Chapter 615
But tonight, the few who approached her at the beginning quickly drifted away. Soon, she was standing alone, the other guests avoiding her as if she were carrying a plague. It wasn’t just that the Brennans had rejected her; after hearing about her actions, no one with a shred of decency could bring themselves to like her. She was, by all accounts, an ungrateful wretch.
Feeling the chill of isolation, Lauren dug her nails into her palms. She had braced herself for this, but facing their scorn directly was still a cold, numbing shock. She could have skipped tonight, but she had come for a reason. *It’s fine,* she told herself. *Soon enough, they’ll be fawning over me again, just like before.*
Her eyes were dark and cold as she clenched her fists, wrinkling the fabric of her dress.
Suddenly, a server in a corner caught her eye and gave a subtle nod. Lauren’s gaze flickered. She casually moved in that direction and, when no one was looking, slipped into a nearby restroom with the server.
“Lauren, do we really have to do this
The server turned around. It was Penny, her face pale with anxiety.
“You don’t have to,” Lauren said, her expression grim. “You can just stand by and watch me lose everything. Then we can go back to the life we had before.” Her voice was laced with venom. “Do you need me to remind you what that was like?”
Penny immediately pictured their impoverished life in the countryside, and her face went ashen.
Lauren let out a cold laugh. “Remember now? If you don’t want to go back to that, then do as I say!” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsá´› ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ.net
“But if I get caught, I’ll go to prison Penny whimpered.
Lauren knew that, of course. That was precisely why she was making Penny do it. If she hired someone else, the trail would inevitably lead back to her.
“So what if you go to prison? I’ll work to get you out. You’ll be back on your feet in three to five years, tops.”
“A few years in exchange for a lifetime of wealth and luxury. Isn’t that a good deal?”
Before Penny could argue, Lauren’s voice turned cruel. “You always say you’re my mother, that I should be filial and sacrifice for you. Well, now it’s your turn. As my mother isnt it time you sacrificed for me?
Faced with a barrage of threats and promises, Penny finally caved. With a look of grim determination, she clenched her jaw. “Fine, I’ll do it! But you better not forget me. You get me out of there as soon as you can Otherwise swear, recant my testimony!”
“Of course I will,” Lauren said, finally satisfied.
She returned to the banquet hall and surveyed the glittering, lively scene with a cold internal smile. *What is Anastasia doing right now? Gloating, probably Too bad her moment of triumph would be short-lived Lauren wouldn’t allow it to last any longer.
***
Meanwhile, upstairs, Anastasia was finally ready. After hours of preparation, the stylists stepped back. She twirled in her gown and looked toward the tall, handsome man standing by the window.
Her eyes sparkled with a hint of shyness. “Well?” she asked.
Harrison’s gaze had been fixed on her the entire time. Seeing her now, in all her splendor, a look of pure awe crossed his features. His eyes, deep and dark, shimmered with a captivating tenderness.
“Beautiful,” he said.
Anastasia pouted, dissatisfied. “Is that all?”