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    bChapter /bb325 /b

    With several industry heavyweights present, Katie knew that with just a few subtle maneuvers to make Skr fall bout /bbof /bfavor with them, even without lifting a finger herself, Skr would still be in for a world of trouble. Thinking of bthis/bb, /bKatie

    smirked.

    Skr suddenly felt someone’s persistent gaze on her. She looked up toward its source, and her eyes met Katie’s, bsharp /band unyielding. Katie smirked with open disdain.

    Skr sensed Katie’s malice and let out a soft chuckle. ‘Looks like tonight’s party is going to be anything but peacefulb, /bshe thought to herself.

    Katie rose gracefully, wine ss in hand and a practiced smile on her face. “My apologies, everyone. My father was unexpectedly called away on urgent business and couldn’t attend the business dinner tonight. Please allow me to make

    amends on his behalf.”

    With bold ir, she downed three sses in a row to show her sincerity. Seeing her drink so boldly, the executives present didn’t press the matter further. Instead, they raised their sses and took a polite sip in response.

    Katie nced at Skr and, with feigned curiosity, remarked, “Miss, you seem rather unfamiliar. May I ask whichpany you represent, or are you just someone’s plus one?” She deliberately singled out Skr, clearly intending to undermine

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    her status.

    Skr replied calmly, “I’m here on my own. I just started a newpany called Nova Entertainment Production.”

    Katie propped her chinzily with a smirk. “Miss, you have no sense of decorum, do you? Everyone here is an industry veteran, so why aren’t you showing your seniors the respect they deserve?”

    ‘She’s deliberately nitpicking at me!‘ Skr thought. Skr snorted. Her disdain was clear.

    Skr replied calmly, “Where exactly have I shown disrespect to the seniors? Please, enlighten me.”

    Katie sneered, “Is this how you show respect when seeking guidance from a senior?”

    Skr frowned and asked again, “What exactly do you want?”

    Katie smirked. “Three drinks. That’s your penalty.”

    Skr didn’t budge an inch. Everyone present was no fool. They instantly saw that Katie was deliberately making things difficult for Skr.

    But drinking for the sake of it was rather dull–watching the drama unfold certainly made things more entertaining. None of them stepped in for Skr, content to watch the show unfold.

    Katie sneered, “What’s wrong? Are you scared to do it?”

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    Skr tilted her head. “Why should drink three sses of wine as a penalty again? What’s with that custom?

    “More importantly, could you please specify at which part I have done wrong?” Skr retorted.

    b15:49 /bTue, 20 bAug /b

    “Enough with your sophistry and word games!” Katie snapped impatiently. “If you won’t even show bthat /bmuch respect, why are you still here?”

    Katie sneered, “Why don’t you just leave now, before you kill the mood for the rest of us?b” /b

    Skr pursed her lips. “Aren’t you aware that you’re the one killing the vibe here? If anyone should leaveb, /bit’s you.”

    Skr was rarely this openly hostile to anyone, but with Katie constantly pushing her buttons, she saw no reason bto /bhold back. Katie kept testing her patience, and Skr saw no reason to be polite anymore.

    Katie sneered. “Who do you think you are? This is my turf, and you don’t get a say here!”

    “Right back at you,” Skr shot back without backing down. “I’d like to remind you that tonight’s party is about Mr. Strauss, the guest of honor. He hasn’t said a word, but you keep running your mouth.”

    Katie gasped and said, “Mr. Strauss, I didn’t mean that. Please don’t let her poison your mind against me.

    “You must know, she’s utterly insolent and disrespectfulb, /bshowing no regard for your authority. You really ought to put her in her ce.”

    Ergot sat in the seat of honor, regarding the scene with a cold, unreadable gaze.

    His gaze fell on Skr, and somehow, he felt familiar. ‘Where have I seen her before?‘ he wondered, but for the moment, he remained clueless.

    “What’s your name?” he asked calmly.

    Katie’s heart swelled with malicious glee. ‘Mr. Strauss’s furious. That bitch is toast!” she gloated inwardly.

    “Skr.”

    ‘Skr? Wait, that Sky… Sky…‘

    Ergot straightened abruptly in his seat, his eyes locking onto Skr. Then it hit him. He finally realized why Skr looked so familiar. ‘Isn’t she the long–lost heiress the Lu family just brought back?‘

    He’d attended her official debut banquet as the Lu family’s rediscovered heiress.

    Meanwhile, seeing that Ergot was slow to act, Katie grew increasingly anxious. Unable to contain herself, she began egging him on from the sidelines.

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