Wendy rubbed her eyes.
After confirming what she saw, she anxiously ran to Caden’s side and started shouting, completely ignoring Vivian’s feelings.
Caden shot her a glance, his face filled with displeasure.
“Quiet.
What is with all this noise?” He wasn’t blind.
Chloe stood firmly, her expression calm.
“Hello, everyone.
Thank you for coming to my birthday banquet.” With that, she gave a slight bow, her entire demeanor so elegant and poised that it made the crowd feel inadequate by comparison.
Some even began to scold their sons outright.
“Don’t even think about it.
Miss Austin would never take a fancy to you.
I shouldn’t have brought you here!”
“It’s not like I begged you to bring me…” one son muttered in response.
Vivian overheard this exchange, and her usually gentle face darkened, unable to maintain its facade any longer.
Usually, Chloe rarely had the chance to go out; she often stayed at home and dressed very casually.
But right now, she was beautiful and breathtaking, not inferior in the slightest to Vivian when she was on stage.
Wendy muttered viciously under her breath.
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you for gracing my beloved daughter’s birthday banquet with your presence,” Mark announced.
He had noticed Caden a while ago.
“This is our Austin family’s most cherished daughter, Chloe.
If my little girl makes any mistakes in the future, I hope you will all be forgiving and generous with her.” As he spoke, he took Chloe’s hand and bowed to everyone once again.
The guests present were all smart people; they immediately understood Mark’s well-intentioned efforts.
He was paving the way for Chloe.
Everyone cheerfully went up to chat with her, eager to build connections.
Caden, on the other hand, stood to the side with an icy expression, his fingers turning white as he gripped his glass.
Those words had been a warning directed at him.
The Morgan family had absolutely no idea that Chloe’s background was so powerful.
Their previous investigation had shown her to be a girl from a rural village who relied on financial aid to finish college.
Later, she met the injured Caden, dedicated herself to him in obscurity, and even agreed to a hidden marriage.
The Austin family’s actions undoubtedly poured fuel on the fire of Vivian’s jealousy.
She bit her lip, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
After exchanging pleasantries with the crowd, Chloe walked over to a corner, feeling a bit drained.
Just as she sat down, she spotted some uninvited guests.
“Chloe, you did this on purpose, didn’t you?” Wendy spoke fiercely, completely unable to conceal the anger in her eyes.
Chloe replied with a sarcastic tone, “What?
Are you jealous?”
“The eldest daughter of the Austin family?
Pfft!” Vivian covered her mouth, holding back a laugh.
“Who knows, maybe you paid people to put on an act with you?”
At this moment, Wendy crossed her arms and slowly circled Chloe twice, tugging at her evening gown.
“Do you really think that putting on this skin will magically turn you into a phoenix?
What a joke!
A cheapskate is a cheapskate.
No matter how much you dress up, you still reek of poverty!
Do you think doing this will make my brother give you a second glance?
Keep dreaming.
Only Sister Eva is fit to be my brother’s wife!”
Chloe wore a faint smirk as she glanced at the two of them, as if watching a pair of monkeys perform.
“Go on.
Are you done?”
Vivian looked around, her face darkening.
“Let me tell you, Chloe.
If you know what’s good for you, hurry up and divorce Caden.
You’ve been dawdling, and I can tell you’re doing it on purpose.
Who knows what kind of dirty tricks you used back then?
Otherwise, how could it ever be your turn to sit in the position of Mrs.
Sterling?
Now that I’m back, you are only fit to carry my shoes!”
“Are you finally done now?” Chloe’s smile didn’t waver, but the gaze she fixed on Vivian was razor-sharp.
Vivian’s heart trembled.
“What are you looking at?”
“I just think your blush is a little too light today.”
SLAP!
Vivian was completely stunned by the blow.
SLAP!
Chloe struck a second time.
The force of the slap spun Vivian around a full three hundred and sixty degrees.
It took her quite a while to process what had just happened.
She glared at Chloe, wishing she could slice her into a thousand pieces.
“You’re welcome.
You look much more pleasing to the eye now,” Chloe said, shaking her wrist, which felt a little sore.
She then turned to look at Wendy, only to find the girl backing away.
Without giving her a chance to react, Chloe stepped forward and slapped her twice.
SLAP!
SLAP!
Wendy clutched her face and shrieked in grievance.
“How dare you, Chloe!
You hit me?
I…
I’ll fight you!”
During the scuffle, Chloe’s diamond necklace was torn off and fell to the floor.
Harboring a deep grudge, Wendy threw her image out the window and stomped on it several times.
Chloe clapped slowly.
“Two point eight million dollars.
Wow!
Miss Sullivan is so wealthy!
Should I send the bill to Caden or to the Morgan family?”
“Who are you trying to bluff?
Do you really think I’m blind and can’t tell you bought a piece of trash?
Two point eight million?
You really know how to brag.
Let’s see you brag now!” With that, Wendy picked it up and threw it directly into the nearby flowerbed.
Right then, the Austin family’s bodyguards rushed over.
Without a word, they pinned the troublemaking Wendy down.
“Chloe, you’re really something.
You even hired bodyguards.
That must have cost a lot of money, huh?
I’d like to see what you can actually do to me!” Wendy continued to clamor, convinced that Chloe was too scared to make a real move.
She still couldn’t believe that Chloe was actually the daughter of the Austin family.
Vivian watched all of this with indifference.
She was certain that Chloe wouldn’t dare touch her.
After all, Chloe loved Caden so desperately that she obeyed his every word.
Since Vivian was Caden’s most beloved woman, Chloe would have to think twice before laying a hand on her.
Chloe walked up to Vivian, crossed her arms, and looked down at her with disdain.
Vivian strongly disliked this look in her eyes; it made her feel as though she were inferior.
“Chloe, if you dare lay another finger on me, Caden won’t let you get away with it!
You’re nothing but my replacement, so stop acting all high and mighty.”