"I saved you. Aren't you going to invite me to your engagement?"
Upon hearing this, Nia Mitchell stopped in her tracks. The Hampton Family was a prominent clan; naturally, they wouldn't mind an extra guest.
If this uncle is willing to come, that would be nice.
"Sure, it would be my honor if you can attend. My name is Nia Mitchell, and you, Uncle?"
"Maxwell Peary."
A limited-edition black Maybach was blatantly parked, blocking the grand gate entrance to the Police Station. Nia Mitchell turned to look at the expressionless Maxwell Peary getting into the car.
"Uncle, is this your car?"
Nia Mitchell's lips twitched. Damn it! No wonder he looked down on the Land Rover.
"You like it? I'll give it to you."
Nia Mitchell's mind went blank for a moment. She gave a bitter laugh and said, "I can't accept a reward for no merit. Uncle, for you to casually give such an expensive car to a stranger... isn't that too wasteful?"
Wasteful?
Maxwell Peary paused. If such an act is considered wasteful, then he supposed he was quite wasteful indeed. But still, does Rabina Mitchell truly not remember him?
The car was filled with the scent of a cologne Nia Mitchell had never smelled before; it was a fragrance completely different from Hendry Hampton's.
The driver was utterly bewildered. Young Master Peary had just said he was going to the Royal Dynasty Hotel for an engagement ceremony!? Had he misheard? When did Young Master Peary ever have the leisure or inclination to attend something like an engagement ceremony? His entire demeanor had changed after coming out of the Police Bureau, hadn't it!? This world had gone mad!
「The Royal Dynasty Hotel——」
Just as Nia Mitchell was about to get out of the car, her phone suddenly rang. Hendry Hampton was calling her back.
"Hendry Hampton, I have valid reasons for my tardiness. I've reached the hotel's entrance. I'll explain more when…"
Hendry Hampton's voice came through the phone.
"Nia, could you not come? I'm engaged to someone else. Could you please not come?"
Nia Mitchell's expression gradually turned blank. "I don't believe this! I won't!"
Tossing her phone aside, she ran into the hotel as if she had gone mad.
Impossible! Impossible!
The Royal Dynasty was the most luxurious hotel in Capital Town. Here, even a simple home-style dish cost four figures, yet the Hampton Family had booked its largest hall.
Nia Mitchell took a deep breath and gently pushed open the grand gates.
The hall was filled with a noble and elegant golden hue. Inside this dream-like castle, the prince, dressed in a white suit, had his arm around another woman's waist, dancing the unique opening dance of the engagement.
The engagement ceremony had already begun, and she was not the protagonist.
Did Hendry Hampton think a phone call would be enough to dismiss her? That if she didn't show up, she would just stand aside and let them be?
"Hendry Hampton!"
She shrieked, frantically running up to him.
"Didn't you say you were getting engaged to me? Who is she?"
Why had the female lead of this engagement ceremony suddenly changed?
Nia Mitchell laughed coldly. Tonight, she had been detained at the Police Bureau as a car thief; he must have orchestrated all of this. Her previous calls to him went straight to voicemail. Yet, just as she was rushing here, he called to tell her the truth and ask her not to come. That explained everything. If she hadn't met Uncle Peary, she probably wouldn't have gotten out until after their engagement ceremony was over. Or perhaps... he actually wanted to keep her locked up forever...
"She is my future wife, Beatrice Swan," Hendry Hampton said, quickly regaining his composure and introducing her casually.
Beatrice Swan smiled gracefully at Nia Mitchell. Swan Corporation was one of the top ten corporations in Capital Town; naturally, she wouldn't pay any mind to the 'ugly duckling' before her.
"Hendry Hampton, why did you lie to me if you didn't intend to marry me? You even framed me as a thief…"
"SLAP!"
Mrs. Hampton suddenly stepped forward and slapped Nia Mitchell across the face, cutting her off.
Today, she was, as always, adorned in jewels and finery. Wearing sky-high stilettos, she looked down on Nia Mitchell condescendingly.
"People like you should never dream of climbing the social ladder! You're unscrupulous and will say anything to achieve your goals. Today is Hendry's engagement; it's not a day for you to cause a scene. You're just desperate for money, utterly mad for it!"
As soon as Mrs. Hampton's words fell, voices of discussion immediately rose from the surroundings.
"What kind of person is this? She looks so shabby, yet she dares to come here and make a scene."
"Exactly! Ten to one, she's one of those gold-digging, disreputable women from outside."
"Can't you just give people like her some money to make them go away? So shameless, causing trouble at someone's engagement ceremony!"
"Look at her, she can't be more than twenty. Why doesn't she do something respectable?"
"I heard she was always hanging around Young Master Hampton in an improper manner. I didn't expect her to be so shameless."
...
Malicious taunts echoed around her. Nia Mitchell clenched her fists tightly.
Her face stung sharply. Her eyes, blazing with fury, were filled with defiance as she stared directly at Mrs. Hampton.
"Mrs. Hampton, aren't you the one who's insane for money? How pathetic, to even sacrifice your own son's marriage for it."
A marriage alliance—isn't that the best proof of their greed?
"You…" Mrs. Hampton's face instantly turned hideous. "Just look at the state of you! Such a disgrace!"
Mrs. Hampton had barely finished speaking when Maxwell Peary strode in, his face dark. His eagle-like eyes coldly swept across the room.
"Who said my woman is a disgrace?!"