Chapter 269

Chapter 269:
Millie finally turned back to face her. Babette smiled. “Your family’s glory died with James.”
As she saw the flicker in Millie’s expression, Babette’s laughter grew louder, more biting. “How does it feel? Do you hate me?”
But underneath the taunt, there was something else in her eyes—something heavy, something close to sorrow.
“I hate you more than you’ll ever know,” Babette whispered. “Didn’t you win him, Millie? Let’s make a bet. If you win, I’ll leave the Bennett family’s old connections alone. But if you lose…”
“You have two options—let me take over those connections… or tell me the truth about what happened in Flesta all those years ago.”
She swirled the wine in her glass. “We’ll bet on this wine. See all those glasses on the table? Choose the one you think is ‘Miss.’ Pick correctly, and you win.”
Millie stared at her, a wave of sadness rising in her chest.
“This isn’t the Babette I once knew,” she said quietly.
The proud, poised Babette would never have resorted to such low tactics.
When had she changed? And why?
“What, are you afraid to bet?” Babette’s voice had hardened, but there was a tremor in it.
Millie smiled faintly.
“Egbert’s vineyard in southwest Flesta,” she began, “is known for producing wines with smooth texture and rich, fruity notes. He crafted this wine himself, four years ago. It’s richly red—clean, with a deep finish.”
Babette’s smile began to falter as Millie spoke.
“This,” Millie continued, gesturing toward the table, “is a private collection. You wouldn’t risk serving an inferior wine at your own party. Not when you’re trying to secure your place in Crobert’s elite circles. You wouldn’t fake something Egbert gave you, either. Shall I go on?”
Babette said nothing. Millie walked slowly to the tasting table, scanned the glasses, and selected one. She took a small sip, then returned, glass in hand.
The wine shimmered like a jewel under the lights.
On the base of the glass, the number 214 was engraved. It was part of the tasting game Babette had prepared.
The answer had been sealed and left on the table. Still unopened. Read full story at.net
Millie looked at Babette.
When Babette had messaged her earlier, she had already considered what might happen.
Wine tasting, a carefully staged return, Flesta, finance, Egbert—the threads were all connected.
And Millie had come prepared. She had done her investigation.
The Bennett family had once stood on the cusp of becoming Crobert’s fourth major power. She had been raised to understand social signals, legacy, business—and wine.
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