CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: PLAYING THE INNOCENT LAMB

In Summer Monroe’s room.

Summer looked around the simply furnished hotel room, feeling neither displeasure nor discontent.

Losing Henry Stanton’s temporary favor didn’t matter; her arrival had already disturbed the family. Once the chaos began, she would definitely find the truth she sought!

The ceremony started in half an hour.

Before leaving the room, Summer walked to the mirror and tidied her slightly messy hair.

The girl in the mirror looked sweet, playful, and extremely well-behaved.

But only she knew this was just her mask.

A wolf in lamb’s clothing bites fast, accurately, and ruthlessly, leaving the enemy defenseless.

The ceremony hall was decorated magnificently and grandly, with tasting coffees from various coffee bean sponsors placed everywhere. The air was filled with a rich aroma of coffee.

Clarissa Stanton entered the hall and took a cup of coffee, smelling it. Then she turned to Henry Stanton and said, "This coffee is not bad, the aroma is very rich. Judging by the beans’ size, they should be from... Colombia."

The sponsor nearby happened to hear this, and walked over with admiration, saying, "This lady has a sharp eye; our coffee beans are indeed originally from Colombia."

The sponsor showered Clarissa with praise, making Henry Stanton beam with pride as he looked at Clarissa.

Clarissa was basking in her pride when she looked up and noticed the sponsor gazing at Summer in amazement, as if he were stunned.

Clarissa had no doubt that the sponsor would start drooling if he continued looking.

She felt anger and jealousy swell within her.

Clarissa, being the same age as her — just over twenty, was still a young girl, yet to shed all her youthful naivety.

In a few years, once she fully matured, who knew how dazzling Summer would become.

By then, Clarissa feared she wouldn’t even qualify to be the background for Summer’s brilliance.

The more Clarissa thought about it, the more she hated it. She wished for Summer to disappear immediately.

This country bumpkin shouldn’t have appeared in the first place, disrupting her life!

Clarissa stepped two steps to the left, blocking the sponsor’s line of sight, and casually took a cup of coffee, handing it to Summer with a hint of malice in her eyes.

Clarissa forcefully handed the coffee to Summer, saying, "Sister, you should try their coffee too. I think it’s quite good."

Before Summer could speak, Clarissa suddenly covered her mouth, as if just realizing something, and said, "I forgot... Sister, you’ve always been in the countryside; you must have never had coffee, right?"

The sponsor behind heard this, and his bright look at Summer dimmed somewhat. He had been looking for a spokesperson, and had thought Summer’s image was excellent.

But she hadn’t even had coffee before? And she was from the countryside...

No matter how beautiful she was, such a girl wasn’t suitable as their image ambassador. If netizens found out, this spokesperson would only bring negative impact.

No way!

Summer didn’t mind Clarissa’s words; she simply wanted to have a taste.

So she took the coffee and tasted it with a sip, promptly frowning, "Too bitter."

The coffee smelled fragrant, but when tasted, it was too bitter, lacking a rich aftertaste. Its quality wasn’t as good as Clarissa claimed.

Clarissa took back the coffee from Summer, assuming she simply didn’t understand coffee.

What would a country bumpkin know about coffee anyway?

Summer’s reaction greatly satisfied Clarissa. She turned to the sponsor with an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, sir, it’s not that your coffee isn’t good, it’s just that my sister isn’t used to coffee."

The sponsor was more convinced than ever not to consider Summer.

This was clearly someone who didn’t understand coffee at all!

With a smiling face to Clarissa, he said, "It’s alright, it’s normal not to be used to coffee. I won’t disturb you any longer, I’ll take my leave."

The sponsor nodded at Clarissa and then turned to leave.

Henry Stanton watched the sponsor’s back, lost in thought.

His second daughter was indeed much more outstanding than his eldest daughter.

Afraid Henry would get angry, Stella Monroe deliberately scolded, "Clarissa, how could you, in front of so many people, give your sister coffee?"

Clarissa looked aggrieved, "I forgot for a moment..."

Henry waved a hand and said, "Kids naturally forget things easily, but Summer, how could you say coffee is bitter in front of a sponsor? You truly embarrassed me!"

Summer lowered her head submissively, apologizing, "I’m sorry, dad, please don’t be angry..."

"Forget it!" Henry impatiently looked away, instructing Clarissa, "It’s almost time, go backstage and get ready. Your mom and I will be in the audience waiting for you to receive the award."

"Okay, dad." Clarissa smiled sweetly, waved to Stella, and headed backstage with her credentials.

