Chapter 490

The ladies of high society buzzed around Shelia like bees to honey, their glasses clinking in endless toasts. Ashley, her eyes darting like a hummingbird, saw her chance and seized it. She plucked a glass of wine from a nearby tray and offered it to Shelia with a gracious smile.

“Miss Blair, your reputation precedes you. I must say, the rumors don’t do your beauty justice. Please, allow me to toast to you,” she gushed, downing her wine in one smooth motion.

Shelia raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar face. “And you are…?”

“Ashley Steele, formerly a trainee at Potter Entertainment,” she introduced herself, batting her eyelashes with practiced sincerity. “I’ve always admired you, Miss Blair.”

Shelia remained unmoved by the flattery. As the newly discovered daughter, she was more accustomed to envy than admiration. Still, she played along. “A trainee at Potter Entertainment? Then you must be acquainted with Debra.”

The name dropped like a stone in a pond, ripples of tension spreading through the circle of ladies. Everyone knew Debra was Juan’s wife. The atmosphere became awkward instantly.

Ashley, sensing the shift, quickly nodded. “Oh, yes. In fact, I know quite a bit about her.”

The promise of gossip was catnip to the crowd. Eyes widened and ears perked up.

“Do tell us more about Ms. Frazier.”

It was clear to everyone that Ashley was merely a trainee seeking an opportunity. Ashley, now the center of attention, took a deep breath and began. “Well, Debra got into Potter Entertainment through unconventional means. While the rest of us were stuck in training, she was always the exception. We’d often see her being picked up at night in different luxury cars.”

Gasps and titters erupted from the crowd.

“Is it true? That’s a disgrace.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. With the Frazier family bankrupt, a woman like Debra must do what she can to make ends meet.”

“If you ask me, Mr. Nichols should have cut her loose ages ago. Only a woman like Miss Blair deserves a man like him.”

The crowd chattered, eager to please Shelia, knowing she would soon become Mrs. Nichols. Shelia enjoyed the flattery. Ashley immediately added, “Exactly. It’s no secret among trainees.”

“I do feel a touch of pity for Debra,” Shelia said, feigning regret. “To think she’d stoop so low makes me feel bad. Even if she’s short on money, she shouldn’t have sought out sugar daddies.”

The crowd lapped it up, their appetite for scandal whetted. “Were there any other incidents during her time as a trainee?”

Ashley hesitated, her gaze flicking nervously around the room. Then, she spotted Oscar in the distance, and a lie slipped from her lips like silk.

“Oh, yes. There was quite a scandal with one of the male trainees. It was Oscar, the leader of the male trainees. Debra was always flirting with him, even though he was in a relationship with our female leader. Poor Freya caught them red-handed, but Debra’s connections ran deep. Freya ended up getting fired.”