CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: STILL NOT QUALIFIED TO BE THE STERLING FAMILY’S WATCHDOG?

The housekeeper’s face alternated between red and white from anger.

Talia gently held the housekeeper’s hand, comforting her silently.

She looked at Eleanor Madison with a faint smile, "What’s embarrassing about being a housekeeper? I earn money with my own hands, honest work, and I don’t find it shameful at all. On the contrary, I think someone like you, who has no skills and just spends her husband’s money on mahjong, beauty treatments, and health products, is truly disgraceful."

"You—" Eleanor pointed at Talia Rhodes, her finger trembling with rage.

Vivian Coleman soothingly patted Eleanor’s back, "Aunt Eleanor, don’t listen to her nonsense. Don’t get yourself angry."

Saying that, she turned her head disdainfully towards Talia Rhodes, "Talia, you’re just a housekeeper’s daughter, a servant. This banquet is organized by Mr. Sterling for his cousin, and all the guests are from high society. A lowly person like you shouldn’t embarrass yourself here."

Talia raised a bright smile, "Oh? High society guests? Then how did people from small families like yours get in?"

Vivian was infuriated.

She snapped!

"Who are you calling small family? What right does a housekeeper’s daughter have to say I’m from a small family?"

"Oh, are you trying to ingratiate yourself with The Sterling Family?" Talia raised an eyebrow, "Given the doors of your Coleman Family, it’s not even qualified to be The Sterling Family’s watchdog, right?"

"You—" This time it was Vivian who pointed at Talia’s nose and cursed, "Are you sick? Can’t get Ethan, so you take it out on me? Haha, can’t even keep a man’s heart, all you can do is flaunt your words in front of me."

Talia chuckled, "Didn’t you know Ethan Grant got into a fight and ended up in the hospital for me?"

Vera Coleman was stunned. So the injuries Ethan Grant sustained a few days ago were actually for Talia Rhodes?

Eleanor clearly didn’t believe it, sneering, "You? Are worthy?"

"Aunt Eleanor, let’s leave, no need to stoop to her level." Vivian linked arms with Eleanor.

Eleanor was fuming, fearing that staying any longer might give her a heart attack, so she followed Vivian and left.

Vivian mingled with men from high society, her gaze always drifting towards Talia’s direction.

Finally, ten minutes later, she seized the opportunity.

Talia left the sofa area to go to the restroom.

She immediately followed.

In the restroom.

Vivian intentionally brushed against Talia, seizing the chance to slip her bracelet into Talia’s handbag.

Talia was disgusted by being touched by someone she disliked. Vivian walking so close made her sick to her stomach. She pushed Vivian away, "The path is so wide, why do you have to squeeze me?"

Vivian, seeing her goal achieved, smirked, "Is the restroom built by your family? I’ll walk how I want, it’s none of your business."

Ha.

Talia inwardly sneered, it actually was built by her family.

The entire estate belonged to The Sterling Family, and she was The Sterling Family’s granddaughter. Wasn’t it indeed her family’s construction?

After Vivian finished speaking, she rolled her eyes and turned to leave.

A few minutes later, in the banquet hall.

Vivian claimed her bracelet was missing.

She stood arrogantly in front of Talia, "You’re the one who stole my bracelet, right?"

Talia looked at her amusingly, "Are you sure it was me?"

"Who else could it be if not you?" Vivian crossed her arms, chin raised with arrogance, "You’re the only housekeeper’s daughter here today, a complete pauper. Besides you, no one else would steal a bracelet worth over eighty thousand."

Talia calmly sipped her champagne and gently placed the glass on the table.

"Do you have any evidence?" Talia looked up at Vivian.

Vivian coldly snorted, "Evidence? Of course! The evidence is in your bag, just check your bag."

At this moment, people around started gathering to watch the scene.

Talia had never attended such boring parties before. Aside from a few friends in the circle and some uncles and aunts friendly with The Rhodes Family, not many in Oakhaven’s high society knew her.

Oscar Sterling organized this party to formally introduce her into Oakhaven’s high society social circle.

Seeing more and more onlookers, Vivian’s eyes gleamed with pride, "Everyone, come judge for yourselves. This young lady here stole my bracelet and won’t admit it."

Eleanor added fuel to the fire, "Ha, just now talking about not stealing or robbing, now she’s stealing things? Just a bracelet, if you wanted it, Vivian could have given it to you. Why steal? For a girl, have some shame!"

Earlier when Talia said she had no skills and spent her days wasting her husband’s money, Eleanor took it to heart. Now she was spewing all sorts of harsh words.

"And you, back then desperate to marry my son, didn’t even see if you matched up." Eleanor rolled her eyes, "Luckily, I have a good eye for people and didn’t let you into my family! A pauper is always a pauper, even if you dress up and sneak into a high-society party, you’re still someone with sticky fingers!"

The crowd whispered among themselves.

"Who would’ve thought, such a pretty face but a thief."

"Exactly, this is why you can’t trust appearances."

"What a shame, with such a pretty face, she could easily capture any rich man, but she resorts to stealing at parties."

"That’s how poor people are, they can’t keep their hands off anything remotely valuable."

"Heard she’s a housekeeper’s daughter, no wonder, that’s being scared of poverty."

Listening to the chaotic comments around, the smile on Vivian’s face grew deeper, and she felt more confident.

"You say it’s not you who stole it, then show me your bag, let’s search it. If you didn’t steal it, what are you afraid of?"

...

Meanwhile, Oscar Sterling and Adrian Jennings finally finished their important discussion with the foreign couple.

Adrian headed to the restroom, while Oscar came out with the couple, running into Ethan Grant.

"Mr. Sterling, long time no see." Ethan Grant greeted with a smile.

Oscar didn’t immediately recognize him, furrowing his brow, he asked, "And you are?"

Ethan had a brief moment of embarrassment but quickly introduced himself.

Oscar vaguely remembered him and exchanged some polite conversation.

Ethan presented a gift, "Mr. Sterling, I heard your sister is getting engaged, congratulations. This is an engagement gift for her."

Though the gift was for Oscar’s cousin, Ethan’s intention was to please Oscar, handing it over directly so Oscar knew he sent a gift, making it easier to discuss collaboration later.

Oscar was used to people trying to curry favor with him. He initially planned to chat briefly and ignore Ethan, but he was quite adept at gifting, using his sister as an indirect way to please Oscar.

Oscar accepted the gift box, "That’s thoughtful, I’ll thank you on her behalf."

His gaze towards Ethan softened noticeably, "She’s just downstairs in the banquet hall, let me take you to her, since it’s her engagement gift."

Ethan, sensing the change in Oscar’s attitude, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed he had chosen the right approach by giving the gift to Oscar’s cousin.

Ethan beamed, "Alright, thank you for leading the way, Mr. Sterling."