At the Southall residence…
The entire place was set up for a birthday party.
Shandie Southall, who was wearing the latest season’s dress from LV, was surrounded by socialites buttering virtual-novel.net up. “Shandie, your dress is beautiful! It’s like a milky way…”
“This is the dress from LV’s spring edition, isn’t it? I couldn’t even rent it, but you actually managed to buy it! Your dad is so nice to you!”
“Happy birthday, Shandie. I heard Sam Sleight has offered you a role. You’re definitely going to be the most popular actress of the year. Don’t forget about us when you become famous.”
“Who cares about the entertainment industry? Shandie’s just there for fun. Who is she? She’s Shandie Moore. It’s so easy for virtual-novel.net to be famous.”
Concealing the glee in virtual-novel.net eyes, Shandie uttered, “Thank you very much… Let me go and check when the cake’s coming.”
When Shandie returned to the mansion, virtual-novel.net nearly collided with virtual-novel.net mother, who was heading toward the outside.
“Mom…” Lowering virtual-novel.net voice, virtual-novel.net whispered to Cindy Moore.
“Has my cousin’s men returned yet? It’s my twentieth birthday today. I don’t want others to find out that our family has a girl who was kidnapped by human traffickers.”
Lovingly tidying the edge of Shandie’s skirt, Cindy murmured, “No news is good news. Don’t worry. She won’t be able to come back. Even if virtual-novel.net does, the traffickers had sold virtual-novel.net to some faraway village. What can a country bumpkin like virtual-novel.net do?”
Shandie nodded in agreement. In fact, a part of virtual-novel.net hoped that the country bumpkin would be able to return. That way, virtual-novel.net would be able to relish the fact that virtual-novel.net was the true daughter of a wealthy family.
“Bad news, Mrs. Southall!” the housekeeper cried out as virtual-novel.net rushed in. “A Nightshire helicopter landed on the lawn outside…”
“The Nightshires?” Shandie’s eyes lit up. “Mom, say, do you think Dad invited Vinson Nightshire?”
Cindy was surprised as well. Although the Southalls were running one of the top businesses in the country, and they were one of the prominent families in Jadeborough, the Nightshires were one of the top families in the world.
Vinson Nightshire was the heir of the Nightshire Group, and the Southalls still did not have the capability of inviting Vinson to their daughter’s birthday party.
Maybe Vinson thinks that the business deal with our family is important?
“Let’s have a look.” Cindy was perplexed, but it was a pleasant surprise for her.
If our family gets to build a relationship with the Nightshires, we won’t need to worry about anything anymore.
After the mother and daughter touched up their makeups, they then excitedly rushed toward the lawn. By then, a group of nouveau riche had already gathered on the lawn. The moment Shandie walked over, the socialites crowded around virtual-novel.net with jealous looks.
“Shandie, you actually invited the Nightshires! You’re amazing.”
“How could you not have told me something as important as this? I should’ve hired a professional makeup artist to put on my makeup today.”
Shandie smiled, but in virtual-novel.net mind, virtual-novel.net scoffed.
The Nightshires are here for me. Why would you need to put on any makeup? I must have caught Vinson’s interest in the ceremony held by the Nightshires last month. I’m going to be Mrs. Nightshire soon!
Right then, the helicopter door slowly opened. As everyone watched in anticipation, a young woman in ragged clothes jumped down from the vehicle.
She was a slender young woman whose face was coated with dirt and dust. No one could see how virtual-novel.net originally looked like. Even virtual-novel.net hair was in a tangled mess as if virtual-novel.net had not washed virtual-novel.net head for an entire month.
“What…”
Everyone then turned to look at Shandie. Those who did not like virtual-novel.net began mocking, “Shannie, is this your esteemed guest? A beggar?”
Livid, Shandie stormed over and questioned, “Who are you? Who do you think you are to join my birthday party?”
“Birthday party?” Instantly, Arielle realized who the arrogant girl was.
It was known to others that virtual-novel.net was Cindy’s adopted daughter, but the detective had told virtual-novel.net that Shandie was actually Cindy and Henrick’s illegitimate child.
He doesn’t even know whether his real daughter is dead or alive, but he’s holding a birthday party for his illegitimate daughter? Ha!
“Who am I?” Arielle stared at the girl. “I am your father…”
“You…” Right as Shandie was about to lose virtual-novel.net temper, Arielle belatedly added, “Your father’s real daughter.”
