Chapter 272: Charity Auction Dinner (Part 2)
“Now approaching us are Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy and Leah, along with Ms. Rachel, the president of Artisans. The Gustin family’s villa hosts a duo of exceptional talents, and the Gustin Group is nothing short of a legend. Tonight, Mr. Jaden of the Gustin Group is attending on behalf of Mr. Enrico.”
Paige glanced up and saw the camera focusing on Jeremy and his family.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
After three years, Jeremy still presented himself to the world with an air of success. His features, which bore a resemblance to Enrico, were strikingly deep-set, and even the few wrinkles he had seemed perfectly placed, making Leah look older by comparison. His custom-tailored suit, worth a fortune, fit impeccably, exuding an imposing presence.
Rachel was holding Leah’s hand, and Leah was linked to Jeremy’s arm. The three of them smiled as they walked down the red carpet.
Rachel was also dressed to impress today. Her ink-wash gown highlighted her fresh and elegant demeanor, exuding sophistication with every move. The media couldn’t get enough of her, taking countless photos and even asking for solo shots, making her the center of attention.
Paige turned her gaze and noticed that Enrico had already turned around, his fists clenched tightly by his sides as he glared at Jeremy’s face on the screen with a look of hatred.
“The one you miss so much couldn’t even take care of Jeremy after all these years,” Enrico said through gritted teeth.
“Wouldn’t it be better to leave that for you to handle?” Paige replied. “If Jeremy were already dealt with, would you still have the motivation to keep going now?”
With his mother and sister gone, and if even his enemy were no longer around, Enrico might have lost all his will to live the moment he lost his memories.
Enrico fell silent. He wasn’t sure if he would still have the drive to live if Jeremy were dead.
He glanced at Paige, feeling frustrated over what had just happened, and said, “I’m going out for a walk.”
“Wear a mask,” Paige didn’t stop him. She couldn’t console him, so it might be better for him to go out and clear his mind.
“Aren’t you worried I might do something reckless and ruin your plans?” Enrico asked. With such an important event tonight, filled with influential people, even the slightest misstep could cause a massive stir.
“You won’t,” Paige said without hesitation.
She trusts me that much? But with whom? With the person she remembers?
Enrico, determined to be defiant, walked to the door, but Paige still didn’t stop him. Frustrated, he returned, grabbed the black mask lying nearby, and put it on, noticing a pair of gloves beside it.
He looked at the tattoo on his hand and then put on the gloves.
Paige, watching his actions out of the corner of her eye, couldn’t help but smile. “Good boy.”
“I’m not a child!” he snapped.
He didn’t want that kind of praise.
Enrico slammed the door behind him as he left, making such a loud noise that Paige’s ears rang. She sighed helplessly; he wasn’t a child anymore, but his shifting self-perception was confusing even her.
She turned back to the television, where the Smiths and Grissom families were making their grand entrance, headlining the event.
It was clear that this charity gala had brought out both families in full force. Jason, the head of the Smiths family, led his wife and three sons, while Mr. Grissom, head of the Grissom family, arrived with his wife and five children, drawing cheers from the crowd.
To emphasize the closeness of the two families, the two patriarchs walked side by side, with their wives chatting and laughing, providing the media with plenty of material. Their impeccably dressed children followed behind.
Among them was Tiffany, the youngest daughter of the Grissom family, who had recently been mocked online. She smiled brightly, holding the arm of her fiance, Bryan, and greeted the media, seemingly unaffected by the online scandal.
Bryan, tall and elegant in his white suit, returned the cameras’ gazes with a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
A bold reporter shouted, “Miss Tiffany, you just had a public falling out with Carrie on set, yet you still invited her to the charity gala. How magnanimous of you!”
The question was barbed.
Tiffany’s grip on Bryan’s arm tightened, but she forced a broader smile. “They say it was just acting within a play. Carrie and I are on good terms, so of course, I invited her to the gala.”
Paige, watching from the sofa, smirked coldly.
…
As soon as Tiffany entered the hotel, her face changed, and she angrily threw her clutch at Bryan. “Who invited that woman Carrie? This is a slap in my face!”
Bryan, hit by the bag, looked slightly annoyed but said nothing.
Knowing the kind of life he would lead after marrying this temperamental Grissom heiress, he had resigned himself to his fate.
The commotion caught the attention of the two family heads, who turned around. Mr. Grissom, looking imposing, glared at Tiffany with displeasure. “What are you talking about?”
Jason, pretending not to have heard Tiffany’s rude outburst, continued smiling.
Seeing her father’s displeasure, Tiffany quickly lifted her dress and ran over, snuggling up to Mr. Grissom with a coquettish look. “Father, I misspoke. Don’t be mad at me. I just felt awful because Carrie set me up, causing me to get trolled online. I cried for two days, and my eyes are still swollen.”
Mr. Grissom, who had four sons but only one daughter, had spoiled Tiffany terribly. Seeing the slight puffiness under her eye makeup, his heart ached for her.
Jason quickly interjected, “I heard about that. Tiffany, there’s no need to cry over someone like her. I’ll take care of it. Bryan, find out who invited that woman. How inconsiderate.”
Bryan didn’t want to get involved, but he had no choice but to step forward when a voice interrupted.
“I invited Carrie.” Rachel, dressed in her ink-wash gown, approached with a smile, bowing respectfully to the two family heads.
Tiffany’s face darkened, and she glared at Rachel, about to curse, but Rachel spoke first. “Miss Tiffany, here’s what I was thinking: since the Grissom family has publicly stated that the slap incident on set was just part of the show, the best way to prove your relationship with Carrie is genuine would be to invite her to the gala. That way, the rumors will be dispelled.”
“Why should I care about proving a relationship with someone like her?” Tiffany’s face remained cold, clearly displeased.
“Of course, you don’t need to. But with the current buzz on social media, if Carrie were suddenly blacklisted, everyone would suspect it was your doing, which could harm your reputation.”
Rachel smiled, her reasoning clear. “On the other hand, if the rumors are quashed tonight, even if Carrie were to die on the streets tomorrow, no one would accuse Miss Tiffany.”
Tiffany understood the logic behind Rachel’s words, eyeing her with interest. “So, what you’re saying is…”
“As Miss Tiffany said, she’s just a commoner, hardly worth your concern. Leave it to me. I’ll make sure such an eyesore disappears from your sight.” Rachel replied.