Chapter 441: Her Biological Mother

After the engagement party began, Cassandra went on stage to thank her family. When she mentioned her mother, Paula perked up, about to step forward, when Cecilia intervened.

“The Rainsworth family invited her biological mother, Queenie Jamieson,” Cecilia explained, aware of the event's details.

Paula's expression shifted dramatically. Just yesterday, Cassandra had assured her that Queenie wouldn't be attending and that Paula would be the one presented as her mother. Paula suspected deception, but then saw Queenie approaching Cassandra.

Short-haired and in uniform, Queenie wasn't conventionally beautiful, but possessed a sharp, competent aura that contrasted with Paula's pampered demeanor. Internationally known, Queenie's arrival filled Cassandra with evident admiration and pride. Compared to her perfunctory treatment of Elena, Cassandra clearly regarded Queenie as her true mother.

“Mom, I knew you’d come,” Cassandra said, embracing her.

Onstage, mother and daughter displayed deep affection; offstage, Paula's face soured, having just presented herself as Cassandra's mother. Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“Isn’t Cassandra’s father Ralph? So isn’t Paula her mother?”

“Yeah, she just told us Cassandra is her daughter.”

“You know nothing. Paula is Cassandra’s stepmother. Cassandra calls her ‘Mom’ out of respect for her father. Did you really think Paula is her biological mother?”

“What should we do? We just gave all the gifts meant for Cassandra’s mother to Paula. Should we take them back now?”

“Of course we should! Paula isn’t Cassandra’s real mom. We need to curry favor with Cassandra, not her stepmother.”

The murmurs intensified Paula's humiliation. Cecilia, observing her discomfort, felt a pang of sympathy.

Chapter 442: Her Biological Mother

Cecilia asked, “If I hadn’t been born with hearing issues, would you have treated me the same way you treat Cassandra?”

Paula, startled, looked at Cecilia with a complex expression. She had to admit Cecilia had always been exceptional—no less capable than Cassandra. Cecilia’s current position was partly due to her efforts. More importantly, Cecilia had always been so dutiful and considerate. As a child, she constantly sought to please Paula, proudly proclaiming her as her mother to her classmates. Unlike Cassandra, who merely played along superficially while making arrangements for her biological mother.

But… Paula clenched her fists. “You and Cassandra are simply incomparable.”

Cecilia, though she thought herself hardened to the pain, felt a sharp, chilling hurt at those words.

After Paula finished, Cassandra descended from the stage. Paula rushed to her for an explanation. Cecilia watched from afar as Paula and Cassandra stood together, appearing more like mother and daughter than Queenie and Cassandra had.

She turned, carefully putting away a hairpin she’d taken from Paula’s hair, and rejoined the party. Almost immediately, Magnus blocked her path. “Cecilia, have you figured out how to get the Smith family’s money back?”

Cecilia, incredulous at his audacity, retorted, “Do you think people will just return the money after you’ve given it to them?”

She had recently assigned Norman to investigate Magnus's past questionable actions and awaited his report.