Quests aived in a steady stream–every one of them wealthy or well–connected. Aside from people like Zac, who were there to curry favor, there were also top figures from various industries.

These were the people Steven had personally invited, nning to introduce them to charlotte, in the legal world, connections were everything

Charlotte arrived at the estate early with Sean.

Steven was waiting at the front of the main vi, “Lottie, there you are!” he called mot cheerfully.

Dressed in a white suit with his hair slicked back, Steven looked every bit the chamber. The Sullivan genes were strong. He had striking features and had once been the camps heartthrob, with girls chasing after him nonstop. He was also known for being a bit of ba /byer, cycling through girlfriends faster than changing shirts.

Charlotte greeted him with a smile. “bHey /bSteven.”

“Lottie, you just keep getting prettler.” Steven turned to Sean and grinned. “Who would’ve thought bI’d /bbe calling you my brother–in–Law one day? C’mon, call me brother–inw just once.”

Sean gave a nomittal grunt, bhis /bgaze frosty.

Steven made a show of being offended. “Geez, always with the ice–cold attitude. My poor costa’s gonna suffer being with you.”

Charlotteughedb, /bher almond–shaped eyes curving with amusement. “Cold? I don’t think so. He’s actually very sweet to me.

ally. “You two aren’t even officially engaged and you’re already rubbing your lovey dovey sense in my bface/b?” Steven groaned dramatically.

After a bit of chatting at the door, Charlotte took bSean’s /barm and walled inside

The main hall on the first floor was the heart of the party–bright, bustling, and filled with anamiliar faces. As soon as Sean entered, he bwas /bswarmed by guests looking to shake hands and curry favo

A foreign couple who bhad /bbusiness to discuss with Sean and Steven needed to talkin private, so they invited them upstairs to the study,

Charlotte didn’t mind. “Go ahead,” she saidb. /b“I’ll wander around downstairs.”

She had just taken ba /bseat on one of the sofas when the bhousekeeper /bfrom the fulleys, Mrs. Coleman, came long for her.

“Mass Charlotte, you let in such a sh today bthat /byou forgot your earrings. Madam asked me to bring them to you.” In her hand was the pair of pearl earings cuadotte had picked bout /bto match her bdress/bb. /b

Charlotte touched her ear lobes Instinctively. “bOh/b, ri. Can’t believe forgot those.”

“Miss Charlotte, the event hasn’t officially started yet, basit?” Mrs. Coleman handed over a bpair /bof earings. “There’s still time to put these en

“Chright,” Charlotte replied with a warm smile. “There’s no mircochere. Mrs. Calem, could you help me put them on?”

Ms. Cole down beside her and gently helped her with the earrings

“There we go, much better,” she said with satisfied sale and a nod once they were imce.

Just thenb, /bba /bsharp, far liar volte tang out

“Chutte kaley? What are you doing here?

etured, frowning.

It was Zac’s mother, Monica And standing beside herb, /bdressed to the dues, was Wendy,

Charlotte’s Crownderpeurd.

Just then, Monica walked bup /band stopped in front of Charlotte, She nced at Mes. Coleman, then at Charlotte, her expression.condescending, voiceced with

“So byour /bmother’s abousekeeper?”

Mos Culeman was wearing her uniform. It bwas /bobvious what her cole was

My Coleman quickly waved bet hands. “Oh no, you’ve bunderstood /bI’m her mother at the Hileys housekeeper.”

Mobica let out a dry bugh /b“light, night I get it. You’re just saying that bto /bsave face in public. Bute bon/b, we allow bhow /bbyou /bwere putting on her earrings just bow—so tender and motherly. Who would believe you’re not rted?”

Wendy chilised in with a deugh. “bItalia/b, yeah. I mean, being a housekeeper’t exactly something to brag babout /bI’d be based btoo/b.”