Chapter 154
154 The Rich Girl’s Return
He couldn’t believe how beautiful his daughter was.
Then he noticed a small line of text underneath the photo: “DQ invited Pixel to the group chat . Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Findnøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access s of novels early and in the highest quality.
No doubt about it–this had to be his daughter’s WhatsApp.
He quickly saved all the pictures and rushed to send a friend request.
Scarlett accepted friend requests from both Taylor and Owen. A moment later, two photos popped up . They had each transferred her twenty million and thirty million, respectively. The only note attached . “Given voluntarily.”
Expressionless, she stared at her screen as her bank account flipped from zero to sixty million in an instant . The feeling… not even a roller coaster drop could compare to this rush.
Newly minted as a rich woman, she was in a fantastic mood. The unpleasant encounter with Martha was long forgotten as she happily followed Sophia home–along with what felt like half the mall.
There was a banquet that evening. Aurora and Quincy had already changed into their outfits and were just waiting for the makeup artist to arrive so they could begin styling. As they reached the estate, they saw the two little princesses surrounded by members of the Lane family, basking in a flood of compliments.
Through the crowd, Aurora spotted Scarlett at the entrance. Her once – confident expression stiffened for a split second. There was no need for comparison–Scarlett’s beauty was enough to outshine everyone in the room. Aurora tried to maintain her composure, but the anger and jealousy in her eyes were impossible to hide .
Axel had been chatting with Quincy. When he glanced up and noticed the shift in Aurora’s expression, he asked, “Aurora, what’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?”
Aurora quickly looked away, as if startled. “I’m fine. I just think you shouldn’t always stay by my side. Same for you, Quincy. Let’s keep a low profile tonight. Remember who the main character is.”
Axel understood what she meant, but he had no interest in giving Scarlett that kind of credit. “Main character? This is Grandma’s birthday banquet. Obviously, she’s the star of the night! Don’t worry, Aurora- Grandma’s even happier when you’re the prettiest one here.”
He wasn’t just trying to flatter her. The old matriarch had pinned a lot of hopes on Aurora’s family. Sadly, it seemed each generation had declined in talent: Aurora was the only one who’d gotten into Jalindale University. The old lady had been thrilled and brought her into the family home to raise her personally. She’d even used the Lane family’s resources to support her recently.
Aurora sighed. “I know, but it’s also a big day for Scarlett. If Uncle hears you two talking like this, he’ll definitely give you a beating.”
That struck a nerve in Axel. “She just got back and already acts like she owns the place. Princess syndrome all over the place. And now we can’t even say anything about her?”
He silently vowed that if Scarlett embarrassed the Lane family tonight, he wouldn’t show her an ounce of
mercy.
The Lane family estate had been meticulously decorated in advance. Everyone in the household was busy preparing. By dusk, the entire estate lit up, even down to the colored lights on every flower and blade of grass. From a distance, it looked like a crystal castle–breathtakingly beautiful.
154 The Rich Girl’s Return
By 7 p.m., luxury cars began lining up outside. A wave of perfectly styled socialites made their entrance CEOs and their wives dressed to impress, all trying to outdo one another in glamour . Though the Joyner and Gu families were considered prominent in Trenwyn, they were nothing compared to the true char here . To them, the spectacle was overwhelming.
These were the kinds of families you usually only saw on TV. Seeing them in person felt unreal. If an event like this ever took place in Trenwyn, the entire city would be talking about it for weeks.
“Thank God we got an invitation,” Oliver said with awe. This wasn’t just an invite–it was a ladder into high society.
Martha, however, was starting to feel uneasy. She didn’t know why. She’d already confirmed that Scarlett had been lying to her before. But something still felt off. Her heart wouldn’t settle.
“Mom, let’s go in,” Eugene said, gently patting her arm.
She flinched like she’d been shocked, pulling away sharply. Then, realizing what she’d done, she grew frustrated with herself. It was just a beating–how had she become so timid?
This was all Scarlett’s fault.
The hatred in her chest surged up, and the unease faded with it. If she saw the person who had hit her tonight, she’d make sure to pay them back a thousand times over.
The estate was decorated with subtle yet undeniable luxury. Everyone here knew quality when they saw it. After taking in the décor, the seamless experience, and the gourmet spread, even Connor was impressed.
No wonder the Lane family’s event coordinator had such high standards. This was just a birthday banquet- yet it had been planned like a royal gala.
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