lissa sauntered toward the entrance with so much confidence that she almost forgot about Renny. Talking back to Celestine had made her feel good — powerful, even. She felt like she was on top of the world. But when she reached the entrance and stopped in front of the guard—
"Invitation, please."
The guard, completely unfazed by the chaos earlier, looked at her coolly.
"Oh." Realization struck, and she nodded quickly. "Actually, I’m coming as soone’s plus one."
"Is the guest with you?"
"No, but you can check." She smiled brightly, still composed. "The guest’s na is Renny. Mr. Renny Chun. He told he already inford the head designer of G Fashion that he’d be bringing along."
The guard studied her face for a second before nodding. He didn’t move from his post but gave a silent signal to the other guard nearby, who imdiately started checking the guest list.
anwhile, the reporters hovering nearby for follow-up questions exchanged puzzled looks.
"Renny Chun?" one murmured. "Never heard of him."
"She said she’s coming as soone’s plus one — is that her new boyfriend?"
"A boyfriend... or a sponsor?"
lissa ntally scoffed and glared at them. "Excuse , but please refrain from speaking without proof. A sponsor? Do you even know who you’re accusing?"
The crowd raised their brows, surprised by her sudden change in tone. It was like watching soone flip a switch — one mont flustered, the next utterly composed.
"Mr. Renny Chun is a respectable man from Sonic Limited Holdings," lissa declared proudly. "And he’s a good friend of mine."
"Sonic Limited?" another repeated, startled. "Really?"
The na alone silenced the whispers. Sonic Limited was one of the fastest-growing companies in Novera — not as massive as NL Group or Summit Partners, but an established powerhouse overseas.
Even the fashion journalists recognized it. The kinds of people who attended G Fashion’s events were well within their radar.
"That’s interesting," ca a familiar, cool voice behind her.
lissa’s smile faltered. She rolled her eyes, unwilling to turn around.
"I’m familiar with Sonic Limited," Celestine said smoothly as she approached. "I’m friends with the owner’s wife, Mrs. Chun. Though, oddly enough, I’ve never heard of a Renny Chun at our dinners."
"What?" lissa finally turned, disbelief flashing across her face.
Celestine smiled gracefully and continued walking until she stood beside her. She handed her invitation to the guard, who imdiately verified it before glancing back at lissa.
"Mr. Vince Chun and his wife, Tera, are lovely people," Celestine humd. "I’m the godmother of their daughter’s child, so I’ve t the entire family. But I don’t recall anyone nad Renny. Are you sure you’ve got the right person, lissa?"
"Madam Celestine, what exactly are you insinuating? That I’m lying?" lissa laughed incredulously. "Why would I lie and humiliate myself in front of everyone here?"
Celestine rely shrugged, but before she could respond, Justin spoke up.
"Maybe for the sa reason you hid things from my cousin," he said coldly. "You thought you could get away with it."
"Hah!" lissa scoffed, glaring at him. Celestine shot Justin a glance — not quite approval, not quite disapproval. A perfect, unreadable socialite look.
"Madam Lancaster. Justin." lissa’s voice softened as her eyes landed on Derek. "Derek, I know things are ssy between our families. But please, stop harassing . We spent years together, and I still cherish those mories deeply."
Then she straightened, chin lifted high. "Besides, I’m not lying. And if I am, I’ll gladly shave my head and stream it live."
Celestine chuckled lightly. "lissa, I do hope you keep that promise."
"The invitation is confird."
The guard’s voice cut through the tension. lissa turned to him with relief, ready to thank him until she realized he was looking at Celestine. He stepped aside, unhooking the stanchion to let the Lancasters through.
"Thank you," Celestine said sweetly before turning to lissa. "Oh? I thought you’d be entering before us."
lissa frowned. "I ca here first. Isn’t it first co, first served?"
"We’re still verifying yours," the guard replied flatly, glancing toward his colleague. The other guard gave a small shake of his head before signaling back. When he turned to lissa again, he lowered his tone politely. "I’m sorry, Miss, but your na isn’t on the guest list."
"What?" lissa scoffed. "Did you really check? Or were you too busy checking the other invitation?"
The guard frowned, his patience thinning. "Miss, we already checked. That’s why it took a while."
"Check again!"
The guard exchanged a look with his colleague, clearly unamused, but nodded anyway. The second guard began rechecking the list, though he already knew what the result would be.
Celestine smiled politely and turned to the guards. "I’ll wait for her," she said kindly. "I wouldn’t want to be accused of cutting in line."
Seconds dragged into long, excruciating minutes. The murmurs from the crowd grew louder with each passing mont.
"What’s the holdup?"
"The line’s piling up because of her."
"Is she even invited? How long does it take to check a na?"
The guard inside the booth made a quick call, confirming things directly with the event team. Since lissa claid to be a plus one of soone from a major company, they didn’t want to make a mistake.
Only three minutes passed, but to lissa, it felt like an hour. Finally, the guard approached her again.
"Miss," he said with a polite bow, "I sincerely apologize, but we cannot grant you access. You’re not on the guest list, and I’ve confird inside — there’s no guest by the na of Renny Chun, or anyone with that surna."
lissa froze, her complexion draining of color. The cara flashes around her intensified as the crowd gasped.
Then ca Celestine’s soft, amused chuckle.
"Oh, dear," she said, covering her lips with the back of her hand. The corner of her mouth curved into a smirk. "lissa, I’m not cruel, so I’ll pretend you didn’t just declare what you did monts ago. But I’m not sure everyone else will."
She stepped closer, lowering her head slightly, her eyes glinting with quiet triumph.
"But I suppose that’s the least of your worries," Celestine whispered. "Because the Chuns... aren’t the type to let things slide."
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