Chapter 6 (30%)

A crowd had gathered at the end of the red carpet. In the center stood Susanna, simply dressed in a traditional tunic and loose pants, as if she had just finished exercising in a park. Despite her gray hair, she looked vibrant and youthful, with bright eyes and only faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Her slightly round face possessed a fullness that belied her age.

Cynthia thought, "Now that's what they call aging gracefully."

Behind Susanna, a gift table overflowed with presents, a mountain of beautifully wrapped boxes in various shapes and sizes. Shirley was opening a square silk box to present her gift. "Mrs. Susanna Bennett," she announced, "this is a birthday gift from the Jones family of Roncrity—a complete set of custom QUEEN jewelry, worth three million dollars."

QUEEN was an internationally acclaimed luxury jewelry brand that had taken the world by storm three years prior, favored by elite women for its stunning designs.

Susanna glanced at the jewelry and smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Jones."

Shirley continued excitedly, "I'm so glad you like it! But it's not just about the price. QUEEN only makes custom pieces, each one unique. It took a lot of effort to acquire this necklace because I felt only a brand like QUEEN would suit you."

Susanna raised her hand, signaling a nearby server to take the gift. Just as Shirley began to speak further, the server whisked the box away and placed it casually on the growing pile behind Susanna.

"The next gift is from the Zimmerman family of Betrico," announced the elderly butler, Zach. Guests had registered their names at the door and presented gifts in order of arrival.

Frustrated at being interrupted, Shirley stepped back to join Selena. She couldn't understand why Susanna didn't seem impressed by the extravagant gift. Even the nearby guests offered no compliments. Then it struck her: the Betrico families were presenting gifts worth a fortune—stunning sphene sculptures, Victorian ceramics, and antique paintings, each valued at tens of millions of dollars. In comparison, her three-million-dollar jewelry felt insignificant.

"Now presenting the next gift from the Yates family," announced Zach.

Cynthia and Filip stepped forward. Shirley's eyes shifted to Cynthia, and an amused smirk played on her lips as Cynthia offered her gift. Cynthia opened her box, revealing a neatly arranged set of small incense sticks wrapped in red velvet. "This is a birthday gift from the Yates family. I hope you like it, Mrs. Susanna Bennett."

Shirley sneered to herself, "Cynthia really thinks her little habit of making incense sticks will stand out at such a high-profile party? It feels so self-indulgent. What value do her tiny sticks have compared to the extravagant gifts Susanna has already received?"

Susanna picked up the box and sniffed it with a pleased smile. "Thank you, Ms. Jones."

Cynthia was startled. "How does Susanna know my last name? I registered as Mrs. Yates."

Just as Susanna was about to hand the box to the server, Shirley interjected, "Mrs. Yates, I heard you like making incense. Did you make this yourself?"

Cynthia, who had already noticed Shirley, turned and smiled. "Yes, it's a hobby of mine. This scent is called 'Laron Floral Essence,' and it's made using traditional methods with roses, agarwood, and various spices"

Shirley's eyes lit up with a mix of triumph and scorn. Before Cynthia could finish, Shirley interrupted, "Mrs. Yates, do you think it's appropriate to give something you made as a birthday gift for Mrs. Susanna Bennett's seventieth birthday? How much do you think this box of incense is worth? A thousand? Ten thousand?"

Instantly, all eyes turned to Cynthia and Filip, the tension palpable. Shirley shot a pointed glance at Filip. "Has the Yates family fallen so far that you can't even offer a decent gift anymore?"

Filip's face was tense. He had caught a cold from the air conditioning the previous night and had felt dizzy all morning. He had delegated the task of choosing a gift to Cynthia. Matthew had stressed the importance of this meeting for the Yates family, stating there was no budget limit for the gift. Filip hadn't expected Cynthia to prepare a box of homemade incense. If they offended the Bennett family with such a lackluster gift, their Paradise Resort project could collapse.

Just as Filip was about to reprimand her, Cynthia calmly spoke. "I learned that Mrs. Susanna Bennett came to Roncrity three years ago to address insomnia, so I thought this incense might help her sleep better." She had researched Susanna's sleep problems that afternoon at the office.

Shirley smirked. "It's just incense. Don't make it sound like a miracle cure. If aromatherapy were enough, we wouldn't need hospitals, right?"

At that moment, a red-haired woman beside Susanna leaned in to sniff the box. "This isn't your typical Laron Floral Essence. It smells a little medicinal," she observed.

Cynthia replied, "I modified the traditional formula and added herbs like calamus and passionflower, so it does have some health benefits."

"Grandma, I love this scent. If you don't want it, I'd be happy to take it," Yvette, the red-haired woman (who had flown in from abroad for Susanna's birthday) smiled at Susanna.

"Who says I don't like it?" Susanna retorted, before eyeing Cynthia with a kind smile. "I just caught a whiff, and it's already making me feel refreshed. Zach, please take this incense to my bedroom so nobody else can take it."

Zach nodded, carefully took the box from Yvette, and left.

Shirley's face fell. "I spent three million dollars on this jewelry, and it hardly impressed Susanna. Meanwhile, Cynthia's homemade incense has already won her over and secured a special place. What's wrong with these rich folks?"

The gift-giving continued, but many guests began to depart after presenting their gifts. Feeling humiliated, Shirley decided to leave. As she turned to go, she overheard some guests whispering.

"That must be the biological daughter the Jones family found three years ago. I heard she grew up in an impoverished area."

"No wonder she has that 'country bumpkin' vibe. She had to explain the price of her jewelry? Can't she see the sphene bracelet on Susanna's wrist is worth sixty million? Who doesn't recognize that her necklace is just entry-level QUEEN? I felt embarrassed when she said it was worth three million."

"Actually, the woman who just gave the incense used to be the daughter of the Jones family."

"That makes sense. It was pretty mean for her to put Mrs. Yates on the spot like that. I think Mrs. Yates is graceful and composed, like she's meant for greatness."

"Speaking of, that incense she made smells amazing. I could smell it from across the room. That's real luxury, unlike those who just throw around numbers."

Shirley's fists clenched, her anger simmering. "Everyone adores Cynthia. But all that elegance and confidence is stolen from me. One day, I'll definitely tear down her glamorous façade and reveal her true colors to everyone!"