"Wow!!"
The moment Mr. Sinclair confirmed the authenticity, the crowd gasped in disbelief.
Everyone knew the deputy mayor had an obsession with fine art. His expertise in spotting forgeries was unrivaled—if he said it was genuine, then it was genuine. No one dared question him.
Elena tilted her head, her smile bright as she glanced at Julia's pale face. "Julia, Mr. Sinclair has already authenticated my scroll. What about yours? Should I send someone to fetch it from your home so he can examine it as well?"
Julia panicked. She stammered, "N-no need. I suddenly remembered something urgent I must attend to. I won't trouble you—or the elders—any longer."
She lifted her gown and hurried off, disappearing in shame.
Everyone exchanged knowing looks. The guests understood perfectly what had just happened. Julia had clearly tried to set Elena up, and it had backfired spectacularly.
"A girl from such a small family—always resorting to petty tricks," one guest scoffed.
"She's not fit for these circles," another muttered with disdain.
Julia's shoulders stiffened, but she didn't look back. She vanished quickly into the crowd.
Sophia, however, could not hide her rage. She stared at Elena—now the glittering center of attention—her hatred burning deeper by the second.
No one else noticed her expression. Their focus was on Mr. Cheng.
"You're truly fortunate," one businessman said warmly. "To be gifted such a rare treasure."
"Yes, indeed," another chimed in. "A genuine Shitao scroll! We're all jealous."
Mr. Cheng's face wrinkled into a smile, but he responded humbly. "It's all thanks to my beloved granddaughter's thoughtfulness."
"Granddaughter?" The word made several guests perk up.
"Old Cheng, what do you mean by that?" one teased.
"Is this young Miss Sung… perhaps the future Mrs. Cheng?"
Mr. Cheng chuckled heartily. "That's still a secret. But let's just say I'll be making an important announcement tonight."
The teasing grew louder.
"If you put it that way, it sounds almost certain!"
"Of course—who else could present such a priceless gift unless she were family?"
"Such fortune, such fortune!"
Mr. Cheng didn't deny it. He only laughed louder.
The congratulations poured in—but not everyone was pleased.
Mrs. Cheng's smile had frozen stiff. She detested the thought of Elena marrying Felix. To her, Elena was nothing—no wealth, no influence. She would drag Felix down. If one of Felix's cousins married someone powerful, what chance would he have at the inheritance then?
Worse, there were ugly rumors. Servants from the Sung household had whispered that Elena was keeping an affair with some rich, married man. A shameless, scandalous daughter-in-law like that? Absolutely unacceptable.
No—she had to take action before the night was over. She had to ruin Elena completely.
Meanwhile, Sophia's nails dug into her palms until they left red crescents. She could practically feel Elena's radiant smile mocking her, taunting her.
She swore she would not let Elena have the last laugh.
Elena, unfazed, followed Mr. Cheng obediently into the hall, greeting the guests he introduced her to.
Inside, the grand banquet hall glittered with light. Chandeliers cast golden brilliance over crystal glasses and polished marble. When Elena entered, conversations hushed.
Her hair was swept into an elegant bun, her porcelain skin glowed under the light, and the silk of her long white gown flowed like water. A delicate diamond necklace caught the chandelier's rays and refracted them into dazzling sparks.
"She's wearing the Star of Summer Nights necklace!" a lady gasped.
"That's the Sterling House's showcase piece! Only one exists in the world!"
"I saw it displayed once—worth over a hundred million! My husband and I nearly fainted at the price."
The chatter grew louder. Every detail of her attire was scrutinized, until one guest scoffed:
"You're all fussing over jewelry? That's nothing compared to the Shitao masterpiece she gifted Mr. Cheng at the door."
"Yes! Mr. Sinclair himself confirmed it was authentic!"
A collective gasp swept the hall.
"Unbelievable. Miss Sung is… incredible."
Dozens of influential figures stepped forward to introduce themselves to Elena. She greeted them with perfect poise, her laughter light, her every gesture graceful. Eventually, she excused herself, slipping out toward the restroom for a moment of respite.
From a shadowed corner, Sophia bit down so hard her teeth hurt. "Slut," she spat under her breath.
Her cheek still throbbed faintly from their earlier encounter. Tonight, Elena had stolen all the spotlight. But Sophia swore she would find a way to destroy her.
Elena, meanwhile, could not forget the butler's words as he'd prepared her attire earlier: "The master's orders."
Lucian had arranged everything—the gown, the priceless necklace, even the Shitao scroll.
