Chapter 52
Despite her smile, Cynthia exuded an icy aura. She stood unafraid, regarding them with the contempt usually reserved for inferiors. This attitude nearly caused an uproar. The crowd urged Shirley to reprimand Cynthia, but Shirley hesitated. She knew better than to underestimate Cynthia; after all, Cynthia had boxed since childhood, and rumors claimed she was highly skilled.
Although Shirley had never witnessed Cynthia's full capabilities, their past encounters made it clear she couldn't defeat her. Even a group attack on Cynthia wouldn't guarantee victory. Shirley, not foolish enough to ruin the meticulously planned birthday party with a fight, glanced at the time, thinking, "She should be here by now." Just then, she spotted a figure approaching in the distance.
Shirley's eyes gleamed with malice. Smiling at Cynthia, she said, "Cynthia, if my shoes are broken, it's no big deal. I have plenty of custom designer pairs worth several hundred thousand dollars. Why would I hold that against you?"
The crowd didn't understand Shirley's sudden change of attitude until they saw her waving and calling, "Lilian, over here!" Cynthia's frown deepened at the mention of Lilian's name.
Shirley's heart swelled with satisfaction. Her plan had worked. She wouldn't confront Cynthia directly; she thought, "If I want to hurt Cynthia, I must strike at her mind. Lilian is my sharpest weapon."
Meanwhile, Lilian approached. Shirley bypassed Cynthia, hurrying to Lilian and affectionately linking arms with her as they rejoined the crowd. "Everyone, meet Lilian, my best friend, just back from studying abroad," Shirley announced.
Unaware of the truth, the crowd assumed Lilian and Shirley were close, showering Lilian with compliments. In reality, they had barely known each other. Lilian had received an unexpected invitation to Shirley's party, and a brief conversation revealed their shared goal: ruining Cynthia's reputation. As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Lilian also had her own agenda—ensuring Cynthia divorced Filip. Therefore, she readily joined Shirley's plan. Lilian greeted everyone sweetly. Reaching Cynthia, she said, "Happy birthday, Cynthia." Someone in the crowd noticed the unusual situation and asked, "Ms. Sheppard, do you and Ms. Cynthia Jones know each other?"
Shirley smiled. "Know each other? They're very close." Shirley's joy deepened as Cynthia's expression darkened. She thought, "As expected, Lilian is the only one who can truly hurt Cynthia. Tonight is just the beginning!"
Shirley placed her hand on Lilian's belly. "Lilian, why are you here alone while pregnant? Where's your boyfriend?" Turning to the crowd, she added, "Lilian's boyfriend is Filip, the heir to Yates Construction."
The crowd's attention shifted, their eyes filled with envy and admiration. Yates Construction was a top company in Roncrity, renowned nationwide.
Someone remarked, "So, you're Filip's future wife? Ms. Sheppard, my grandpa's company does business with Yates Construction. I'm counting on Mr. Yates to take care of us in the future."
Another added, "Ms. Sheppard, you're so lucky! I'm so jealous!"
Everyone showered Lilian with compliments, and she responded with polite humility, though she couldn't help glancing at Cynthia. Someone asked, "Ms. Sheppard, how many months along are you?"
Chapter 32
"Almost three months," Lilian replied.
Shirley interjected, "Three months isn't very stable, Lilian. You really need to take care of yourself, especially with so many people wanting to be in your shoes as Mrs. Yates." She shot Cynthia a sharp look, and the crowd sensed the tension.
The Jones and Yates families were two of Roncrity's most prominent families. They had been close for generations, with rumors of a past betrothal. However, it was clear the Yates family would never accept Cynthia. As the daughter of the Jones family for twenty years, Cynthia likely knew Filip well—perhaps even harbored feelings for him.
On the other hand, Lilian was Filip's girlfriend. The situation was quite a spectacle. No wonder Cynthia's expression changed when Lilian arrived. The crowd's flattery was meant to provoke her, but she remained indifferent and turned to leave.
Just then, Lilian's voice rang out, "My boyfriend is here."
Everyone turned to the banquet hall entrance as a sharply dressed, handsome man entered—Filip. Tall and distinguished, he immediately drew admiration, though many felt disappointed he was already taken.
As Filip approached, he sensed something was amiss. He hadn't realized it was Shirley's birthday party. Although the Yates and Jones families were close, Henry and Pamela had always favored Cynthia. In the past, even when Shirley invited him to her birthday parties, he hadn't attended.
Filip preferred celebrating Cynthia's birthday at home. That year, however, things were different. Cynthia had left the Yates residence, and when Pamela suggested a birthday celebration, Cynthia mentioned other plans. Pamela didn't press the issue, and Filip hadn't thought much of it—until now.
Now, he found himself at a party with Lilian, Shirley, and Cynthia. Lilian had called earlier, asking him to accompany her to a friend's birthday party, and he'd agreed without hesitation. He never expected Lilian's friend to be Shirley.
Filip made his way through the crowd. Shirley, ever calculating, nudged Lilian toward him. "Filip, Lilian was just talking about you, and here you are," she said.
Filip's expression darkened as he looked at Lilian, who looked guilty. She'd omitted the fact that it was Shirley and Cynthia's birthday party. She was unsure how angry he would be.
In the past, Filip would have shrugged it off or publicly acknowledged Lilian as his girlfriend. Unlike Cynthia, who always stayed in the background, Lilian proudly took center stage—as she had at Royal Golf Field, where he introduced her as Mrs. Yates.
Today, however, Filip seemed different. His presence was imposing, his gaze icy. Scanning the room, his eyes finally landed on Cynthia.
(The "SEND GIFT" at the end seems out of place and unrelated to the text.)