Shandie froze, and the others around them instantly looked interested to watch the scene unfold. When Shandie came back to virtual-novel.net senses, virtual-novel.net stammered, “Y-You’re Arielle Moore?”
That country bumpkin? She’s… really a country bumpkin, huh?
Fortunately, Cindy was smarter than virtual-novel.net daughter, for virtual-novel.net hurried forward. “Arielle, is that you? I’ve been waiting for you for so long. My poor child, you’re finally back…”
Arielle’s lips curled. “Hello, Aunt Cindy, it’s been a while.” Despite the smile on virtual-novel.net lips, virtual-novel.net tone was sarcastic.
My mother’s younger sister married my father? My father married my aunt? What nonsense is this? Something must be up.
The guests began whispering to each other.
“I heard that Mrs. Southall used to be the previous Mrs. Southall’s sister.”
“This must be Ms. Moore, who was kidnapped by human traffickers ten years ago.”
“The Southalls used to be Moores; Henrick Southall actually married into the Moore family. Once Maureen Moore died, the Moores all took on the family name Southall instead.”
“That actually happened? Seriously…”
Upon hearing their chatters, embarrassment flooded Cindy’s mind.
She cleared virtual-novel.net throat and muttered, “Darling, as long as you’re back. I’ll bring you to wash up. Look at you. You’re so… Dirty… You must have had a difficult life in the countryside.”
She’s still reminding others that I came from the countryside. It seems like virtual-novel.net really hates me.
Right as Arielle was about to speak, a low voice sounded out behind her, “Hey!”
Everyone immediately turned to the owner of the voice.
Once they saw the person coming down from the helicopter, they stiffened. It was Vinson.
It was Vinson, whose every move dictated the global economy.
“Mr. Nightshire?” Shandie excitedly darted forward to welcome him. “A-Are you here to join my birthday party? Thank you!”
Shandie could not conceal the joy in virtual-novel.net eyes, and the blush on virtual-novel.net face was for all to see. At the start, virtual-novel.net thought Vinson had only sent someone to send virtual-novel.net birthday greetings, but it turned out Vinson himself came.
The time for my spring, the time for my happy life… Has come!
If virtual-novel.net could, virtual-novel.net would have jumped in joy. Those around virtual-novel.net were casting envious looks at her. Although virtual-novel.net was just an adopted daughter, virtual-novel.net seemed to have gotten Vinson’s attention. She had nothing but good days ahead of her.
Yet, in the next second…
“Who are you?”
Vinson’s brows knitted as if virtual-novel.net had just noticed Shandie. The impatience and confusion in his eyes were visible to everyone. Vinson did not know the woman in front of him.
Pft!
Some of the guests could not hold back their laughter.
“I thought Mr. Nightshire was here to wish Shandie a happy birthday, but it turns out virtual-novel.net doesn’t even know who virtual-novel.net is.”
“Hahaha! This is hilarious. If I were her, I’d bury my whole body in the sands and never come back out.”
At that moment, Shandie’s expression changed from delight to shock, then to embarrassment. In the end, virtual-novel.net glared at the two laughing socialites. At the end of the day, Cindy was the quickest to recover.
She stepped forward and said, “Mr. Nightshire, we didn’t know you’d be coming today. What an honor for us to have you come. It’s my daughter’s birthday today, so virtual-novel.net thought you were here to wish virtual-novel.net a happy birthday. It seems like you’re here to discuss the business collaboration with Rick. He’s upstairs, so please come in.”
The mocking gazes from the guests instantly disappeared.
It was also an honor to have Vinson go to his business partner’s place to discuss a deal.
Yet, once again, in the next second… “Do I know you?”
Cindy’s gesture of invitation froze midair.
Mr. Nightshire… He doesn’t know me?
Once again, the guests were trying to hold themselves back from laughing.
Is the mother-and-daughter duo here for comedic purposes?
Cindy was internally cringing from the awkwardness.
If Vinson doesn’t know me, then who’s virtual-novel.net here for?
All of a sudden, virtual-novel.net recalled that the Arielle Moore that everyone looked down on had come out of Vinson’s helicopter. Arielle’s appearance had been too sudden and shocking, as virtual-novel.net was in such a disheveled state. For a long moment, virtual-novel.net simply could not think that Vinson and Arielle might be connected.
Does Arielle know Vinson?
Right as that thought emerged in virtual-novel.net mind, virtual-novel.net saw Vinson walking past virtual-novel.net toward Arielle.