Chapter 146

Listening to Johanna drone on, Kieran couldn’t help but feel a wave of irritation wash over him. When had he signed up to babysit these kinds of messes?

“Mrs. Dawson, I suggest you get a grip and stop overestimating your importance,” Kieran said, his tone devoid of any attempt at politeness. With that, he ended the call, leaving Johanna red-faced with anger and embarrassment on the other end. She hadn’t expected Kieran to brush off the matter so abruptly. But she had boasted about it to everyone who would listen. If she couldn’t pull this off, how was she supposed to show her face around Echo City’s high society again?

Her phone rang again soon after. A voice filled with excitement sounded on the other end. “Mrs. Dawson, is it true that your son is throwing his birthday bash at the Majestic Manor Hotel? My husband is all ears about it and insists we attend?”

Caught off guard but unwilling to lose face, Johanna smiled and said, “Of course, it’s true. Why would you even doubt that? Freya is Mr. Sutton’s fiancée, and Leland is Freya’s brother. Booking the Majestic Manor Hotel is just a phone call away for us.”

Johanna was bluffing with the expertise of a seasoned gambler. As expected, the person on the other end bought the lie and said immediately, “If that’s the case, I’m in for a real treat! It’s rare to get to attend a party at such a prestigious place. We’ve prepared a generous gift for you and Leland.”

Hearing the promise of gifts made Johanna’s grin widen. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be the first to receive an invitation!”

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Dawson!” exclaimed the voice on the other end, making Johanna revel in the warmth of her imagined success. But as soon as the call ended, worry crept in. The Majestic Manor Hotel wasn’t welcoming to just anyone, especially not with the Dawson family’s current standing. Without Kieran’s help, they were over.

Determined, Johanna decided it was time to take matters into her own hands. She couldn’t depend on anyone else. Johanna climbed the stairs to her room and adorned herself with her most expensive jewelry, slipping into a designer outfit and grabbing her luxury handbag. Looking at her reflection, she felt a surge of confidence.

Meanwhile, at Summit University’s cafeteria, Freya was chuckling over the news of Johanna’s bold move toward the Majestic Manor Hotel.

“She’s going alone?” Freya couldn’t help but laugh.

“Exactly,” Luna replied, closing her phone. “You asked me to watch the situation, so I contacted a manager there. Sure enough, Johanna tried to book a spot, even insisting on checking the venue herself.”

Freya knew Kieran wouldn’t lift a finger to help Johanna. A sly smile played on her lips. “This is going to be a spectacle. Let’s sit back and enjoy the show.”

Dressed to the nines, Johanna strutted into the Majestic Manor Hotel with the confidence of a queen. The Majestic Manor Hotel had long been the go-to venue for Echo City’s elite and international business magnates, where they had struck countless deals.

As Johanna left her car, Manager Cory immediately recognized the high-flying socialite. He approached her and said, “Mrs. Dawson, we received your call earlier…”