But why?
Elena could only assume it was about appearances. Lucian, more than ever, cared about saving face. Perhaps he thought she was too plain on her own and feared she'd embarrass him.
"Elena!"
She blinked. Without realizing, her feet had carried her out to the man-made lake in the garden. Felix was there, waiting.
His expression was unusually soft. "That day… I was wrong. I spoke too harshly. I'm sorry. Please don't stay angry with me, okay?"
Elena's gaze flicked to him once, cool and dismissive. Normally, she would have ignored him—wasting breath on someone like Felix was pointless.
But then, over his shoulder, she caught a glimpse of a tall figure standing in the distance, watching.
A wicked little spark flickered in her mind.
Who said she had to ignore Felix tonight? If this could make Sophia—and perhaps Lucian—uncomfortable, why not play along?
Her lips curved into a soft, shy smile as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Who says I'm angry at you? I'd never have the heart to stay mad."
Felix's eyes lit up. He grabbed her hand eagerly. "Really?"
Elena slipped her hand free, her voice low and teasing. "Felix, don't hold me like that. If you do, I might think you still love me."
"I do still love you!" he blurted without hesitation.
Felix could no longer hold back his emotions; the words tumbled out before he could stop himself.
Ever since he'd learned that Elena was with another man, he hadn't been able to sleep a single night. His mind and heart were haunted by memories of her, of everything they had once shared.
That was when it struck him—no matter how gentle or kind Sophia was, his heart had always belonged to Elena. It had never changed.
"Elena," he blurted, desperation cracking his voice, "leave that old man. Let's start over. I don't care about what happened between you two, I'll accept you no matter what—as long as you'll come back to me."
Ha.
Once, she'd thought Felix was just a little shameless. Now she realized she had underestimated him. He wasn't just shameless—he was utterly despicable.
How could he even have the face to say such words?
It was he who had betrayed her first with Sophia. It was he who had been manipulated by Sophia again and again, turning into her accomplice, letting Elena suffer beatings and humiliation. It was he who had been so decisive when he broke their engagement.
"I love Sophia," he had once declared—she remembered it as clearly as if it were yesterday.
And now, he dared to stand before her saying he wanted to start over?
Elena laughed. Her almond-shaped eyes curved into little crescents, deceptively sweet. "And what about Sophia? You don't want her anymore? Weren't you so in love with her? Or is it that you want to have it both ways—two women in your arms, enjoying the best of both worlds?"
Her words hit too close to home. Felix's face flushed, caught in his own hypocrisy. "I…"
"Felix…"
His head snapped around at the trembling voice behind him. Sophia stood there, her face pale with sorrow. The sight of her sent him into a panic.
"Sophia—"
"I know you still have feelings for my sister," Sophia whispered. "It's all right. I'll step aside. Just promise me… promise me you'll take care of her from now on, and love her the way she deserves. Please?"
Tears shimmered in her eyes beneath the glow of the lamps, but she bit them back, forcing a fragile smile. The pitiful picture she painted tugged at Felix's heart until it nearly broke.
"Don't say such nonsense!" he said quickly, his voice cracking. "I won't let you leave me. I could never abandon you."
"Really?" she asked, voice small and broken.
"Really!" he swore, as if it were gospel.
Sophia sniffled delicately, then nodded. "If you say it's true, then I'll believe you." She let out a few shaky sobs, then turned her gaze toward Elena. "Felix, I want to speak with my sister alone. Wait for me outside, please?"
Felix hesitated, torn between the two women. He looked at Elena, then back at Sophia. "This…"
Sophia tugged at his hand like a child pleading, "Please… for me?"
In the end, Felix relented. With one last uneasy glance, he walked away.
The moment his figure disappeared, Sophia dropped the act. Her face twisted with rage as she swung her hand across Elena's cheek—
"You shameless bitch!" she shrieked. "How dare you try to steal my Felix! I'll kill you!"
Elena caught her wrist midair and flung it aside, eyes gleaming with mocking amusement. "If I remember correctly, until Mr. Cheng makes an announcement, Felix is still officially my fiancé. So tell me—who's stealing whose man? If anyone here deserves the title of shameless bitch, Sophia, it's you. You should keep it for yourself."
"You—!" Sophia's face turned livid. She gnashed her teeth. "Felix is mine! Don't you dare dream otherwise. He doesn't love you anymore—he left you long ago! You need to face reality!"
"Is that so?" Elena's smile deepened, sharp as a blade. "Then who was it just now begging me to take him back?"
