Glasses clinked, lively chatter filling the air as a fashionable crowd mingled. Heiresses in designer dresses, their faces lit with charming smiles, held champagne glasses. Among them, some classmates from Class 19 were spotted.

Selene exclaimed, “Yvette, you’re here!” As the three entered, conversations ceased, and all eyes turned, surprised, to them. Selene, Yvette's close friend, approached with a warm smile. Yvette introduced Zinnia, saying, "Zinnia, this is Selene."

"Hello, Selene," Zinnia replied politely.

With a gentle smile, Selene appraised Zinnia, her eyes full of praise. "Where did you kidnap such a pretty girl from? She's really stunning," she said warmly, curious about Zinnia's family.

Yvette glared playfully and declared, "She's my daughter now. She's officially part of our family."

Selene looked confused. Zinnia had only recently returned to the Shaw family, but they hadn't introduced her in social circles. Few had seen her, except for her Class 19 classmates.

"Zinnia, it's our first time meeting, and I didn't have time to get you a proper gift. Here, take this," Selene offered warmly.

Selene still harbored some doubts, but she saw Yvette's affection for Zinnia. She gently took Zinnia's hand and slipped a pearl bracelet from her own wrist onto hers. "Since you're my dear friend's daughter, that makes you almost like my own."

"Thank you, Selene," Zinnia said softly. She wanted to refuse, but Yvette signaled her not to, so she accepted gracefully.

"Come visit my house with Yvette when you're free," Selene invited warmly.

Selene looked at Zinnia with admiration, liking her more with each glance. 'How did Yvette get so lucky? The girl she brought into the family is this beautiful,' she mused.

"Okay," Zinnia replied, following Maisie.

"Maisie," Yvette said with a smile, "why don't you take Zinnia and go play? Selene and I need to catch up." After introductions and greetings, Yvette gestured for the girls to leave.

"Got it!" Maisie grabbed Zinnia's hand and led her away. Both girls giggled in relief; their faces ached from smiling.

Maisie said, "Zinnia, let's find a quiet place to rest. My cheeks are killing me from smiling so much."

Zinnia softly rubbed her cheeks, easing the stiffness from smiling. As soon as she and Maisie left, a group of Class 19 classmates gathered, chatting and laughing.

"You're a totally new person, Zinnia! Come here, let me hold you," Rosalind exclaimed, hurrying over, adjusting her dress.

Rosalind continued, "I watched your video last night, and seeing you in that cosplay costume already made me drool. Zinnia, you are so gorgeous. Your face is like a piece of art. I just want to pinch those cute cheeks!"

Zinnia usually dressed simply, her delicate face makeup-free. Her natural beauty made her stand out, but with careful styling, she appeared even more stunning—a beauty that captivated all who saw her.

"She is my little sis. Of course, she's perfect," Maisie said proudly, pulling Zinnia closer. Having such a pretty sister made her proud.

"You all look super gorgeous," Zinnia smiled brightly at her classmates, her eyes crinkling happily.

For the baby shower, the Class 19 crew dressed to impress—guys in sharp tuxedos, girls in stylish cocktail dresses, turning heads wherever they went.

"With your compliments, we'll feel like we're walking on air," the Class 19 students laughed happily.

Chapter 180

Rosalind looked at Zinnia with puppy-dog eyes and teased, "I just want to kidnap you and take you home!"

"Not a chance! She's mine," Maisie said possessively, pulling Zinnia into a protective hug.

The group didn't stay together long; everyone was busy. These parties weren't just about socializing; families used them to introduce their children to potential business contacts.

Maisie remained close to Zinnia, watching over her carefully.

"Zinnia, you must be hungry. We skipped breakfast, remember? Let's grab some fruit and pastries from the buffet table," Maisie said kindly, leading her towards the food.

A nice spread of fancy pastries, fresh fruit, champagne, and red wine was neatly arranged. Since Zinnia was watching her sugar intake, she only chose some fruit, resisting the tempting desserts.

As they moved through the crowd, everyone kept looking at them, especially Zinnia. She felt the eyes upon her: some curious, some judging, some surprised, and some openly admiring.

After Yvette's introductions, everyone knew Zinnia was now part of the Jenkins family.

Whispers circulated: "The girl next to Maisie is actually the Shaw family's real heiress."

"How did she get connected with the Jenkins family? The Shaws never even introduced her to society—I thought she didn't exist."

"You're out of the loop. She's with the Jenkins now, even has her last name changed. The Shaws have nothing to do with her anymore. After all their crazy scandals, they don't deserve a girl like her."

"The Shaws raised Betty, a troublemaker. She's super sneaky. You should tell your kids to stay away from her. Just look at Anne Carson. She was ruined by Betty."

"Betty went to jail, and I hear she's mentally unstable. She even dropped out of school. Can you imagine how Mrs. Shaw feels? She raised a girl to scheme and push out her real daughter."

"Maelis is so clueless. I heard she even caused a scene with Zinnia recently."

"Yep, after that big fight, Zinnia is completely out of the Shaw family."

"How did Maelis's smart parents make such a silly daughter?"

Everyone gossiped about the Shaw family, looking at them with disgust.

"Hey, are the Shaws here?"

"They are. I just saw Yosef. I bet they feel terrible now, seeing the girl they looked down on so much being loved by the others."

"Hey, look, there's Maelis, sitting in that corner. Did the scandal make her look older? It's like she's full of regret."

Someone pointed to the sofa where Maelis sat alone, staring at Zinnia with conflicted emotions.

"Hey, where's Betty? Isn't Maelis usually stuck to her side?"

Betty was nowhere in sight—Maelis sat alone, looking lonely. She used to always bring Betty along, showing everyone how much the Shaws liked her.

"After all she's done, why parade her in public? It's embarrassing. If I were the Shaws, when Zinnia was hurt, I'd kick Betty out for good. But they're still keeping Betty at home. What fools!"

The Shaws were the subject of intense gossip, their recent scandals—the switched heiresses, Betty's scheming, and her pushing Anne down the stairs—fueling the conversation.

Chapter 180

The Shaw family had been the talk of the town. Everyone gossiped, shocked by their erratic behavior.

People reconsidered doing business with the Shaws; with such a reckless family, betrayal seemed inevitable.

Zinnia overheard the whispers, felt the stares, but ignored them.

Finding a quiet corner, Zinnia sat down, feeling hungry, and nibbled on some fruit. Then, a happy, excited voice called out, "Zinnia!"