Chapter 53

Lily White clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She stared at her perfectly made-up reflection in the mirror, but the face staring back looked twisted and grotesque.

"That bitch Sophia!" She violently swept all the cosmetics off the vanity.

Her manager stood nearby, expression grim.

"Lily, Mr. King has made it clear. You must attend this public apology today."

Lily's chest heaved violently. No amount of makeup could conceal the hatred burning in her eyes.

"Why should I apologize to that kind of woman?!"

Her manager sighed. "You offended the wrong person."

——

Isabella Jackson was getting a manicure when she received the news.

After listening to her assistant's report, her red lips curled into a cold smirk.

"Idiot."

Making such a scene over a dress had disgraced the entire socialite circle.

She elegantly blew on her freshly painted nails, not even bothering to make a consoling phone call.

——

The apology venue was packed with reporters.

Lily stood under the blinding camera flashes, her voice trembling.

"I sincerely apologize for my previous inappropriate remarks toward Miss Sophia Reynolds..."

Mid-sentence, her voice suddenly cracked.

The relentless camera flashes captured every moment of her humiliation.

No one knew those weren't tears of remorse—they were scalding drops of pure, seething resentment.

——

The video quickly went viral.

Though the King family swiftly suppressed the trending topic, everyone who mattered in their circle had already seen it.

Lily locked herself in her villa, smashing everything breakable in sight.

——

Meanwhile, Sophia received a bank notification.

Twenty million.

She stared at the number on the screen, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Evelyn, this money..."

Evelyn Sullivan didn't look up from the files she was flipping through. "Keep it."

"Then let me treat you to dinner. We can invite Daniel too."

At the mention of that name, Evelyn's fingers paused almost imperceptibly.

"You two go ahead."

Sophia immediately sensed something was off. "Did you two have a fight?"

"No." Evelyn closed the file. "I just have some personal matters to deal with lately."

Her tone made it clear she didn't want to discuss it further. Sophia tactfully dropped the subject.

——

The office had just regained its quiet when a phone ring shattered the silence.

Seeing the caller ID, Evelyn's cold, stern features instantly softened.

"Grandma..."

The vigorous voice of Mrs. Sullivan boomed through the receiver.

"You brat! Have you forgotten your grandmother exists?!"

Evelyn chuckled. "Of course not. It's just that recently—"

"No excuses! You're coming home for dinner tonight! I've already made your favorite sweet and sour ribs!"

The line went dead before Evelyn could respond.

Shaking her head in amusement, warmth flickered in her eyes.

——

Night fell.

A black sedan slowly ascended the winding road to Harmony Manor.

As Evelyn stepped out of the car, she spotted a familiar figure.

Ethan Sullivan stood beneath the corridor, casually scattering fish food with his slender fingers.

Moonlight outlined his perfect profile and illuminated the invisible rift between them.

This was their first meeting since their last unpleasant parting.