Chapter 40

Winnie looked at celebrity gossip on Victoria's phone and said, "Olivia, let's go to the second floor. Can you find a way to book a room?"

Olivia immediately went to find the club manager. Without a reservation, they couldn't use the private rooms. In the end, she had to spend some money to borrow one for an hour. She didn't know why Winnie needed the room.

Winnie, however, remained calm and said, "An hour is enough." She sat down and used a fake number to send a message. Only six minutes passed before they heard the sound of high heels outside the door.

Victoria, who had just said she was busy, hurriedly and smilingly pushed open the door, "Ava, has Director Duan arrived-" Her face instantly froze.

Winnie was stunned to see her. Olivia panted, her face turning pale. She rushed forward in disbelief and asked, "Victoria, who were you just calling? When did you and Ava become friends? Do you know how she almost killed Winnie?"

Victoria snapped back to her senses, looked at the message, and instantly knew who it was from. Victoria's expression turned cold as she looked at Winnie. "You truly are the smartest among the four of us."

"Why did you betray me?" Winnie asked directly.

Victoria leaned against the wall, no longer willing to fake that smiling face. She glanced at Winnie with a hint of annoyance in her eyes. "Why? Winnie, don't you know how smart you are? It's embarrassing to have you standing next to me now. You don't deserve it," Victoria said.

"Why have you become like this, Victoria?" Olivia asked angrily.

"People change. I rise, while Winnie falls. There are no lifelong friends! There is no doubt that Ava is the rising star of the Anderson family now. I'm just avoiding harm and seeking profit. If Winnie stands by my side, I will be ridiculed. How can I have a future? Don't blame me for this," Victoria replied.

What a clever way to avoid harm. A cold gleam flickered in Winnie's eyes as her eyes turned dark. One of the few warm feelings in her heart was snatched away once again. She looked up and asked, "Did you delete the files on my computer? Did you give my design drafts to Ava?"

Victoria froze for a moment and smirked. "Did I do anything? You have no evidence."

"You manipulated Winnie's trust to make her lose in the competition! Now the news is reporting that she plagiarized. Do you want to ruin her?" Olivia said angrily, her eyes turning red.

"If it wasn't for Winnie's trust, how could she have helped me accomplish great things?" Ava said, entering the room with a smile. Victoria immediately went to Ava's side, and the group looked arrogantly at Winnie and Olivia.

Ava smiled. "Victoria, the director will give you the leading role. You will soon become the next queen of the film industry."

"Thank you, Ava." Victoria nodded. Olivia was disgusted at Victoria's fawning and groveling behavior.

"But you have to show your loyalty. Slap Winnie in public and kick her out of here, Pearl Club. It's not a place for a stray her. I believe you have long been fed up with her," Ava said.

Victoria's face stiffened. She glanced at Winnie before finally walking over coldly. Olivia stood in front of Winnie, Before Victoria could make a move, Olivia slapped her first.

"Victoria, you were really going to hit her? You have disappointed me. From now on, our relationship is over," Olivia said.

"You simple-minded fool, who gave you the right to slap me?" Victoria wanted to slap Olivia back.

Winnie's eyes sharpened, and she stood up, grabbing Victoria by the hair. "If you dare lay a finger on Olivia, Victoria, I won't be so polite."

"I'd like to see how impolite you can be, Winnie. I became like this because of you. You were the first debutante. You knew my family was in a bad place. If you had helped me secure some big investments, I would have been a leading actress long ago. Why do you keep talking about effort? The entertainment industry doesn't need effort. If you can't stand to see me surpassing you, then fine. I will trample on you without a second thought," Victoria said fiercely.

Olivia was infuriated. "You are vain, and you blame others for it. We didn't help enough? It was Winnie who recommended you to the entertainment industry. Such ingratitude. Do you think following Ava now will lead you to paradise?"

Seeing that they were about to fight, Ava smiled satisfactorily and gave a dismissive look. The debutante next to her immediately went to call the club manager. Ava planned to cause Winnie to have a miscarriage. Then she planned to call the reporters to expose Winnie's scandal of causing a scene at the club, along with accusations of plagiarism. Winnie would be disgraced.

"Ms. Ava, what's happening?" The manager quickly arrived.

Ava pointed arrogantly. "Do those two strays have a reservation for the private room? I have my eye on that room. I'm just about to go eat."

The manager immediately sent security to escort Winnie and Olivia away. "They don't have money or cards. How did they get in?"

Olivia sternly shouted, "I made the reservation with you first and paid you. Now, you're going to kick us out?"

The manager dared not acknowledge them in front of Ava. "Ms. Olivia, this is the Pearl Club. Your Gu family doesn't have any VIP status here. Please leave immediately with your infamous friend."

Ava chuckled. "Winnie, look, even the club manager is aware of your plagiarism scandal today."

Winnie was forcibly dragged to the door, and Olivia tightly protected her. They were about to be kicked out by the security guards. There were so many wealthy businessmen in the corridor pointing and sneering. Olivia covered Winnie's face, fearing she would become news again. Both of them had pained expressions.

"What's all this commotion?" came a sudden low, and cold, voice of a man. Winnie heard and stiffened, then she saw a tall man walking toward them.

She tightly pursed her lips. 'Damn, he just had to witness this unlucky scene'.

The man wore a silver mask, exuded a cold demeanor, and his perfect and strong figure was clad in black trousers. His presence was powerful and severe.

The manager saw the big boss and trembled slightly, "The---"

The man glanced at him. The manager immediately shut his mouth, and his frightened appearance made the security guard holding Winnie let go automatically. Ava and Victoria, along with a few debutantes, were stunned for a moment. The scene suddenly fell silent.

Jeremy leaned forward, his narrow eyes behind the lenses scanning the slightly disheveled Winnie, then turned his head to look at the indifferent man beside him.

"What...?" He arched an eyebrow and chuckled lowly, "Is this a reunion of newlyweds or enemies?"

The man's gaze turned sharp and cold. He glanced at the woman briefly before looking away, as if he hadn't seen her.

Jeremy smirked. "It looks like it's the latter."

Ava finally snapped out of her stupor. She immediately recognized Winnie's thug and felt a lingering fear.

However, she immediately mocked Winnie, "Oh, Winnie, you got yourself a bodyguard? Did a sugar mommy pay you to get in here? Are you still counting on him to save you?"

Winnie ignored her. Her gaze was avoiding the man in front of her, her almond-shaped eyes filled with uncertainty. Jeremy looked over and noticed that Lawrence's presence seemed even colder.

"What's going on?" Jeremy asked the manager.

The manager complained, "Mr. Rodriguez, these two women occupied the private room without a reservation, and they refuse to leave. I was just about to have security kick them out."

Jeremy's gaze turned to a man. The man coolly walked past Winnie without showing any intention of getting involved. Winnie watched him, trembling.

They had already made their boundaries clear during the argument. She couldn't expect him to lend a helping hand.