Chapter 79
The manager bowed slightly with an obsequious smile and said, โMy deepest apologies, sir. Heโs young and doesnโt know better. Please donโt be upset. Tonightโs drinks are on the house.โ
โGet lost. When Iโm talking, itโs not your damn place to butt in,โ the bald man snapped.
The managerโs expression soured for a moment, but this was far from his first rodeo. He swiftly schooled his features back into professional politeness.
โSir, it was entirely his fault. Let me have him apologize to you properly, alright? How about we just let this matter go? There are so many people watching. Letโs not make a scene,โ the manager offered.
โWhat the hell, pretty boy? Get your ass over hereโmy sisterโs calling you. Are you deaf or just stupid? Move it, now.โ
Adrian clenched his fists, every muscle in his body tensed as he stood ramrod straight. Sienna recognized him instantly. He was the boy Amber had once helped deliver a love letter to. If she remembered right, he was also a top student.
โMiss Enna, thatโs Adrian, the cast-off illegitimate son of the Winslow family. Theyโre aware of his existence, but theyโve never formally acknowledged him,โ said Lana.
โOh? The Winslow family?โ Siennaโs interest perked up.
Lana continued, โYes, Miss Enna. Technically, heโs not really an illegitimate child. Years ago, the Winslow head married his first love, but later abandoned her for an arranged marriage.
โAfter he had a complete family with his current wife, he ran into his first love and had a relationship with her, resulting in a child.โ
Lana had investigated all those involved in disputes with Amber. Adrian was special. He was only sixteen and had skipped grades to attend the prestigious academy.
Lana caught the glint of amusement in Siennaโs eyes. โMiss Enna, shall we intervene?โ
Sienna took a sip of her wine. Reading her expression perfectly, Lana stood up and walked toward Adrian. โHey, you. Come pour a drink.โ
Adrian turned at the sound and found himself face to face with Sienna, a breathtaking beauty whose very presence sent a shiver down his spine.
Her features held an icy allure and untouchable nobility, her powerful aura leaving him momentarily stunned.
There she sat, hands cradling a wineglass, her breathtaking face an impassive mask. Yet her mere presence cast everything around her into insignificance as if the world had faded before her.
โYes,โ Adrian replied deferentially, lowering his head as he approached to pour her a drink.
The bald man instantly flew into a rage, charged over, and jabbed his finger in Lanaโs face. Snarling, he spat, โWho the fuck do you think you are, crossing me? Got a death wish or something, you worthless tramp?โ
โAh.โ The moment the words left his mouth, a piercing scream followed as Lana snapped the finger heโd been pointing at her.
The manโs screams were drowned out as the music volume quintupled, leaving the clubโs ambiance completely undisturbed.
The manager adjusted the volume on his phone with visible satisfaction, barely resisting the urge to spit in that bastardโs face.
Lana snapped, โGet the hell out of my sight, and donโt you dare come back.โ
After dismissing those two, Lana calmly returned to her seat.
Adrian stood nervously to the side, swallowing hard before speaking. โThank you, Miss,โ he said.
Sienna waved her hand dismissively. Adrianโs pulse quickened at the gesture. He gave a respectful nod and withdrew.
Adrian then made his way backstage and approached the manager. โSir, I broke a bottle of wine tonight.โ
The manager shot him a disdainful glance and snapped, โAlright, I heard you. Now get out of here. Youโre always causing trouble everywhere. If youโre late again tomorrow, youโre fired. Got it?โ
Adrian said, โThank you, sir. I got it.โ
โGet lost, now,โ the manager snapped impatiently, shooing him away.
Then a woman sashayed out, swaying her hips, and scoffed, โDamn, youโve got some balls hiring a minor to work here.โ
The manager sighed. โWhat can you do? When it rains, it pours. That kidโs dirt poor, yet heโs studying at an elite school.โ
โAn elite school? Arenโt all their students either wealthy or well-connected? What would any of them be doing working here?โ
The manager guessed, โProbably some familyโs illegitimate kidโjust sixteen.โ
Vivian hadnโt touched a drop of alcohol all night. Sheโd only had juice. Just before she left, Marcy and Bella, both completely wasted, clung to her legs and started bawling their eyes out.
