“Who’s she?” Wei Lu asked curiously.
“She’s my daughter,” An Zhao replied as he walked towards Mei with a warm smile that looked far too rehearsed.
Odessa looked at him in disgust.
This man had always been concerned with nothing except money and beauty.
She was standing right there, yet from the moment the Lu family had arrived, his attention had remained fixed on Madame Lu.
Not once had he spared her a glance.
The disdain in her eyes only deepened as she watched him put on his act.
“Mei, you look so beautiful,” An Zhao praised as he extended his hand towards her.The smile on his face instantly became warm and fatherly.
It was so convincing that no outsider would ever believe this was the same man who had threatened her only hours ago.
His expression was flawless, as though he truly cared for her.
Mei felt sick.
She looked at him in silent disapproval, but the smile on his face subtly changed.
Beneath the warmth was a warning that only she could understand.
His eyes told her everything she needed to know.
Behave yourself.
Swallowing the disgust rising inside her, Mei reluctantly placed her hand in his.
Looking satisfied, An Zhao gently led her towards the Fu family.
The sound of camera shutters echoed throughout the hall as flashes illuminated every corner of the room.
Reporters hurried to capture the moment while guests whispered amongst themselves.
It was only after several minutes that the crowd finally dispersed.
Earlier, while Mei had been getting dressed, the make up artist had forgotten what she was doing halfway through applying her make up.
She simply stood there staring.
“She doesn’t even need make up.”
The quiet remark instantly made Mei lower her head, her cheeks warming with embarrassment.
She had never liked wearing make up, but the artists insisted on making small adjustments here and there, carefully enhancing her natural features without making them appear excessive.
When they finally stepped back to admire their work, everyone present fell silent.
She had always been beautiful.
Since childhood, she had received endless compliments wherever she went.
Her beauty was effortless, soft and graceful.
The make up merely highlighted what was already there.
The crystal gown she wore concealed every curve of her body with elegant modesty, yet it complemented her slender figure perfectly.
Against the sparkling fabric, her fair skin seemed almost luminous.
The make up artist looked at her in amazement.
“What modelling company do you work for?”
She waited expectantly for an answer.
“I’m not a model,” Mei replied with a gentle smile.
The make up artist was visibly stunned.
“You’re not?”
She could hardly believe it.
“I’ll pay whatever amount you ask if you model for me.”
Mei smiled apologetically and shook her head.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.”
The make up artist sighed in disappointment but chose not to press the matter further. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
“Good evening, Madame,” Mei greeted respectfully as she bowed slightly before Wei Lu.
Wei Lu slowly examined her from head to toe, her sharp eyes missing nothing.
A faint smile eventually appeared on her face, one that suggested quiet satisfaction.
Mei unconsciously released the breath she had been holding.
At that moment, she noticed Lucian looking at her.
His gaze lingered for only a second longer than it should have before shifting elsewhere.
Even that brief glance was enough fragments of that unforgettable night at the penthouse surfaced in her mind without warning.
The memories arrived so vividly that heat slowly crept across her cheeks.
Embarrassed, she lowered her head and prayed nobody noticed the blush colouring her face.
“So, let’s go inside,” Wei Lu said.
She gestured towards the guards, who immediately opened another pair of doors leading into a private reception room.
Everyone entered quietly before taking their seats.
The patriarchs and matriarchs of both families gradually began discussing the alliance between the Zhao family and the Fu family.
Throughout the conversation, Mei constantly felt Lucian’s eyes on her.
His gaze unsettled her, it wasn’t the look of a man admiring beauty, he looked careful and very observant.
Almost as though he were trying to look beyond her expression and into her very soul.
Every time she accidentally looked in his direction, memories of that night resurfaced.
The more she remembered, the more flustered she became.
Unable to bear his gaze any longer, she lowered her eyes and deliberately avoided looking at him again.
The room gradually fell silent.
