CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: EXACTLY THE SAME

The sudden scene just now left everyone staring in shock, almost forgetting to speak. After a while, a murmur of discussion began to rise around.

"Is that Eleanor Sterling?"

"Oh my, so beautiful. Is that really Eleanor Sterling?"

"The Eleanor Sterling who was pregnant before marriage? Didn’t she already leave Veridia City?"

"I heard she came back, but I never expected such a huge transformation."

...

Hearing the discussions and praises, Faye Sterling was nearly fuming with anger.

How could Eleanor Sterling steal the spotlight!

A glint of malice flashed in Faye Sterling’s eyes as she spoke, "Sister, did you bring a birthday gift for grandpa? Show us what you’ve got."

She slowly curled her lips into a smile and continued, "Someone just mentioned that you started a company, surely you’ve got something prepared?"

Even if she did prepare a gift, it couldn’t compare to the Medicine King Vine Bracelet she gifted. When the time came for people to compare, she’d still win.

Sure enough, whispers of discussion started again.

"Yeah, Eleanor came in empty-handed. Could she really have nothing prepared?"

"Didn’t someone say earlier that she started a company?"

"Heh, who knows if that’s true or not."

"Faye Sterling was willing to spend a fortune on a top-tier Medicine King Bracelet for Old Master Sterling. Eleanor, at the very least, should get something decent, right?"

"I reckon Eleanor didn’t bring any gifts. She’s just here for free food and drinks, and to rub shoulders with the high society."

"No doubt, she’s a disgraced outcast, with a really thick skin."

...

Chelsea Sterling, hearing the crowd, also gave Eleanor a mocking glance and chimed in, "Eleanor, don’t tell me you didn’t prepare a gift?

Faye just gifted a Medicine King Vine Bracelet, and I gave a Hundred Birthday Jade Carving.

If you really didn’t prepare anything, I have a bracelet here. Although it’s not great in quality, it’s enough for you to offer it symbolically."

Chelsea Sterling, ever the opportunistic one, took the chance to put Eleanor down, her tone dripping with sarcasm, hardly disguising her lack of intention to help.

Eleanor Sterling graced them with an exquisite smile and said, "No need, I’ve prepared a gift."

With that, she handed over a box.

"Grandpa, I wish you endless happiness and longevity as towering as the Southern Mountain."

Old Master Sterling nodded repeatedly, saying, "Good, good, Eleanor is considerate. As long as you’re here, that’s what matters."

Knowing that Eleanor was now without money, Old Master Sterling didn’t want things to get awkward at his birthday banquet, and he was about to place the box aside.

Seeing that Old Master Sterling didn’t open the box, both Faye and Chelsea Sterling spoke up.

"Grandpa, quickly open it and let us see what good stuff is inside."

The two were surprisingly in sync, wanting to embarrass Eleanor Sterling.

Faye Sterling looked at Eleanor and said, "Grandpa, someone just said that Sister started a company, so what she gifted should be pretty nice."

Upon hearing Faye mention that Eleanor had started her own company, Old Master Sterling was somewhat surprised.

Back then, he was the one who insisted on sending Eleanor abroad, and at that time she had asked him for five million. Considering Eleanor was, after all, a daughter of the Sterling Family, he wanted to sever ties with that money, so he gave it to her.

Thinking about it, the money for starting a company should have come from what was left back then?

But after all these years, it was already impressive that Eleanor hadn’t squandered it all.

Old Master Sterling no longer hesitated and opened the box.

The next moment, his hand froze for a second.

Inside the box lay a dark red bracelet.

It was identical to the one Faye Sterling had gifted!