Sophia's eyes turned red, her voice rising. "He was just confused for a moment! All it takes is a snap of my fingers and he comes back to me. Don't flatter yourself, Elena. You'll never win against me."
"Confidence looks good on you," Elena said lightly, her laughter airy and cruel. "By all means, keep it. You'll need it. But sister, do yourself a favor—keep him on a tight leash. Maybe even a dog chain. Don't let him come sniffing around me again. It's… terribly inconvenient."
Sophia's fury twisted her face into something almost grotesque. "Don't get too smug, Elena. We'll see who has the last laugh."
"Then let's see," Elena said with a playful wink, before turning on her heel. "I'll go ahead and find out first."
She had barely taken a few steps when—
"Elena!"
The shout rang out behind her, harsh and desperate, followed by the sound of rushing feet.
Glancing down at the surface of the lake, Elena caught sight of a reflection barreling toward her. Her lips curved into a wicked smile. She stepped neatly to the side.
The next second—
Splash!
Water exploded into the air as a body plunged into the lake.
"Help! Help me!"
Sophia thrashed wildly in the dark water, sputtering, choking, flailing for her life. "Elena! Save me—I can't swim!"
At the sound of her cries, Felix came running. "What happened?!"
Elena lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. "Isn't it obvious? Sophia fell into the lake."
"Elena, you—!"
He shot her a sharp, conflicted look, then dove in after Sophia.
Elena knew what that look meant. He thought she had pushed Sophia. That was fine with her. The further Felix stayed from her, the better.
She strolled away in high spirits.
Meanwhile, Sophia was dragged ashore, soaking wet and utterly disheveled. Her expensive gown clung to her body, her hair a stringy, dripping mess. The thick makeup she had applied to hide the slap marks on her cheek now ran down her face in muddy streaks.
Elena. Elena. Elena!
Sophia's expression contorted into something inhuman, like a ghost risen from hell itself. I won't let you go. I swear, I'll never let you go!
"Are you all right?" Felix asked, hovering over her in concern.
"I… cough, cough…"
Sophia tried to speak, to accuse Elena, but water filled her lungs. She doubled over, hacking, unable to force out a single word. Tears rolled down her face as she broke into helpless sobs.
Felix pulled her close, murmuring comfort. "It's all right. You're safe now."
"Call my parents…" Sophia wheezed between coughs. "Call them…"
Half an hour later, dressed in fresh clothes, she stepped out of a guest room, pale and trembling. Lynn rushed to her side, her heart breaking.
"My poor girl… I'm so sorry. We should never have left you alone while we were busy with business friends. How could we let you be bullied like this?"
Derek's voice was hard as steel. "What happened?"
Sophia's eyes reddened, her lips trembling. "Dad, don't be angry. It wasn't my sister's fault. I slipped into the lake myself… She didn't push me."
"Elena again!" Derek's palm slammed onto the table, his fury echoing through the room. He shot to his feet. "That wretched girl—I'll deal with her myself!"
"Dad, no…"
Sophia threw herself against his arm, shaking her head, her voice delicate, pleading. "It doesn't matter that I fell into the water. That isn't what's important right now…"
Lynn's eyes widened in disbelief. "Not important? What could be more important than this?"
Sophia bit her lip, her lashes wet. "Mr. Cheng said… tonight he's announcing Elena's engagement to Felix."
Lynn gasped. "But Elena told us he'd be announcing your engagement to Felix!"
"I heard it with my own ears," Sophia whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Earlier that day, Mr. Cheng had introduced Elena to everyone as his "precious granddaughter." Everyone knew the implication—she wasn't blood, but she was meant to be a granddaughter-in-law.
And Elena's smug attitude suddenly made sense. She must have known all along.
Lynn's face drained of color. "So Elena lied to us?"
"He wouldn't dare," Derek said grimly. "Most likely Mr. Cheng changed his mind at the last minute. Or maybe he tricked Elena from the start—his true plan all along was to announce her marriage to Felix. And once the words are out, it'll be set in stone. No one will be able to undo it."
Lynn's voice rose, frantic. "What do we do? Either way, it's a disaster for Sophia and for our family!"
"There's still an hour before the banquet starts," Derek snapped, pacing, his temper fraying. "How am I supposed to know what to do?"
"I do," a sudden voice rang from the doorway, calm and steady.
The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside.
"I have a way," the newcomer said, eyes cold, voice unwavering. "I can help you eliminate this problem for good."