Summer followed Henry and Stella to the audience seats.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she was left far behind by Henry, as if he were avoiding something dirty, giving off the impression that she wasn’t one of them.

This is her father, the good father who can discard her anytime when she’s no longer of use!

A sharp glint and a lonely desolation flashed in Summer Monroe’s eyes, but in just a moment, she concealed her emotions well and followed Henry Stanton gently and weakly.

The ceremony began shortly after they took their seats.

There were more people present today than at past ceremonies, the reason being this year’s guest, Damian Knight.

Many people fought tooth and nail for a spot at this ceremony just to have a chance to show their face in front of Damian Knight.

Finally, following the host’s introduction, the guests appeared.

The first to appear was one of the founders of the Royal Coffee Academy, the second was the renowned coffee master in the industry, and the third was Evans, whom Summer Monroe had bumped into on the plane.

The last guest—

"Finally, let’s welcome the President of the Knight Group, Damian Knight!"

The moment Damian Knight’s name was mentioned, the room erupted in enthusiastic applause.

More than half of the audience was there just for Damian Knight.

The cameras immediately focused on the backstage exit, and after the ceremony, the recording would be edited and posted on the Royal Coffee Academy’s official blog.

The annual ceremony video always garners attention, largely because Damian Knight appears.

Damian Knight walked slowly from the backstage stairs to the front, his expression calm as he bowed to everyone.

But when his gaze swept over the audience, he suddenly saw a familiar face.

Was that... Summer Monroe?

His gaze lingered on Summer Monroe for two seconds before he turned away, bowing to the audience: "Hello everyone, I’m Damian Knight."

The applause below grew even more fervent.

Seeing the excellent audience response, the host called out to Damian Knight, who was about to take his seat in the guest section: "Young Master Knight, since the audience is so enthusiastic, how about you say a few more words?"

Damian Knight instinctively wanted to refuse, but upon remembering someone sitting in the audience, he involuntarily agreed to the host’s invitation.

Damian Knight cleared his throat and unprecedentedly added, "I’m honored to be invited by the Royal Coffee Academy to attend this award ceremony. After the awards, I will announce the spokesperson for the Midnight Coffee House today."

These words, through the sound system, reached the ears of Clarissa Stanton backstage.

In that instant, her heart raced, her eyes gleamed, as if she were about to reach the pinnacle of her life in the next second.

Becoming the spokesperson for the Midnight Coffee House meant she would often get to meet Damian Knight.

Moreover, being this spokesperson could help her get a role in Director Sutton’s new movie, which was like adding wings to a tiger, propelling her into the entertainment industry’s top tier.

Thinking of this, Clarissa Stanton clenched her hands tightly; she was the champion, the spokesperson was undoubtedly her!

...

At the front desk.

The host made some lively remarks, welcomed Damian Knight to take his seat, and then invited the ceremony witness, Evans, to the stage.

Evans beamed, his eyes subtly scanning in the direction of Summer Monroe, before glancing around the audience, saying, "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the award ceremony..."

After some opening remarks, Evans got straight to the point, "Now, let’s announce the results of the competition. We’ll start with the third place..."

Soon, the awards for third and second place were given out, and it was time for the champion.

Evans paused before announcing, "Congratulations to our champion, Miss Clarissa Stanton!"

Backstage, Clarissa Stanton’s breath caught as she excitedly walked towards the stage.

An overwhelming applause erupted below.

Clarissa Stanton blushed as she accepted the championship trophy from Evans.

The trophy was pure gold, heavy, but in Clarissa Stanton’s hands, it felt as if she were walking on clouds, ecstatic beyond measure.

"Thank you everyone, thank you Teacher Evans, and thank you to my parents for their constant support. I will continue to work hard in the future!"

Clarissa Stanton was so excited that her voice choked with emotion.

At this moment, Evans spoke up, "Now, let’s invite Chairman Damian Knight to the stage to announce the spokesperson."

Clarissa Stanton became even more excited.

She eagerly watched Damian Knight walk onto the stage, almost forgetting to hand the microphone to Damian Knight.

Damian Knight took the microphone and said, "I’ll keep it brief, I’ll just announce the spokesperson."

Clarissa Stanton was both excited and nervous, seeing her palms now covered with a thin layer of sweat.

The moment was here, it was coming!

Her pinnacle moment!

Yet Damian Knight’s gaze didn’t linger on Clarissa Stanton at all, resting for a second on Summer Monroe before he announced, "The spokesperson is... Summer Monroe, Miss Monroe."