"Well, it’s not Bess’ fault. Eunice has always been disrespectful, never put anyone in her sight," Teresa didn’t have much love for that wild child either. Watching her graceful figure walk away, a flicker of disgust passed through her eyes.
"Looks like the relatives here are not the easy-going type," Rosemary said, following Eunice to the long dinner table.
Eunice handed her a cupcake. "Eat sothing first."
Rosemary knew that her aunt was baiting the mole in their midst, certainly planning sothing to provoke the traitor into a rage—losing their cool enough to attempt murder.
"We’ll split up and search in a bit," Eunice said, lifting her beautiful smile as if she were discussing the latest season’s fashion trends, not plotting a sting operation.
"Okay," Rosemary responded, lifting a gentle smile of her own.
At that mont, a flustered socialite rushed forward, grasping Eunice’s hand. "Isn’t this Eunice? You’re still alive?"
Eunice recognized the voice and knew the woman was soone who feigned closeness in public but often badmouthed her behind her back.
Smiling, she looked at the woman. "At my young age, how could it be my turn to die? Tiffany, how’ve you been lately? Blood pressure still sky-high? Is it because Dave’s been out chasing skirts again?"
Mrs. Laurier couldn’t help but interject, "What kind of talk is that? Tiffany was genuinely concerned about you, and you respond by taking jabs at her. n go out and fool around because there are too many loose won like you out there!"
"Enough, Mrs. Laurier. Eunice ant no harm," Tiffany said, her complexion souring.
"Which eye of Mrs. Laurier saw being loose? Was it when I was being ’loose’ that you happened to witness with your very own eyes?"
Mrs. Laurier was taken aback by her brazenness. "Everyone knows you’ve been delivered to the owner of Mafia Rock, and here you are, still pretending in front of us. Only a fool like Bard would fall for your tricks!"
"Whether Bard was fooled by is none of Mrs. Laurier’s business. You seem to have a lot to say, Mrs. Laurier.
"But wasn’t it when you were being ’not so chaste’ that my people caught you red-handed? I wonder what Mr. Laurier would think if he saw so of the videos I have—"
"You’re spouting nonsense!" Mrs. Laurier’s face changed colors as if she had been stepped on. "Don’t talk rubbish without evidence!"
That’s when Rosemary accidentally spilled her orange juice all over Mrs. Laurier’s trailing gown.
"I’m so sorry. I was just so engrossed in the conversation, I wasn’t paying attention."
Mrs. Laurier hadn’t expected the young girl next to Eunice to dare douse her with orange juice. "Who are you?"
"She’s Kenneth and Louisa’s daughter. Why, you want to take it up with them? You probably don’t have their contact, but maybe I should send them a quick video," Eunice said with a smile.
Kenneth and Louisa’s daughter?
Mrs. Laurier’s expression shifted. Had that girl grown up so much?
Although she looked sowhat unfamiliar, the facial features indeed bore a resemblance to Louisa.
And who didn’t know that Kenneth and Louisa were famously doting parents?
The Collins were known to treat their daughter like a princess, spoiling her with every whim and fancy.
"You just wait!" Mrs. Laurier fud, her skirts billowing dramatically as she stord off.
Tiffany wanted to call her back but felt powerless. She could only turn to Eunice.
"Eunice, you usually play your pranks, and I chalk it up to Bard spoiling you rotten. But today is Arlen’s birthday. Can’t you at least save face for his friends? If you cause a scene, it won’t look good for either side."
"Thanks for the heads-up, Tiffany," replied Eunice with a smirk. "I also have a video of Dave. Do you want to see it?"
Tiffany’s face flushed with anger as she clicked away in her heels.
Rosemary, nearby, couldn’t help but smile. "Why can’t they just take a hint? They’ve probably never managed to get the better of you, and now they’re just asking for trouble."
"So people are just full of themselves, thinking they’re invincible," Eunice said elegantly, finishing her champagne. "I’m going to take a walk outside."
"Sure," Rosemary said, watching her leave. She grabbed a quick bite from the table and was about to leave when a girl suddenly ca up close, pretending to be bumped by Rosemary’s shoulder, dropping her cupcake on the floor.
"Rosemary!" Rose exclaid, her voice filled with anger. "It was bad enough you bullied yesterday, but today, on Arlen’s birthday, he just wanted a taste of that mint chocolate chip cupcake, and you can’t even grant him that small pleasure! What is your problem?"
The other guests couldn’t help but look over. Speaking was Rose Griffith, the cherished granddaughter of Calvin and Bess. Their eyes then drifted to the girl opposite her. She was beautiful but sowhat unfamiliar.
"Think you can do whatever you want just because you’re Kenneth and Louisa’s daughter?" Rose deliberately made her identity known.
The crowd had a mont of realization. She’s Kenneth and Louisa’s daughter? They hadn’t seen her for years, and she’d grown up so lovely, resembling Louisa—though her temperant seed troubleso.
"Are you brain-damaged?" Rosemary was too tired to argue. "Look up. What do you see in the corner?"
At events like this, there were always caras.
Rose had anticipated the surveillance argunt. "Fine, since you won’t admit it, let’s check the tapes. If it turns out you bumped into first, I expect an apology in front of everyone here!"
Rosemary saw Rose’s confidence and smiled faintly. "Seems you’ve erased the footage."
Rose was caught off guard by her quick assumption, a flicker of guilt crossing her face before she composed herself and retorted, "I’m right in front of you. How could I erase it?"
At that mont, Bess walked over on cue. "Rose, what’s all this about?"
"Grandma, don’t worry about it. This is a personal matter between us. Since she won’t respect Arlen or any of the elders here, I have to stand up for myself. Soone, check the surveillance footage!"
The crowd of onlookers grew, and Rosemary watched Rose’s charade with a bored expression. True to form, a servant pretended to panic.
"Rose, the footage from 11 minutes ago has mysteriously disappeared."
"How could it be missing?" Rose turned to Rosemary, accusingly saying, "Did you bump into and, out of fear of being exposed, have soone delete it? Oh, I rember now—you ca with your aunt today. Did you ask her to delete it?"
Rosemary looked on, almost nostalgic for the days of Yolanda, who, at the very least, slandered with a bit more skill than Rose’s lackluster performance.
Before the crowd could react, Rosemary lazily restored the surveillance footage and projected it onto the large screen for all to see.
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