โVivian, we were such blind fools. How could we have missed how genuine you really are?โ sobbed Bella.
Marcy slurred, โVivian, youโre honestly the first person Iโve ever truly looked up to. Even after being disowned and going through so much hardship, youโre still incredible. Your strength and character are truly admirable.โ
โVivian, IโIโm so sorry. I sent the waitress to humiliate you. Iโm such a petty bitch. You were right. What gives me the right to be such a snob? My familyโs just nouveau riche trash,โ murmured Marcy.
Bella sobbed, โVivian, me too. Iโm so sorry. I shouldnโt have kept sabotaging you at every turn. Iโm just rotten.โ
Vivian forcibly peeled the two drunk girls off herself and hurried out. Drunk people really were annoying.
Just as Vivian was about to hail a taxi, a coat carrying that familiar cool fragrance was draped over her shoulders. She turned around, beaming. โSienna?โ
Sienna smiled faintly, โOkay, letโs go home.โ
Vivianโs excitement soared through the roof. She threw her arms around Sienna, nuzzling against her shoulder. โSienna, when did you get here? Did you come just to pick me up?โ
Sienna replied casually, โI came to meet someone.โ
โHey Sienna, what a happy coincidence. Letโs go home together,โ Vivian smiled.
After gaming for hours, Amber stepped out of her room, about to grab a snack downstairs, when she unexpectedly ran into Sienna and Vivian, who were coming home together, their closeness unmistakable.
Amber immediately darted into a corner, holding her breath.
โSienna, Iโve secured the deal. And Miss Yeast has even been taking me under her wingโโ Vivian animatedly recounts to Sienna everything thatโs happened to her over the past few days.
Sienna smiled and praised, โVivian, youโre truly outstanding.โ
โSienna, youโve been drinking, havenโt you? Go upstairs and freshen up first. Iโll make you some hangover remedy, okay?โ Vivian cared about her.
Sienna looked into Vivianโs sparkling, expectant eyes and ruffled her hair. โIโve already asked Elisa to make the hangover soup. Would you bring it up for me, Vivian?โ
โGot it, Sienna. Iโll go right now. Go on, and head upstairs.โ
Vivian raced excitedly toward the kitchen, tossing her bag in the general direction of the couch, but it missed by a mile.
Sienna shook her head with an amused sigh, picked up the fallen handbag, and gracefully ascended the stairs.
Amber clenched her sleeve tightly, pouting as tears brimmed in her pretty eyes. โThey went out without me,โ she wondered.
Amber felt as if her heart had shattered into pieces, and they just swept them into the trash.
โBetrayal.โ The word burned in Amberโs mind as she thought, โWe just had dinner together, but she snuck out without me. Itโs just a blatant betrayal. Vivian, always sucking up, how can she be so annoying?
โAnd Sienna is too much, too. I havenโt even forgiven Sienna yet, and sheโs already running around with Vivian again. So in her heart, Vivianโs the only family that matters?โ
Amber thought bitterly, โLike I care. Sienna, I donโt want you as my sister anymore. I donโt. I hate you now. Fine. IโIโm not going to the amusement park with you tomorrow.'
Amber stormed into her room and slammed the door shut. Watching the door click closed, Elisa recalled Siennaโs earlier instructions. โElisa, I noticed Amber didnโt eat much at dinner.
โSheโs at a growing age, so please prepare a midnight snack for her later.โ
With that in mind, Elisa handed the hangover remedy to Vivian and carried a plate of pasta upstairs.
โElisa, whoโs that for?โ Vivian asked, eyeing the food in her hands.
โMiss Vivian. Miss Sienna was worried that Miss Amber didnโt eat enough, so she asked me to prepare a late-night snack for her,โ Elisa replied.
Vivian nodded and stomped upstairs, each step heavy with anger. She thought, Amber, how shameless of her to skip meals just to get Ennaโs attention.
Elisa watched as Vivian stormed upstairs in a huff, puzzled by her mood. Then, still confused, she carried the food toward Amberโs room.