Chapter 231: The Stevens Family Residence—The Next Day

"What is Keanu trying to pull?" Lindy seethed, slamming the guest list onto the table. Her voice was sharp.

"Is he deliberately humiliating me? It's his 80th birthday, and I, his rightful daughter-in-law, am not even on the guest list! Meanwhile, he's tacitly allowing your father to bring that homewrecker and his illegitimate son to the celebration."

Even Allison was invited! Rage bubbled inside her. She gripped her wine glass too tightly, flinging it across the room. It shattered.

Ignoring the pain in her hand, she rubbed her temples. A headache formed as fury clouded her vision.

"Colton, your grandfather is intentionally ignoring us. It's a blatant show of disrespect!" Lindy's fiery gaze shifted to Melany, hostility brimming in her eyes.

Keanu's disdain for Colton since his divorce from Allison had been more than evident. He'd cut off all contact, retreated abroad, and hadn't even returned for Colton and Melany's wedding. He was trampling on their dignity! Lindy knew Keanu had other grandsons, despite Colton being her only son. Colton's insistence on marrying Melany had only deepened the old man's disapproval. The thought of Melany's parents' lack of financial support further inflamed Lindy's temper.

"In the end, Melany, it's because Keanu doesn't like you! It's all this homewrecker's fault!"

Feeling the weight of Lindy's venomous glare, Melany lowered her gaze, feigning helplessness.

"Lindy, I've tried everything to please him, but… he's always been close to Allison. Of course, he wouldn't like me."

Inwardly, however, she scoffed. Lindy was quick to blame others now, but when Melany first returned to the country, Lindy had greeted her with saccharine smiles and open arms. But they both knew what Lindy truly wanted: Melany's assets. Back then, their goals had aligned. So what was the point of blaming her now? Though resentment churned inside her, Melany maintained her act, shrinking behind Colton's protective stance.

"Colton, I truly didn't mean to cause any trouble… I never imagined Keanu would be so heartless. I'm sorry, Lindy… it seems I've upset you too."

Lindy's face twisted with rage.

"Who are you fooling with this pitiful act?" She despised Melany's innocent act, just like the vile secretary who had wormed her way into her husband's life. And seeing Colton defend her only fueled her anger.

With a sudden motion, Lindy grabbed a nearby cup and hurled it at Melany.

"Stop pretending in front of me!" The cup shattered against the wall. Colton instinctively shielded Melany, his expression darkening as he turned to his mother.

"Mom, have your headaches gotten so bad that you've lost all sense of decorum?" Lindy's voice shook with frustration. "What do you want? Melany is your daughter-in-law, yet you treat her like this. Can't you see you're only making things worse?" Her laugh was bitter, filled with disdain.

"So, now you have the nerve to lecture me? Fine. Tell me, what should we do?" She had planned to use Keanu's birthday banquet to solidify their place in high society, only to be humiliated by not even receiving an invitation. The whole situation felt like a public slap in the face.

Lindy's anger was palpable, but Melany remained calm.

"Lindy, please don't be so upset. I might have a solution," she murmured softly, her voice gentle and reassuring. "People won't know we weren't invited. If we don't show up, they'll just think we're being disrespectful. Why not bring birthday gifts and deliver them personally? Do you think Keanu would really throw us out in front of everyone?" She paused for effect. "And if we reveal Allison's true colors to everyone, once Keanu sees through her act, he'll naturally appreciate Colton's intentions."

"Reveal?" Lindy's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What do you mean?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Melany's lips. "Colton and I uncovered a little secret about Allison. You'll see soon enough." The night before, she'd instructed someone to dig through the subsidiary's financial records. It turned out that not only was Allison implicated in the losses, but there was something tying Lindy into the mess as well. No matter how things unfolded, Melany knew she had the upper hand.