Audrey’s mouth twitched.
Seriously?
This country bumpkin really bought it—straight dumb to the core.
She scribbled another sentence in her notebook: “Sis, if you trust me, pick box #1.
That one’s got the real treasure!”
Ashley looked up at her, eyes lit with gratitude.
So easy to fool.
Audrey sneered inwardly, then wrote again: “After all these years, the Sullivan family owes you.
You deserve the best.”
With that, she clasped Ashley’s hand, her face full of fake tenderness, looking about ready to tear up out of guilt.
Unexpectedly, Ashley’s eyes welled up in just three seconds—tears gushing out like turning on a tap.
Audrey froze for a second.
When she caught the paparazzi scrambling for pics, she quickly pinched her own leg and forced out a couple of tears too.
After the frenzy of camera flashes died down, Audrey personally pulled Ashley up onto the stage, with Isobel trailing behind reluctantly, face full of disdain.
Soon, three sealed boxes were carried onstage, each marked 1 through 3, containing different mystery prizes.
Audrey shot Manager Cameron a look from the corner; he nodded back slightly.
Everything was under control.
“Let’s have Ashley pick first,” Audrey said generously, flashing a smile as she gestured toward the boxes.
Ashley smiled back, grateful, and walked straight toward box number 1, lifting her dress to move gracefully.
Watching her, Audrey felt smug as hell, raising her chin like a peacock in full strut.
She was sure of it—people like Ashley, the kind no one ever really cared about, were way too easy to manipulate if you just tossed them a little kindness.
Offstage, Edwin narrowed his eyes, catching every bit of Audrey’s cocky demeanor.
For some reason, a gut feeling told him Ashley wasn’t the type to be pushed around so easily.
What’s her game?
He leaned in, intrigued.
And then, right in front of everyone, just as Ashley reached box 1, she suddenly turned and reached for box 3 instead!
Audrey’s face went pale instantly—inside that box was 15% of the company shares, and Edward had already signed it off!
No way!The scream was right on the tip of her tongue, but Audrey dug her nails into her palm and swallowed it back down.
Ashley had already pulled the contract out of the box and held it up for everyone to see.
“It’s fifteen percent of Sullivan Group’s shares!” cried someone from the front row of guests, their voice loud and clear.
No doubt, this was the most valuable gift of the three—and exactly what Audrey had her eyes on.
Watching Ashley take out the pen hidden up her sleeve and about to sign right there in front of everyone, Audrey’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Rage surged up like fire and she lost it, charging forward and grabbing Ashley’s hand, stopping her from signing.
The room froze.
All eyes—along with countless cameras—zeroed in on them.
Ashley looked up, eyes wide in mock confusion, like a poor little rabbit caught off guard.
Such innocent act fooled most people.
But Audrey?
She saw right through it—the flicker of sarcasm hiding behind Ashley’s eyes.
She’d never been played like this in her life.
That fake sweetness, that smug face—Audrey was so furious she could’ve ripped it apart right there.
“Congrats…” she hissed through clenched teeth, forcing out a twisted smile that looked more like she’d bitten down on a chili pepper.
“Ashley.”
Ashley smiled faintly, calm as ever, and signed her name with a quick, clean stroke.
The moment her pen hit the paper, she felt it—someone watching her.
A sharp, piercing gaze cutting through the crowd.
It made her scalp tingle, cold crawling up her spine.
But when she looked up, there was no one.
That dinner?
Totally ruined for the Sullivan family.
Edward threw down his fork midway, muttering something about work and stormed off.
Ashley?
Unbothered.
The more miserable they looked, the better she felt.
With the table full of gourmet dishes, she took her time, tasting everything like it was the best meal of her life.
Across from her, Beatrice and Audrey looked like they wanted to chew her alive.
Ashley had planned to leave when there were still people around—but Audrey pulled her aside and wouldn’t let her go.
Not until the last guests had finally cleared out did Audrey let her leave.
Staring at Ashley’s back as she walked away, Audrey’s voice went cold: “Don’t let her leave the hotel.
Get that contract back.”
Beatrice stood next to her, eyes narrowed, voice full of venom.
“Do whatever it takes.
I don’t care if you have to beat her down.”