"Aren’t you happy with your husband and family? Why do you have to ruin ours too?!"
A thick silence fell over the hall as Derek’s voice echoed, sharp and furious. Even the soft background music faded until there was nothing but stillness.
"So it was true?" one of the guests whispered, covering her lips. "I thought it was just a rumor to make her look bad, but it’s actually true?"
"What rumor?"
"That Lola Young got knocked up by so hoodlum," another replied indifferently. "That was, what, six years ago? It was just gossip—everyone forgot about it. Most people thought it was baseless."
He shrugged. "Honestly, who would even want to sleep with soone like her?"
Though many hadn’t seen Lola before, those who had rembered her clearly. Before this bizarre ’glow-up,’ she had been that chubby girl with a face full of pimples—so much so that people used to question whether she was really Loren’s daughter.
Loren had been beautiful. Maybe not as striking as Jasmine, but elegant, intelligent, and respected. Lawrence wasn’t bad-looking either—handso enough to win Loren’s heart back then.
But Lola?
"This is entertaining," Simon chuckled as he munched on snacks, eyes glued to the commotion. "Who would’ve thought she’d turn out like this? With all that makeup, I bet her real face is a horror show underneath."
Those near him murmured in agreent. They assud her heavy makeup was to hide old acne scars because surely, no one would choose to look like that.
"Hah! Lola Young really is shaless!" Manager Kang blurted. "Can’t she read the room? If she’s already married with kids, she should stop dragging lissa into her ss!"
His voice carried through the hall, drawing everyone’s attention, including Lola’s. When she arched a brow and t his eyes, Manager Kang froze and instinctively stepped back.
"If I were you," Simon said dryly, "I’d shut up and enjoy the show. That woman’s crazy enough to co here looking for trouble. What’s stopping her from slapping you next?"
Manager Kang’s breath hitched. He sank into his seat as Simon cocked his head and muttered, "Don’t make your life harder than it already is."
But the damage was done. His words had already rippled through the crowd.
"Lola." The chairman sighed and turned to her. "Should we step outside, child?"
"Grandpa, how can you always take her side?!" Derek snapped. "I’m your family, not her! Can’t you see how she’s tornting ? And if you still don’t believe she has children—ask her! The injury I got last ti was because of her kids!"
"Kids?"
"That’s right!" Derek’s chin lifted proudly as the whispers spread. He pointed at Lola, his voice filled with scorn. "This woman didn’t just have one child—she had two! She got pregnant while we were engaged and now dares to show up here acting innocent!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, disbelief painted across every face.
"I told you—we’re done! Leave that seat!" he shouted, his voice breaking slightly. "If you have any dignity left, stop lying and walk away. Let’s just forget each other!"
Lola tilted her head, lips pursed, studying Derek’s flushed, trembling face. His resentnt, his urgency, and everything almost amused her.
"Lola, please," Jasmine pleaded as she rose to her feet. "I truly apologize for this. I’ll speak to her right now."
She approached, reaching to grab Lola’s arm, but before she could, Lola swatted her hand away.
"Ah!"
"Lola!" Lawrence imdiately shot up, pulling Jasmine protectively behind him. "How dare you slap your mother’s hand like that?!"
"My stepmother should thank , I only slapped her hand away," Lola said coldly, standing up. "I could’ve done worse for invading my personal space."
"You—" Lawrence’s face twisted as he clutched the back of his neck. "You... you’ve completely lost your mind! You’ll be the death of ! Why do you keep doing this to us?! After everything I’ve done for you as a father, how can you still be so ungrateful and resentful?"
Clutching his chest, he turned to the chairman. "Chairman, I’m so sorry. I apologize—to you, to the Lancasters, to everyone. Loren’s passing and my remarriage have affected her deeply. She hasn’t forgiven since."
"How is it the parents’ fault when a child turns out this way?" Celestine’s calm voice suddenly cut through the tension. "A child’s failures or achievents are their own. Don’t you think?"
The chairman frowned, but Celestine continued, her tone deceptively mild.
"Parents nurture, yes—but they’re not responsible for every path their children choose," she said, letting her words carry through the hall.
Lola caught the sly curl of Celestine’s lips. She could tell exactly what the woman was doing—fanning the flas while pretending to soothe them. Just what Lola needed.
"Auntie Celes is right, Dad, Mom," lissa chid in ekly. "Lola’s been away for years. Please don’t bla yourselves anymore. We did our best to guide her, but she never listened. If it’s really your fault, then how did I turn out fine?"
Celestine hid a chuckle behind her hand. Oh, how she loved when people mistook her bait for wisdom.
"Just leave!" Derek barked, his voice hoarse. "Lola, get out! You’re not welco here. You weren’t even invited. Believe your own lies if you want, but no one’s falling for them anymore!"
All eyes turned to Lola. Her blinking, glowing skirt reflected in their disbelieving stares. But instead of backing down, she crossed her arms, unbothered.
"I’ll leave," she said evenly. "But before I do, I want everyone to know I’m not lying. lissa and my stepmother practically begged to co. If I’d known I’d be humiliated like this, I would’ve refused even if it hurt ."
She placed the invitation on the table for all to see. "lissa personally sent this invitation," she said, then suddenly smiled. "Oh, right—she sent this along with the engagent invitation. You can check."
Her lips curved into a knowing grin as she slid the envelope toward Celestine’s seat. "This invitation is from you, isn’t it, Auntie Celestine?"
Celestine raised her brows and looked at Lola. As expected, the latter was roping her in without permission. Even so, Celestine quietly gazed at the invitation to the tea party and opened it. All eyes were on her, expecting Celestine to say it was not from her.
But when Celestine raised her head, she rocked her head and said, "It is, indeed, from ."
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