Serena Jennings was trying on dresses at ZM store, as Miss Zhao recently designed a few new styles and invited her to co and try them on.
"Lana, try this one on for size."
Serena picked up another dress to hold up to Lana Xavier.
"Big sis, I ca to help you pick a dress, how did it end up with you picking one for ?"
Serena grinned widely.
She needed a new gown to attend the Jewelers’ Association’s banquet, and giving one to Lana was simply because she was in a good mood and had so extra money.
"Just to be clear, even though you’re a rich lady now, I can’t just take things from you without reason. Or is it...you want to pursue ?"
Serena was amused by Lana’s teasing and laughed so hard she bent over.
Miss Zhao watched them from the side, a smile of relief on her face.
She had always worried that Ellie, after becoming Serena, might not live well.
But now, it seed Ellie was better off after leaving the Linton Family.
Leaving the Linton Family, she lived more happily.
Thinking of the Linton Family, Miss Zhao’s lips sagged again.
Ellie didn’t leave the Linton Family on her own...
Ellie was abandoned by the Linton Family.
Miss Zhao couldn’t help but furrow her eyebrows, crossing her arms.
There, Serena was still teasing with Lana when she turned her head unintentionally and saw Miss Zhao looking serious, as if burdened by sothing.
"What’s wrong, Miss Zhao?"
Serena walked over, asking proactively.
Lana, though normally carefree, wasn’t completely oblivious.
She sensed Miss Zhao wanted to speak with Serena alone, so she intentionally carried all the dresses Serena picked for her into the fitting room to change slowly.
"Ellie..."
Serena knew as soon as Miss Zhao called her this na that she wanted to talk about the Linton Family.
"Did you know that the Linton Family adopted a foster daughter?"
"Yes." Serena nodded, "Chance told ."
"How can you be so calm!" Miss Zhao looked exasperated, "Your parents would rather adopt a girl from god-knows-where than recognize their own biological daughter, it’s really..."
"Enough, Miss Zhao, please don’t say anymore."
Serena’s expression turned unprecedentedly cold.
"But I heard that foster daughter has already started managing quite a few Linton enterprises, being grood as their official successor, and they even plan to select a business ally from the upper-class elite for her..."
Miss Zhao grew more indignant as she spoke.
This treatnt should rightfully belong to Serena.
"I still find it unreliable, even if she’s a foster daughter, she’s ultimately an outsider with no blood ties...I don’t know how your parents can be so assured..."
Miss Zhao, with long-standing relations with the Linton ancestors, naturally considered their perspective.
Yet Serena shook her head with a smile, believing Miss Zhao was fretting unnecessarily.
To those two, especially the Linton Family’s patriarch who ruled with an iron fist—
Serena Jennings was the true outsider.
"I’ll go check on how Lana’s wardrobe change is going..."
Serena strode towards the fitting room, Miss Zhao’s sigh echoing behind her.
She brought this up with Serena hoping she would intervene, even ideally return to the Linton Family and reclaim her rightful identity.
But judging by Serena’s deanor, she held little affection or hope for the Linton Family.
What’s most dire is, the Linton Family felt the sa towards Serena.
"Wow Lana, you look absolutely stunning!"
Serena couldn’t stop praising Lana, who donned a luxurious and elegant silver sequin gown.
"Co to the banquet with this ti, see if there’s any handso guy that catches your eye, and I’ll play matchmaker for you."
Serena was genuinely serious.
Lana wasn’t getting any younger.
In the past, she didn’t have the ans or connections, but now she had gained so reputation and influence in the jewelry design world, and she indeed had intentions to introduce soone to Lana.
However, Lana waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh co on, your circle is way too high-class, who would be interested in ! Besides, I have no interest in playboys..."
Even though Lana said this, as she looked at herself in the dress in the mirror, she sowhat felt a hint of romantic interest.
Maybe looking like this, she might actually attract so handso guy!
Ultimately, Lana decided to buy the silver sequin gown, though she insisted it shouldn’t be a gift from Serena.
"I beca friends with you not for your money, besides you’re running a company now, you shouldn’t squander money."
Serena understood Lana was looking out for her, so she gave Miss Zhao a look.
Miss Zhao understood, only charging Lana a fraction of the original price for the dress, claiming it was heavily discounted.
The two finished shopping happily and were about to leave, but they hadn’t even reached the store’s entrance when soone blocked their way.
"Serena..."
Claire Shaw appeared out of breath, staring intently at Serena.
It was winter, Claire had a car, yet she was sweating profusely, her face flushed red, panting heavily, clearly having run quite a bit.
Lana’s face changed when she saw Claire Shaw and imdiately stepped forward, blocking Serena anxiously, fearing Claire might do sothing harmful to Serena.
"It’s okay, Lana."
Serena patted Lana’s shoulder, coming out from behind her.
No matter what Claire wanted, she couldn’t let Lana act as her shield.
Claire’s eyes were filled with anger, unwillingness, and humiliation.
"Serena, on what grounds did you revoke my Jewelers’ Association mbership?"
Claire clenched her fists tightly, growing more furious with each thought.
Just an hour ago, her deputy called to inform her that a previously ordered batch of high-quality colored gems had been refused for delivery by the factory.
The reason was that their factory’s cooperation was limited to Association mbers, and she had placed the order using her mber status, which she no longer held, thus their refusal to deliver didn’t breach any contract.
This news was a bolt from the blue for Claire.
She currently had ten high-end custom clients, each needed the colored gems, and without them, she couldn’t deliver the finished products on ti, breaking her contracts!
Claire frantically reached out to others, finally figuring out who had revoked her mbership.
She leveraged connections to find Serena’s whereabouts, but her car broke down halfway.
Afraid Serena would leave ZM, she ran all the way there, making her legs almost numb.
Serena shrugged with a smile seeing Claire’s plight.
"Because I’m the president of the Jeweler’s Association now, and I can revoke anyone’s mbership if I want to."
Claire was stunned.
She expected Serena to co up with an excuse, but Serena was so blunt and unapologetic.
"You..."
Now, she was speechless.
Serena tried to leave with Lana but was blocked again by Claire.
"Miss Shaw, if you continue to pester , I’ll have to call the police."
"Serena, you can’t do this to , this is personal vendetta!"
Claire shouted loudly, "You can’t ss with like this just because Caleb doesn’t love you and loves instead!"
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