The afternoon sunlight shifted across the terrace, turning golden. Yunying leaned back in her chair, satisfied. Everything was falling into place, her home, her assistant and her network.
Now all that remained was the finishing touch: solidifying her position among the elite wives.
She smiled to herself, eyes glinting.
Let them laugh for now. Once the tea party began, they'd all be laughing with her, not at her.
Meanwhile things were far from peaceful in the Xu family house.
The air in the sitting room felt heavy, charged with disbelief and outrage.
Madam Wang's voice cut through it first.
"She actually moved out?" she demanded, her tone cold and sharp as she set her teacup down. "Without informing anyone? And even took one of the maids?"
Xiao Lian sat beside her, hands neatly folded on her lap, pretending calm. But the stillness of her fingers was betrayed by the faint tremor in her nails.
