CHAPTER 849: CHAPTER 529: IS THIS A DECLARATION OF WAR OR SHOWING OFF?

"Hmm, I returned to the company in a pretty flamboyant manner this time, Dad personally led me into the office.

Last year when I left the company, wasn’t I bleeding as I walked out? Everyone knew I was pregnant, then... the rumors came."

Henry Sullivan looked at her as if he wanted to say something, but Ivy Miller was speechless; she had already explained it clearly, how could this dumb uncle still not understand?

It’s really hard for her to say such things like daughter-in-law having an affair with father-in-law, isn’t it?

"Everyone says that the decision-makers at the company are backing me, which is why I have such influence.

Not only was Supervisor Liu fired because of me, but this time Dad personally sent me to the company and even transferred me from the busy and tiring Translation Department to the leisurely Personnel Department.

I don’t mind them saying I have someone backing me, but saying I’m someone’s kept woman, that’s just too unpleasant."

Henry Sullivan has always been righteous, and upon hearing this, he angrily slapped the table in displeasure: "What are these people thinking? Did we hire them just to spread rumors? Didn’t you clarify? Or are you just letting them misunderstand you?"

Ivy Miller rolled her eyes: "Uncle, do you know what it means when explanations only make things worse? I don’t want people saying I have a guilty conscience, as long as you’re by my side, all rumors will be crushed."

"I’ll accompany you on Friday evening, but I can’t arrive on time, you’ll have to wait for me for a while."

Ivy Miller nodded with a smile, that was fine, she was attending the banquet with an ulterior motive.

On Friday night, many colleagues went to the restroom after work to apply makeup and change clothes, but she was calm, directly drove downstairs and left the company.

Henry Sullivan reserved a gown for her, the shop originally offered an in-home dressing service, but Ivy insisted on getting ready at their beauty salon.

It was her first time attending such a banquet, and she inexplicably felt a bit like a female lead in an idol drama.

After all, she was the Sullivan’s daughter-in-law, and married in with a Cinderella status, it’s okay to dress up a bit, right?

Anyway, her uncle didn’t understand romance, so she would create romance for herself.

She had always yearned to walk into a banquet looking dazzling like a K-drama heroine, and be envied by all.

Too bad, she was missing a male lead at her side when she entered.

Forget it, she would just go and enjoy herself.

Upon entering the gown shop, she was dumbfounded for a moment, her uncle had gone overboard in reserving her a floor-length black gown, although the style was conservative, it was still... excessive.

Indeed, buying clothes is something you should never entrust to a man; their taste is completely out of line.

Wearing such a gown, was she supposed to be walking a runway? Oh dear.

After the store staff helped her change into the gown, they also styled her hair and applied makeup.

You wouldn’t believe it, but after the primping, Ivy Miller was stunned by her own reflection, her aura instantly elevated in the mirror.

This black floor-length gown had its merits, accentuating her slender figure.

She called Henry Sullivan, "Uncle, I’m ready, the banquet has already started, should I go in first or wait for you?"

"I’m still an hour away, don’t wait outside, go to the banquet hall and have some food first.

Once I’m there, I’ll find you directly, don’t worry, since I promised you, I’ll definitely show up."

"Okay," Ivy Miller drove herself to the company’s hotel banquet hall.

Arriving at the entrance, she inexplicably felt a bit apprehensive; dressed like this, people might say she’s over-the-top.

She pouted, people who are timid can’t help it, she was just thinking about making a grand appearance earlier.

Now she felt cowardly, just wanted to find a corner to become invisible.

After hesitating for a while, she carefully pushed the door open.

Seeing the colorful army of gowns inside, her fear suddenly dissipated.

Turns out her attire wasn’t too over-the-top; though not eye-catching, it wasn’t subject to ridicule either.

She breathed a sigh of relief, quietly walked from the door to a corner.

Because of her subtlety, except for a few people at the door looking at her, people inside hadn’t noticed the commotion outside.

"Which department is that woman from?"

"No idea, first time seeing her, but she looks pretty nice."

"Hmm, her attire is fitting and she carries herself with elegance."

Ivy Miller chuckled to herself, it seems Uncle’s taste wasn’t so bad, if she chose herself, she would pick a short gown.

But her uncle disliked women dressing to attract unnecessary attention.

She went to the corner, thinking she could go unnoticed there, but alas, Florence Wilder saw her as she had arrived early.

Seeing her alone in the corner, Florence Wilder approached from afar: "Sister-in-law, why are you standing here alone?"

"Miss Wilder," Ivy Miller greeted with a faint smile: "I’m not really fond of such crowds."

Even as she said this, she felt guilty, hiding in the corner simply because she didn’t know anyone, unsure of what to say.

"You could have come to me; I’ve been waiting for you, worried you wouldn’t show up.

You don’t know how happy I was when I saw you arrive, I’ve been wanting to sit and have a meal with you."

Ivy Miller thought, this woman really knows how to speak graciously, maybe she should learn from her.

"By the way, sister-in-law, Henry didn’t come with you?"

"He... might not have the time," she didn’t want to tell this woman, giving her any reason to anticipate her husband’s presence.

"I thought my parents would come too, but I haven’t seen them yet."

"They’ll show up towards the end, sister-in-law, want something to eat? I can get it for you."

Ivy Miller waved her hand: "No need, I can manage myself."

She dared not order her around, lest her mother-in-law see and scold her.

"Come on, don’t be so polite with me, if you don’t say, I’ll pick something for you."

Florence Wilder said as she headed to the food section, with people watching her not sure what they were discussing.

The chatter inside was too loud, she couldn’t make out anything, she regretted agreeing to attend this banquet, while she pondered, Florence Wilder brought two plates of food over.

Just then, husband Damian Sullivan brought mother-in-law Nathan Rhodes into the banquet hall, all eyes instantly focused on the couple.

From afar, Ivy Miller genuinely felt her mother-in-law had great poise, Florence Wilder tilted her lips with a smile: "Sister-in-law, uncle and aunt have arrived, I have to go accompany them; aunt said to stay by her side at the banquet to introduce friends to me, I’ll come back to you later."

"Mm, you go ahead, don’t worry about me, I’ll eat something and leave earlier."

Watching Florence Wilder in her silver gown leave, Ivy Miller’s heart was full of dissatisfaction.

Here she was as the daughter-in-law standing idly, while that woman stayed glued to her mother-in-law’s side?

Was this a declaration of war, or was she just flaunting?