Sienna smiled apologetically at the girl lying on the floor. “Maybe I went a little too far with the joke. I scared the poor thing.” She quickly helped the intern up. “Girl, you’re too easily scared! I was just joking. We’re the good guys; why would we kill people? We need to be harmonious, democratic, and loving citizens.” Winking and patting the intern’s shoulder reassuringly, Sienna asked, “By the way, what’s your name?”
Nervously fidgeting, the girl whispered, “My name is Betsy, Ms. Sterling.” Betsy had genuinely feared for her life. This was exactly how it happened in TV dramas: someone stumbled upon a wealthy family's secret, then they were killed to ensure silence. She never imagined the mysterious and powerful person behind the fashion brand “Vibe” was Yvette, the long-lost Chambers daughter.
Earlier, Tony had harshly criticized Yvette, calling her a commoner pretending to be something she wasn't—crude, ignorant, and probably ugly. But this encounter shattered Betsy’s assumptions. Ugly and from the countryside? If that described the woman before her, then who was attractive? A commoner pretending to be a princess? Vibe’s owner was worth over $300 million, eclipsing most Seacrity heirs. Crude and ignorant? Absolutely not. Betsy sensed Ms. Zeller was far from ignorant. Her intuition was usually right.
Seeing Betsy’s dazed expression, Sienna softened her tone. “Betsy, are you okay?”
Snapping out of it, Betsy smiled shyly, revealing dimples like Bonnie’s, though smaller. Yvette glanced up, giving her a moment of attention.
“Ms. Sterling, I… you… you’re nothing like I imagined.”
Sienna laughed heartily. “Betsy, you know who my boss is now! Keep it a secret. Our boss hates trouble. You don’t want her tossing you into the sea to feed the sharks!” She glanced comically at Yvette. “How did I end up with a boss who hides to avoid trouble? Where’s the justice in that?”
Betsy nodded, playing along. “Don’t worry, Ms. Sterling, my memory’s terrible. What just happened? I’ve already forgotten.” The incident clarified Sienna’s personality; she was clearly joking.
Sienna gave her an approving look. “Good, you’re getting the hang of it!”
Sitting in her chair, Yvette glanced at the spilled foundation, her eyes deep and inscrutable. She smelled lead powder—a trace amount most would miss, but not Yvette. Her senses were exceptionally acute. The moment the foundation broke, she detected the unusual scent.
Unbeknownst to Betsy, her clumsiness foiled Nellie’s plan to frame Yvette with lead-laced foundation. Tony’s interference and the intern’s mishap ruined Nellie’s scheme; it seemed fate intervened.
Betsy glanced at the clock—2 PM. The banquet started at 5 PM. Time was short. “Ms. Zeller, um, time’s a bit tight. I need to start your makeup.”
Yvette nodded casually. “No need.”
Sienna wasn’t surprised. Yvette disliked makeup. Seeing Betsy’s disbelief, Sienna sympathized. “Don’t overthink it. She never wears makeup. Besides, look at her face—what’s there to improve?”
Betsy examined Yvette closely. “Ms. Sterling is right. Her proportions are better than the models in our makeup class. There isn’t a single flaw. I wouldn’t know where to start!”
Betsy felt disappointed. She’d hoped to showcase her skills. She hung her head, then brightened. ‘It’s not a big deal. There’s always next time.’ She still regretted missing the opportunity.
Sienna, experienced in the industry, recognized Betsy’s disappointment. “How about this? I’m attending the banquet too. You can do my makeup, but make me look good, or I’ll be upset.”
Betsy’s eyes lit up. “Really? Ms. Sterling, you’re letting me do your makeup? Really? Really?” She was overjoyed. Upon Sienna’s confirmation, she promised to do her absolute best.
Sienna sat before the makeup mirror, beckoning Betsy.
Betsy glanced at Yvette, who was absorbed in her phone, seemingly playing a game. ‘Ms. Zeller doesn’t care about Ms. Sterling’s actions. I was overthinking it; their relationship seems good.’ Reassured, she began Sienna’s makeup.
Yvette was indeed playing a game—a FastPulse Technologies beta. She held veto power over its release, deciding whether the game, eagerly awaited for three years, would launch.
Around 4:30 PM, Zachary, Nellie, Zeke, and the servants greeted guests in the back garden. Nellie wore a purple dress, a pearl necklace, and an emerald bracelet—an odd combination. Zachary wore his usual dark suit, but with a red tie—a Valentine’s Day gift from Lilian, treasured for years. The tie’s selection held significance—it represented Lilian. He hoped she could symbolically witness his upcoming announcement.