Chapter 21

Falvey Estate, in the suburbs of Forstone City, was one of the area's three most renowned buildings. Its exterior was designed in an ageless style that was both opulent and intricate. Despite being shrouded in the dark of the night, its walls seemed to gleam. It was like a black pearl.

The estate had been closed to the public for over a decade, so most guests attending the birthday celebration were there simply to see the estate. They didn't actually care much about a young heiress's birthday.

Mallory didn't mind that, though. This was exactly the kind of grandeur she wanted. She was satisfied as long as she could bask in the spotlight and enjoy the eminence it conferred. She paused and admired the tall champagne tower in the middle of the banquet hall. This was a ceremony she'd arranged for herself. Later, she would personally pop the champagne and pour it into the highest glass. The liquid would trickle into the glasses beneath it, signaling her longevity and continued good fortune.

However, there were two discordant murmurs.

“Mallory, did you see the trending topics? Eleanor Sandberg clarified the rumors and proved that she was at Starbright Hotel with her husband.”

“It’s already topping the trending topics! Starbright Hotel has even organized a lucky draw on her behalf—the prize is a two-night stay in their presidential suite! Even I’ve never stayed there.”

Mallory whipped around and snarled, “Get the hell out of my birthday party if you dare retweet that!”

Her circle of friends immediately put their phones away, no longer daring to look envious. So many people from the upper crust were attending the party—whoever got kicked out would be completely humiliated.

Mallory glared at them. “How stupid can you people be? That tweet has to be fake! Starbright Hotel is only having that lucky draw to cover up this scandal about their son. Why would they help Eleanor?”

Someone hastily chimed in, “That must be the case! You’re absolutely right.”

Another said hesitantly, “But Sebastian Whitman took a photo with her…”

Would he cover up for his wife’s scandal and admit that he’d been cuckolded?

Mallory had an explanation for that. “He’s powerless and useless. Would he dare defy Eleanor if she were to order him to go along with her and take a photo at Starbright Hotel’s penthouse? Can’t you guys imagine what she would do to him if he dared reject her?”

The realization dawned on everyone. “That’s so true. Fleance is so stuck-up and domineering that she’s capable of doing anything!”

Someone even said, “I’m starting to pity Sebastian for marrying such a loose and wicked woman.”

“Exactly!”

Eleanor arrived just then. She easily blended in with them and grabbed a handful of nuts. “He’s such a poor thing.”

Amid the wave of sympathy for Sebastian, a woman in pink abruptly said, “Being bullied by her is all he deserves! It’s his own fault for choosing to marry her out of all people. He’s getting his just deserts for thinking she was easy to latch onto.”

Eleanor raised an eyebrow. Did the woman have something against Sebastian?

Another woman in white mocked her. “You just have a grudge against him because he rejected you—that’s why you’re saying these things, aren’t you? I bet you’re desperate for him to latch onto you. It’s too bad he just isn’t interested in you!”

Oh, so that was it. Eleanor got it now—the woman in pink was one of Sebastian’s admirers who’d turned into a hater after being turned down.

The woman shot to her feet after being poked in her sore spot. “At least I have the guts to admit that I once liked Sebastian, Jean! Would you dare do the same? You’re only being so nasty to me now because you hate that I once approached him, aren’t you?”

“At least he knows my name. He’ll never know who you are, you pathetic bitch! All you have the nerve for is to insult others behind their backs!”

Jean Young, the woman in white, immediately became enraged. “How dare you, Shaun Boo—”

Mallory shrieked, “Shut up, both of you! What the fuck are you arguing about? Get out of here if that’s what you’re here for!”

Eleanor chewed a nut, deliberately crunching it to catch everyone’s attention. “Why are you guys already at each other’s throats when I’ve yet to start doing anything?”