A third-rate actress turned model, her birth mother was the kind of embarrassment Audrey wouldn’t even bring up—what could someone like that offer her anyway?
“Audrey, remember to look out for your sister too.
If you come across someone decent and suitable, keep her in mind,” Beatrice reminded her.
“Yeah, yeah, got it.” Two burdens, seriously.
Audrey replied with clear impatience, then turned and walked downstairs.
“Audrey’s just getting more and more stunning.
She recently competed in the international perfumer competition in Marvella and actually placed first in her group!
It even made the news—so impressive!”
“That contest only happens once a year, and the judges are all top experts.
For someone so young to even make it to the finals—she might just win it all!”
“Tsk, just like mother, just like daughter.
I’m telling you, Audrey’s gonna be the next big name in perfumery!”
Audrey just smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying, her tone calm: “You’re too kind, ma’am.”
Edward looked quite proud too.
Putting on the calm and authoritative air of a family patriarch, he addressed the crowd with a measured smile: “Audrey did alright in the perfumer contest this time, but she’s still young and’s got a long road ahead.
Now that she’s twenty, I’ve decided to hand her 15% of the group’s shares along with the Scentivan perfumery branch.
I hope she’ll have your support going forward.”
That was basically making it official—Audrey was the chosen heir.
“Edward, no need to downplay it.
It’s us who’ll be leaning on Audrey in the future, not the other way around!”
Audrey lifted her chin slightly, graceful as ever.
Her modest expression couldn’t quite hide the confidence behind her eyes.
Just then, a reporter’s sharp voice cut through the crowd.
“Mr.
Sullivan, rumor has it that there’s another daughter in the Sullivan family—Ashley—Grace’s biological child.
Is that true?”
The moment that question dropped, murmurs rippled through the room.
The family had always been vague about Audrey’s background.
Was it possible she wasn’t even Grace’s daughter?
Edward’s face instantly darkened.
Damn it, where did this nosy reporter even come from?
How the hell did they find out about that wretched Ashley?
“Of course not!” Beatrice rushed forward, her voice firm and loud as she shook her head.
She tried to look heartbroken, even dabbed the corner of her dry eyes like she’d been crying.
“Today’s Audrey’s twentieth birthday—it should be a joyful celebration.
I hope you won’t bring up something so painful for a mother.
Ashley…
she passed away long ago…”
To protect Audrey’s future, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and go along with calling that deaf and mute cripple her daughter, even if only temporarily.
The reporter frowned.
“So you’re saying Ashley was your daughter, and she’s…
dead?”
“Yes!” Beatrice didn’t even bother pretending anymore.
As far as she saw it, that pathetic girl had already married off to some sickly man in Kingsview Garden.
Even if she wasn’t dead yet, she’d definitely get tortured to death soon enough.
Suddenly, the banquet hall lights flickered and went pitch-black without warning.
Before anyone could react properly, the main doors burst open.
Then, a loud voice boomed from the speakers around the room, solemn and dramatic:
“Presenting Miss Ashley of the Sullivan family!”
What the—?!
Beatrice snapped her head toward the entrance, disbelief written all over her face.
Everyone else turned to look the same way, expressions frozen in shock.
From the shadows walked in a frail, slender figure moving slowly but surely.
When her face came into focus, Beatrice’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
It was that goddamn Ashley!
She was wearing a plain, outdated dress, her face pale and dull, hair dry and lifeless—not a trace of the well-dressed debutante she used to be.
She looked downright pitiful.
But just two days ago, at her wedding, she hadn’t looked anything like this!
Then Bruce Cameron, the hotel manager, hurried over with a grin plastered on his face as he looked at Beatrice.
“Mrs.
Sullivan, just like you asked, I’ve brought the young lady here.”
Wait, what—the heck was he talking about?!
Beatrice’s expression turned instantly ugly.
Everyone in the room was now staring at her.
And of course, the reporters weren’t going to miss an opportunity like this; they swarmed forward, shouting questions over each other.
“Mrs.
Sullivan, didn’t you just say your daughter Ashley was dead?!”
“Mr.
Sullivan, there are rumors that you abandoned your daughter on purpose—is that true?”
“Mr.
Sullivan, please respond to these allegations directly!”