CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: VICTORIA SINCLAIR’S ASSERTIVE COUNTERATTACK

Victoria Sinclair had her long hair elegantly pinned up with a dazzling diamond hairpin on the side of her head. Her makeup was both bold and delicate, and she wore a gracefully simple, light-colored cheongsam with white high heels.

The cheongsam’s cut accentuated Victoria Sinclair’s exquisite and graceful figure. She was elegant like a flower, gentle like water; her scholarly and talented aura emanated a certain aloofness, perfectly suited for a beauty untouched by worldly concerns, and calm through the ages.

Grandmother watched with joy, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.

Even the makeup artist, who had seen many beautiful actresses, was amazed by this kind of serene beauty—a classical beauty crossing through time. Her dignified manner and captivating smile were overwhelming.

Grandmother couldn’t resist pulling up Victoria’s hand with an excited and prideful voice, "My granddaughter-in-law looks so beautiful. You should dress up more often, and you would surely have my eldest grandson utterly enchanted."

Victoria Sinclair also found herself captivating when all dressed up.

She had never experienced such a joyful feeling before.

She said, "Grandmother, I will learn to dress up in the future, but not to please others, rather to please myself."

Looking exquisite and charming, the satisfaction felt was completely different from the satisfaction of achieving success in the laboratory.

The Vaughn Grandmother appreciated her self-respecting and self-loving nature, "Yes, we dress beautifully to please ourselves and satisfy ourselves."

Victoria Sinclair, appearing somewhat shy, nodded with a smile.

After the banquet began.

Victoria Sinclair entered the grand hall arm in arm with her grandmother.

The luxurious crystal chandeliers were dazzling, giving the lavish banquet a touch of taste.

The piano music was melodious, surrounded by nobility and gentry, socialites and ladies in attendance, chatting in groups, clinking glasses and engaged in lively conversations.

Around the banquet were rest areas filled with buffet-style food and wine, while the central hall featured a large dance floor where couples danced to the music.

The stars of today’s event were Harold Vaughn and his second wife, Catherine Ingram.

It was Victoria Sinclair’s first time attending such a banquet; she felt somewhat shy and nervous.

The appearance of the Vaughn grandmother alone drew attention, and Victoria Sinclair by her side astonished the crowd, curious to know who she was.

The Vaughn Grandmother beamed brightly, greeting each guest cordially and graciously introduced Victoria to everyone.

"This is my eldest grandson’s wife, Victoria Sinclair, a young pharmaceutical research scientist."

Victoria Sinclair graciously and appropriately responded to the compliments and flattery she received.

Her behaviors, stemming from innate refinement and extensive knowledge, were on par with those of a noble family’s daughter.

While she and her grandmother socialized among the guests, she constantly felt a fervent gaze following her.

Seizing an opportunity while her grandmother was deeply engrossed in conversation with others, Victoria turned around to survey the surroundings, seeing only people, with many gazing in her direction.

Her eyes met Eugene Vaughn’s gaze as she scanned towards a corner.

In that moment, her heart quivered, and she became nervous.

Eugene Vaughn’s tall and sturdy figure and handsome face made him stand out among the group of suited men.

He was in his usual formal attire, suit and tie, dignified and graceful.

What was different was his gaze, holding his drink casually, looking unwaveringly at her, seemingly ignoring the conversation around him.

Victoria Sinclair felt her ears burning under his gaze, promptly withdrawing her eyes, returning to her grandmother’s side, feeling a bit disoriented.

Just one look from Eugene Vaughn unsettled her heart.

She told herself not to overthink it. Eugene’s eyes, inherently deep and mesmerizing, showed emotions even for a stray dog, and could captivate even a telephone pole with a few extra glances.

"Victoria Sinclair."

A gentle male voice sounded.

Turning her head, Victoria Sinclair saw Ethan Vaughn approaching with a drink, his loving gaze mixed with a hint of roguishness, unabashedly displaying his affection as he looked Victoria up and down, sincerely admiring, "You look truly beautiful today."

Victoria Sinclair felt a tingling sensation on her scalp.

The Vaughn Grandmother, upon hearing this, frowned, bid farewell to the nearby guests, walked up to Ethan, and firmly patted his arm, whispering, "Mind your manners, call her sister-in-law."

Ethan Vaughn wrapped an arm around his grandmother’s shoulders with a knowing smile, lifting his drink and taking a sip.

The Vaughn Grandmother irritably pushed his hand away, "Compose yourself."

"Alright...got it, Grandmother." Ethan Vaughn drawled, as if he were acting coy; then he turned to grab two mixed drinks from the table and approached Victoria Sinclair, offering her a pink one.

"Sister-in-law, would you have a drink with me?" Ethan Vaughn implored gently, "Just this one, as a token of my respect and admiration for you."

In this setting, refusing a drink courteously offered by a brother-in-law would be impolite.

Victoria Sinclair hesitated for a few seconds before reaching out to accept it.

Ethan Vaughn’s smile widened, his eyes turned into crescent moons, raised his glass to clink it lightly against hers.

The light and pleasant sound of glasses clinking, and Ethan’s eyes like burning fire, stared straight at Victoria, unfaltering as he drank his entire glass at once.

"I’ve finished." Ethan Vaughn dangled the empty glass in front of Victoria Sinclair, "You can drink as you please, sister-in-law."

Victoria Sinclair didn’t put up any airs, took her glass, and leisurely drank it completely.

Although the drink was originally minimal and slightly sweet, she finished it in one go.

The aftertaste was quite strong, but bearable.

Ethan Vaughn’s smile turned reserved, his eyes shining with a saccharine intensity, "Sister-in-law, you can drink?"

"Not very well," Victoria Sinclair replied politely.

The Vaughn Grandmother quickly nudged Ethan Vaughn away, "Alright, alright, don’t get your sister-in-law drunk now."

As the grandmother and Ethan had just moved away, another person approached Victoria Sinclair.

Recognizing the person, Victoria politely nodded and greeted, "Dad, happy birthday."

Harold Vaughn’s face darkened as he coldly replied, "Hmm."

Victoria Sinclair felt a bit constrained, unsure of what to say, nor why her father-in-law, who usually disregarded her, would suddenly approach her.

Harold Vaughn still had a disdainful gaze, an imposing demeanor, speaking arrogantly, "In the future, refrain from whispering to Eugene. Although the Vaughn Group is managed by him, I am still its largest shareholder. I won’t give you money just because you want it."

Victoria Sinclair suddenly understood everything.

So Vivian Miller had enlisted her father-in-law as an accomplice.

The tactic had some leverage, but it wouldn’t be enough to topple her.

His attempt to stop Eugene from investing in her company now made sense.

Victoria Sinclair responded calmly, "Dad, investment is mutual. While the Vaughn Group is powerful and well-funded, I no longer wish for its investments."

Harold Vaughn sneered, never expecting someone from a small company like Victoria Sinclair’s to speak so arrogantly. From his heart, he disliked this daughter-in-law and even looked down on her.

"You better shut down that lousy company of yours, it’s tarnishing the Vaughn family’s reputation."

Unfazed, Victoria Sinclair asked gently, "Dad, has the Vaughn family’s reputation fallen so low that it needs my company to uphold its image?"

Harold Vaughn stood speechless, his face turning green with anger.