtle smile.

Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled like clear autumn water, and she wore a striking red strapless gown that showcased her exquisite collarbone and smooth shoulders.

With each light step, she exuded an undeniable presence.

Linking her arm with Stefan, she made her way to the center of the banquet, clearly asserting her status as the host.

A few young ladies standing next to Anna exchanged glances before stepping forward to mock her with smiles.

"So this is your sister? She's stunning!"

"What a beautiful sister! I'm totally in love."

"Even though you two are sisters, how can there be such a huge difference? You weren’t adopted, were you…?"

"Hahaha, of course, sisters have different mothers, so there’s bound to be a difference. It’s all about genetics when it comes to looks."

Anna listened to their taunts, her face darkening as she glared at their mocking expressions. "You guys—"

The daughters of the Phoenix Group had always looked down on Anna's arrogant demeanor.

After all, she was just the daughter of a mistress. With a bit of beauty, she acted as if she were above everyone else.

Now, seeing her face turn red with anger, they snickered and walked away with their friends, leaving her fuming.

Anna glared at the dismissive expressions on their faces, her beautiful features twisting into a fierce scowl that was quite terrifying.

At that moment, Stefan stood on the stage, raising a glass of wine as he addressed the crowd with a smile. "Thank you all for coming today. First, I'm getting older and I love a lively gathering. Second, I want to introduce you to my eldest granddaughter, the young lady of the Gold family. I know some of you have been hearing rumors lately, that's why I came up with this banquet to clear up the air."

With that, Ralph pulled Rebecca Price forward, his tone filled with affection. "Rebecca, say hello to everyone.”