Chapter 527
527:
Huh? What was going on? Why was he glaring at her?
Jeffery was already irritated by the earlier gossip, and now, even seeing Linsey made his mood worse.
“Watch where you’re going. Don’t block the way,” he said curtly before striding past her without another glance.
Linsey blinked, momentarily stunned, then almost laughed in disbelief. Was he serious? He had been the one to barrel out and bump into her!
Taking a steady breath, she reminded herself not to let some arrogant man ruin her night. Lifting the hem of her gown, she continued inside.
It was then that she recalled how the others had addressed him—and suddenly, everything clicked. He was Jeffery, Carol’s brother and the future head of the Lawson Group.
No wonder both siblings seemed equally insufferable. It must run in the family.
This brief encounter only cemented Linsey’s already low opinion of the Lawsons. She just hoped that once this party was over, she would never have to cross paths with them again.
Yet, despite Jeffery’s attempt to shut down the whispers, word of a mysterious woman resembling him had already spread like wildfire. It wasn’t long before the rumor reached Carol.
“Carol, have you heard? There’s a woman at your party who looks exactly like your brother.”
Carol’s expression darkened instantly. “What?” she asked, her movements slowing.
Her friend leaned in. “You don’t get it? People are saying she might be your father’s illegitimate daughter!”
A cup flew through the air, slamming hard against the woman’s shoulder before crashing to the floor. Water splashed everywhere, soaking her dress.
Lᴀτєѕτ chⲁρτєrs ιn g𝓪l𝗇ovєls.𝑎𝓂
The lounge fell into stunned silence. No one had expected Carol to lose her temper so suddenly.
Another woman quickly stepped forward in alarm. “Carol, don’t be upset. Annie didn’t mean anything by it—she was just repeating what people are saying outside.”
Annie Anderson, who had yelped in pain, snapped back to her senses. When she saw Carol’s furious expression, a chill ran down her spine.
“Carol… I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that. Please don’t be mad,” Annie stammered, her voice shaking.
Every socialite in Grester’s elite circles knew one thing—stay on Carol’s good side at all costs. Before befriending her, they had all been warned repeatedly by their families. And now, Annie had unintentionally set Carol off.
Gritting her teeth, Carol seethed. “Whoever started this nonsense—I’ll make sure they regret it!”
Her friends immediately rushed to calm her. “Carol, it’s your birthday. Don’t let this ruin your night.”
“We’ll find out who’s behind it, and if anyone keeps spreading it, we’ll make them apologize to you personally!”
“Exactly! Just ignore it, Carol. Don’t let these baseless rumors bother you.”
Carol sat stiffly, surrounded by people trying to console her. Despite their efforts, her flawlessly made-up face remained tense.
“Who exactly is this woman?” she asked, her voice cold and distant.
Annie hesitated, biting her lip as she glanced around for support. Finally, she spoke, her voice uncertain. “I haven’t seen her myself. It’s just rumors—maybe people are exaggerating…”
Before she could say more, the lounge door swung open.
“Who dared upset my sister?” Jeffery’s voice carried a lighthearted edge, but when his eyes landed on Carol’s distressed expression, his demeanor shifted. His face hardened as he strode toward her. “Carol, what happened?”
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