Chapter 22

Mallory whipped around and staggered backward in shock when she saw Eleanor had appeared without her realizing. “Eleanor?”

Eleanor smiled. “That’s… um…”

“Prattly big deal—” She threw the nuts she’d been about to eat back into the hood and looked around the haphazard party. “You’re throwing a birthday party today, aren’t you, M? Trenton looks a…pra… you must’ve spent a fortune. It’s been years since Dalvey Estate has been available to rent for functions.”

Mallory didn’t think Eleanor had already found out she was the one behind the cheating rumors. She figured the latter was only there because she wanted to see what Dalvey Estate was like and get in on the spotlight.

And so, she held her head high, looking smug. “That’s right. This place stopped being available to the…rit… so I’m having my birthday party here. Like when a mysterious mogul bought it fifteen years ago. My family managed to do it.”

“There’s no point in being envious of me. You can throw a birthday party here, too—if you’re capable of making it happen, of course!”

Eleanor smiled, a hint of something concealed within it. “Wow. That is pretty amazing.”

Sharon Rocco, the woman in pink, had always been Mallory’s sidekick and mainly sucked up to the latter. She said, “Of course Mallory’s parents love and dote on her—they’re willing to give her anything. Some people, on the other hand, are forced to live under other people’s roofs; it would be too hard for them to pay to rent Dalvey Estate for a birthday party.”

Mallory laughed and said, “Don’t say that, Sharon. Someone will be sad to hear that?”

It was clear that “someone” and “some people” were referring to Eleanor.

She didn’t get mad, though. It was pretty dumb, and she didn’t want to waste time with this anymore and got down to business. “I’m here to settle the score with you, Mallory.”

Mallory’s eyes glinted. “Settle the score? I don’t owe you anything, so what’s there to settle? It’s not like I'm inviting you to my birthday party, Eleanor. Stop acting like we’re best friends and get out of here.”

Eleanor laughed. It reverberated around the room, making many guests turn to look and ask who she was. She hadn’t dressed for the occasion—all she wore was an ink-green strappy velvet dress. It was simple, but it accentuated her flawless skin and figure. The color wasn’t an easy one to pull off, but she made it look good.

She seemed more like the star of the show than Mallory, who’d had a custom-made Chanel gown done for the party.

Eleanor said, “It’s true that you didn’t invite me, but I want to be here. Anyway, aside from military bases and areas that aren’t open to normal citizens, I can go anywhere I want!”

She was stuck-up and obnoxious but had every right to be that way.

Mallory noticed the captivated looks on the guests’ faces when they saw Eleanor. She gnashed her teeth angrily and snarled, “You’re shameless!”

Eleanor smirked. “Look at how I’m openly settling the score with you by doing it straight to your face. It’s better than you secretly sending paparazzi after me and having them take photos of me so you could cook up a story and spread rumors about me online. To think you even hired online trolls to cyberbully me. Who’s the shameless one?”

Mallory was stunned. Eleanor really had found out that she was the one who’d orchestrated everything!

She pursed her lips diffidently before realizing something—Eleanor couldn’t do anything to her without proof. She would just refuse to admit anything!

So, she snapped, “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Mallory was the one calling the shots at Dalvey Estate at night, so her people were everywhere. Why did she have to be afraid of Eleanor when the latter was there alone?

She stood straighter at that thought and stuck her nose in the air. “Today is my birthday, and everyone here is my guest. I would advise you to leave right now, Eleanor. Save yourself the shame—I’ll have the security guards drag you out of here if you don’t get going!”

Eleanor gave her a dry look. Meanwhile, Mallory’s friends surrounded her. “Don’t bother being nice to her, Mallory! Call the guards!”

“Exactly! Get the guards to throw her out!”

Mallory felt more confident with people backing her up. She cried, “Guards!”

Some security guards came in, but they didn’t drag Eleanor away. Instead, they threw a shifty-looking man onto the floor.

Before Mallory had time to ponder why the guards had done anything to Eleanor, the latter asked, “Do you recognize this guy, Mallory?”