“So,” Wei Lu finally said, “I want to believe she’s the one marrying my son.”
She pointed directly at Mei.
Mei’s heart skipped a beat.
Although she had spent hours preparing herself for this moment, actually hearing those words still caught her completely off guard.
“Yes, Madame Lu,” An Zhao replied with an eager smile.
“She’s the first young lady of the Zhao family.”
His eyes remained fixed on Wei Lu as he patiently waited for her response.
Leon cast An Zhao a cold look before silently looking away.
Just then, a deep metallic voice broke the silence.
“Who exactly is the first young lady of the Zhao family?”
Lucian’s eyes rested on Camille making her stiffen, a wave of fear washed over her.
She had personally introduced herself to him as the first young lady, and somehow every piece of information his people had gathered had also identified her as the eldest daughter of the Zhao family.
She never expected him to question her now.
“Mei is the first young lady,” An Zhao answered without hesitation.
“She’s your fiancée.”
His respectful tone couldn’t conceal the nervousness in his voice.
Even he found Lucian’s presence oppressive.
The overwhelming aura surrounding him was enough to suffocate anyone standing too close.
Mei, on the other hand, wished the ground would open and swallow her whole.
“Then who’s she?”
Lucian asked as he pointed directly at Camille.
“She’s the second young lady of the Zhao family and Mei’s stepsister.”
Every word was spoken cautiously, as though saying the wrong thing would provoke Lucian’s anger.
Camille stared at An Zhao with bloodshot eyes.
She had never expected him to reveal their identity so easily.
Had she known the marriage would be discussed so soon, she would never have lied about being the eldest daughter.
Lucian looked at Camille, his eyes filled with unconcealed disgust.
Overwhelmed by shame and guilt, Camille lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.
If Camille truly was the second daughter, then why had every report his people gathered identified her as the first?
Something about this family didn’t add up and he intended to uncover the truth.
Just then, one of the guards entered quietly before leaning down to whisper something into Wei Lu’s ear.
She nodded before looking around the room.
“It seems the art appraisal expert has arrived.”
The man was well known throughout the country.
He had authenticated countless priceless works over the years, while his own paintings were admired for their extraordinary elegance.
Every brushstroke seemed almost heavenly, making each masterpiece impossible to imitate.
“We’ll continue this discussion after the appraisal,” Wei Lu announced as she stood.
Lucian and Leon rose from their seats before following her out of the room.
Only after they had left did Camille finally release the breath she had been holding.
She could still remember the way Lucian had looked at her and it terrified her.
An Zhao quickly hurried after the Lu family, clearly unwilling to miss the opportunity to gain their favour.
“What exactly did you tell Lucian?” Odessa asked as soon as they were alone.
She had noticed the way he questioned Mei’s identity, and something about it didn’t sit right with her.
“I told him I was the first young lady,” Camille admitted through tears.
She knew she had made a mistake.
Lucian would now think she was nothing more than a liar.
Frustrated, she stamped her foot against the floor.
“You shouldn’t have lied,” Odessa sighed, gently stroking her daughter’s hair.
“But it’s still a small matter. It’ll sort itself out eventually.”
Camille lowered her head, her tears refusing to stop.
she thought about how since he had arrived at the art appraisal, he had acted as though she didn’t exist, as though they had never met before.
His complete indifference stung far more than she wanted to admit.
“And Mei will pay for everything she’s done to you,” Odessa continued, her voice turning cold.
“Starting today.”
Not far away, Mei watched the mother and daughter with quiet disgust.
They comforted one another as though they were the victims, despite everything they had done.
“You stole the spotlight,” Camille mocked as she walked over to Mei.
“Let her be, Camille. We have plans, remember?” Odessa said as she gently held her daughter’s arm and whispered something into her ear.
A sinister smile slowly spread across Camille’s face.
She shot Mei one last look before turning around.
Without another word, mother and daughter walked away together.