Chapter 447
The crowd surrounded Sonia and Lucy, marveling at how they could have raised such an exceptional daughter like Celine. Tonight’s banquet was filled with elites from all walks of life—the very people Sonia had always dreamed of impressing. Sonia, who had spent her life chasing vanity and prestige, longed to stand on the highest stage and be admired by everyone. She had pinned all her hopes on Garly and Tracy, indulging in the fantasy of Carly marrying Adam and Tracy securing a future with Dr. C, believing they would be her ticket to the top. To her surprise, Celine had effortlessly accomplished what Carly and Tracy had failed to achieve. Now, she was finally the center of admiration. Yet, this was not how she had envisioned it. Sonia forced an awkward smile, while Lucy clenched her fists and barely managed a smile more painful than a grimace.
At that moment, Celine turned her gaze to Sonia and Lucy. With a smile, she said, “You don’t need to ask Mrs. Tate Senior and Mrs. Tate for advice anymore—because I’ve already cut ties with them.” The room fell into stunned silence. “Dr. C, why would you sever ties with the Tate family?” someone asked hesitantly.
Celine stood up, the dazzling lights casting a radiant glow around her. She slowly walked over to Sonia and Lucy. “As many of you may know, I grew up in the countryside. I wasn’t raised in the Tate family—I grew up in a rural village.” As soon as she said this, whispers broke out among those who knew the story. “Celine grew up in the countryside? I heard her own mother sent her there when she was just a…” “Why? Isn’t Celine Mrs. Tate’s biological daughter?” “What else? Mrs. Tate remarried her late husband’s younger brother and became Carly’s stepmother.” “Wow, Mrs. Tate’s life is quite the drama, isn’t it?”
Lucy gritted her teeth as she overheard the murmurs. She hated when people brought up this part of her past. Celine knew exactly what Lucy was sensitive about. She smiled faintly and continued, “As you all know, Mrs. Tate is my biological mother. However, she remarried my uncle, who brought his daughter, Carly, into the family. Naturally, there was no place for me in the Tate household.”
“I can understand Mrs. Tate’s choices—every woman has the right to pursue love. Yet, it’s rare to see someone so blinded by romance that they abandon their own daughter in the countryside to fend for herself while showering another’s child with affection.”
Halley smirked and looked at Lucy. “Mrs. Tate, you’re in your 40s, right? Who knew love could make someone so blind at any age? Your needs are truly something else.” Hailey’s mocking tone set the tone for the crowd. The crowd’s gaze toward Lucy shifted instantly. Disdain, ridicule, and amusement filled their expressions. “I’ve never seen a woman this eager to please a man. She’s completely lost herself.” “This is honestly beyond belief. I’ve never witnessed anything like…” “And now, her own daughter has risen to fame as the world-renowned Dr. C. Talk about life’s greatest irony.”
Lucy’s face flushed as she became the center of ridicule. Carly seethed with resentment; Celine had come out in full force, first humiliating Tracy, and now setting her sights on Sonia and Lucy. Carly stepped forward and said, “Celine, I know you’ve always resented Mom, but she has raised me well all these years.” Then, as if to prove her point, she proudly looped her arm around Adam’s. “Am I right, Adam?” The crowd’s attention shifted to Carly—or rather, to the man standing beside her, Adam. As the wealthiest man in Mencity, Adam held immense power and influence. His presence alone silenced any criticism of Carly. In other words, Carly had Adam, and that was the Tate family’s greatest source of pride.