NovelEnglishChapter 81
Chapter 81
“We'd love to stay longer, but there’s another business reception we promised to attend,” a woman explained,
setting down her barely touched drink before rising from her seat.
“Yes, we have to go as well,” another guest added. “It's a big event-everyone’s talking about it.”
Soon, more followed, murmuring similar reasons as they left.
As the evening wore on, Nora and Alexander found themselves exchanging uneasy glances.
The once-lively banquet had begun to empty at an alarming rate, and the chatter that had once filled the room
faded into silence.
One by one, guests made their polite excuses, murmuring something about prior commitments, before slipping
out the door.
At first, it seemed like mere coincidence.
But when Alexander overheard a whispered conversation between two departing guests, his expression
darkened.
They're all going to Linda’s opening banquet,” he murmured to Nora, keeping his voice low.
Nora stiffened. “Linda? As in... Linda’s family?”
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Alexander nodded grimly. “They deliberately scheduled their company’s grand opening for tonight. And it looks
like they made sure to invite nearly everyone who was supposed to be here.”
Nora's grip on her wine glass tightened. Her mind raced, but the more she thought about it, the clearer it
became-this was no accident.
Linda’s family had chosen this day on purpose, making sure that the old lady's birthday celebration would be
overshadowed.
And to make matters worse, they had used Arnold's connections to lure the guests away.
Alexander exhaled sharply, shaking his head in frustration. “I can’t believe they'd stoop this low.”
Nora was about to respond when she noticed her grandmother watching the dwindling crowd with quiet
contemplation,
The old lady’s sharp eyes had caught on to what was happening, yet instead of reacting with visible anger, she
simply set down her teacup and sighed softly.
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“It's just a birthday,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “Not a burial.”
Nora turned to look at her, expecting ssign of bitterness, but there was none.
If anything, there was an air of acceptance-resignation, even.
“Grandma...” she began hesitantly.
The old lady waved a hand, silencing her gently. “Nora, listen to me. You must never punish yourself for
the shameless behavior of others.”
There was a weight to her words, something unspoken but deeply meaningful. And then it struck Nora-the
deeper implication hidden beneath them.
She wasn't just talking about tonight.
She was talking about the past. About how Clark, Nora's father, had once betrayed her mother, Laura..
How Laura, unable to bear the humiliation and heartbreak, had eventually walked away from it all.
A flicker of sadness crossed Nora's face. The pain of those years still lingered like a shadow, but she pushed it
down, just as she always had.
Meanwhile, across the room, Clara was far less composed.
She slammed her fork onto her plate with a sharp clatter, her face burning with anger.
“That stupid-Linda-is utterly shameless!” Clara spat, her eyes blazing. “To do something like this on purpose...
and on Grandma's birthday, no less! Do they have no sense of decency?”
Alexander, still fuming, muttered under his breath, “Apparently not.”
Nora, though equally furious, remained quiet. But the tension in her posture spoke volumes.
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It was then that Leo, who had been observing the situation silently, leaned in toward Nora and gave her a small,
reassuring smile.
“Wantto fix this?” he asked casually, as if offering to help with something as simple as setting the table
rather than salvaging a sabotaged banquet.
Nora blinked, caught off guard. “Tix it? What do you mean?*
Leo smirked, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. “Just sit tight and watch. I'll get us sbackup.”
Before she could protest, he pulled out his phone and started making calls, his voice smooth and confident as he
spoke to person after person.
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Chapter 81
Within minutes, he had mobilized a small army of guests-friends, acquaintances, and influential figures who
owed him favors.
And sure enough, just as the last of Linda’s defectors had trickled out, new guests began arriving-ones who were
far more charming, far more vibrant, and, most importantly, far more loyal.
As the banquet regained its energy, the laughter and music returning, Nora glanced at Leo, who met her gaze
with an easy grin..
“Party’s back in the spotlight,” he said, winking.
Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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